Principal ML Engineer

Grindr LLC; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 240,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401K with 6% match

Industry-competitive compensation

Queer-inclusive benefits

Flexible vacation policy

Monthly wellness stipend

Job summary

A leading social network platform is seeking a Senior Technical Leader to shape the vision for machine learning. This hybrid role based in California involves architecting large-scale recommendation systems and enhancing user connections through LLMs. With over 10 years of experience required, the ideal candidate will drive ML strategy, collaborate across teams, and tackle new challenges that impact millions of users in the LGBTQ+ community.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience building ML systems focusing on platform-scale architecture.
• Experience with recommendation systems is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to tackle messy challenges and deliver results.
• Fluency in Python and popular ML frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Architect large-scale recommendation systems to serve millions.
• Leverage LLMs for processing vast conversation data.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams on ML solutions.
• Provide technical leadership across teams, collaborating with engineering, data science and product teams to turn bold ideas into tangible results.
• Evaluate, influence, and integrate emerging AI tools and techniques at an organizational level to keep Grindr’s tech stack ahead of the curve.

Skills

ML systems development

Python proficiency

Data deployment technologies

Collaborative mindset

Data pipelines

Cloud platforms

PyTorch

Tools

Snowflake

Kubernetes

Docker

PyTorch

Helm

Spark

PySpark

AWS

GCP

Databricks

Job description

This is a hybrid role based in our Palo Alto or San Francisco offices and will require you to be in office Tuesdays and Thursdays.

What’s so interesting about this role?

At Grindr, we’re at the dawn of an AI-driven evolution, and you’ll be the senior technical leader shaping the vision. This is your chance to harness cutting‑edge machine learning to redefine how millions of people in the LGBTQ+ community around the world connect—whether it’s an entertaining chat, a casual encounter or long‑term relationship. We’re doubling down on ML as the future of Grindr, and in these early days, you’ll drive strategy and execution that leaves a mark on a one‑of‑a‑kind platform at global scale.

• Early‑Stage Impact: It's still early days for ML at Grindr, so you'll be charting the roadmap and building foundational systems surrounded by high‑impact, greenfield work, setting the stage for our long‑term ML strategy.

• Recommendations That Reshape: Architect and scale recommendation platforms that match millions to their next big moment, adapting to a range of intents with impact you can feel.

• Conversations That Connect: Use LLMs to uncover insights, and define best practices for conversational AI at Grindr, helping users find their spark with precision and flair.

What’s the job?

• Architect and oversee large‑scale recommendation systems to serve millions, balancing performance and innovation.

• Leverage the latest LLMs to process vast conversation data and enhance user connections.

• Prototype, iterate, and ship production‑ready ML solutions that solve real problems for our user.

• Provide technical leadership across teams, collaborating with engineering, data science and product teams to turn bold ideas into tangible results.

• Evaluate, influence, and integrate emerging AI tools and techniques at an organizational level to keep Grindr’s tech stack ahead of the curve.

What we’ll love about you

• 10+ years of experience building ML systems with a focus on 0‑to‑1 system development, platform‑scale architecture, and creating new capabilities from scratch. Experience with recommendation systems or similar is a plus.

• Proven ability to deliver at scale, with fluency in Python and popular ML frameworks.

• A scrappy mindset—you tackle messy challenges head‑on and get real results.

• Experience using data and deployment technologies (Snowflake, Airflow, Kubernetes, Docker, Helm, Spark, PySpark)

• Experience building machine/deep learning models with at least one common framework such as PyTorch, Tensorflow, or Keras.

• Experience with any public cloud environment - AWS, GCP or Databricks.

We’ll really swoon if you have

• Expertise in building and maintaining LLM workflows for nuanced, human‑driven tasks.

• A track record of leading the development of recommendation platforms that hit the mark for diverse user needs.

• Thrives in a fast‑paced, outcome‑driven environment with lots of cross‑functional collaboration.

• A proven history of setting technical direction, driving adoption of ML systems across organizations, and owning products end‑to‑end from early‑stage concept to full‑scale rollout.

What you'll love about us

• Mission and Impact: Grindr is building the global gayborhood in your pocket. Your role will impact the lives of millions of LGBTQ+ people around the world. Through our success, we are making a world where the lives of our community are free, equal, and just.

• Family Insurance: Insurance premium coverage for health, dental, and vision for you and partial coverage for your dependents.

• Retirement Savings: Generous 401K plan with 6% match and immediate vest in the U.S.

• Compensation: Industry‑competitive compensation and eligibility for company bonus and equity programs.

• Queer‑Inclusive Benefits: Industry‑leading gender‑affirming offerings with up to 90% cost coverage, access to Included Health, monthly stipends for HRT, and more.

• Additional Benefits: Flexible vacation policy, monthly stipends for cell phone, internet, wellness, food, and commuting, breakfast/lunch provided onsite, and yearly travel & leisure stipend.

About Grindr

Grindr is building the global gayborhood in your pocket. With more than 14.5 million monthly active users, Grindr has become a fundamental part of the LGBTQ+ community and is charting a path to make the world more free, equal, and just. In 2015 we introduced Grindr for Equality, our in‑house non‑profit which has, Grindr for Equality has advanced safety, health, and human rights for millions of Grindr users and the global LGBTQ+ community in partnership with more than 100 community organizations in every region of the world.

Our next evolution is underway as a public company that continues to grow and build meaningful experiences for our users. From social issues to product innovations, we’re setting audacious goals for our community and the business, and leveraging the latest tech stacks and a culture of engineering excellence to make it happen. At the heart of our work in this new chapter is a shared set of operating principles centered around cultivating curiosity, thinking big, setting and expediting our ambitious goals, and growing through iteration; all while keeping our users #1.

Grindr is headquartered in West Hollywood, California, with offices in the Bay Area, Chicago, and New York. With a track record of strong financial performance and plans for continued headcount growth, we’re building a team of talented, passionate, and open‑minded people who want to disrupt the dating app space, innovate products, and advance LGBTQ+ culture. Come be a part of this exciting journey with us.

Grindr is an equal‑opportunity employer

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