Sr Research Scientist

ouryahoo; United States; Hybrid; USD 144,000 - 299,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

401k

Backup childcare

Education stipends

Job summary

Yahoo Search is seeking a research-oriented ML engineer to join the Search Research team. You will translate real-world problems into scalable ML solutions for ranking, query understanding, and AI-powered search.

Collaborate with engineers to bring research results into production, publish insights, and contribute to patents. The role emphasizes strong analytical thinking, collaboration, and impact across Yahoo products.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of track record driving impact in industry.
• Expertise in AI, machine learning, deep learning and NLP.
• Experience with Search Ranking.
• Advanced coding skills in Java, Scala, Python or similar.
• Publications or proven ability to lead ML integration into products.

Responsibilities

• Understand technical challenges and map to ML paradigms.
• Prototype algorithms and champion them for product use.
• Review state-of-the-art approaches and propose solutions.
• Identify opportunities to enrich products with ML ideas.
• Define data collection, evaluation, and serving strategies.
• Design scalable solutions and extensible systems.
• Communicate complex ML concepts clearly.

Skills

AI/ML/NLP

Search Ranking

Java/Scala/Python

Research collaboration

Education

Master’s or Ph.D. in CS/EE/Statistics/Applied Math

Job description

About Search

Yahoo Search is one of the most highly scaled applications on the planet. We hire world class engineers to support our ambitious product and platform goals. Our engineers work in a highly collaborative environment with a strong emphasis on technical excellence and innovation. This is a unique opportunity as we’re reimagining the future of Search, to reinvent how users find information and accomplish their goals. To achieve this vision, we’re integrating new technology and expanding our infrastructure. This role demands strategic partnership, analytical thinking, exceptional planning and execution skills, ambitious innovation, obsession with quality and user needs, and dedication to solving complex problems. If you’re someone who enjoys being part of high performing teams, this role is for you.

The Search Research team at Yahoo has a direct impact on the quality of various products and services at Yahoo Search. Our team provides solutions and technologies in machine learning for query understanding, news ranking, search results clustering, and AI powered search.

Responsibilities

• Capability to understand the technical challenges of a real world problem. Ability to think and formulate problems from first principles and map them to one or more Machine Learning paradigms or create a new Machine Learning paradigm for it.
• Strong desire and ability to code up algorithms with good understanding and champion them to be used in products.
• Review state-of-the-art approaches, explore new ones, propose appropriate solutions
• Identify opportunities in existing products to enrich them with Machine Learning ideas.
• Defining the technical requirements, which involves but not limited to, data collection, evaluation mechanism and production serving strategy. Ability to analyze data and realize patterns in them.
• Design solutions that can scale
• System extensibility, i.e., considering how the systems can evolve over time
• Communication skills in terms of conveying technical ideas
• Design metrics and experiments to analyze problems and measure results
• Collaborate with engineering teams to put research results into action
• Explain complex ML concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. Use examples and analogies
• Generate intellectual property with patent applications and publications at relevant forums

Qualifications

• 3+ years of track record driving impact in the industry
• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Statistics, Applied Math or related field
• Expertise in AI, machine learning, deep learning and natural language processing
• Experience with Search Ranking
• Advanced coding skills in languages such as Java, Scala, Python or similar
• Experience with collaborative research, as evidenced through solid publications or proven track record of designing and leading integration of state-of‑the art ML techniques into products

The material job duties and responsibilities of this role include those listed above as well as adhering to Yahoo policies; exercising sound judgment; working effectively, safely and inclusively with others; exhibiting trustworthiness and meeting expectations; and safeguarding business operations and brand integrity.

At Yahoo, we offer flexible hybrid work options that our employees love! While most roles don’t require regular office attendance, you may occasionally be asked to attend in-person events or team sessions. You’ll always get notice to make arrangements. Your recruiter will let you know if a specific job requires regular attendance at a Yahoo office or facility. If you have any questions about how this applies to the role, just ask the recruiter!

Yahoo is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against based on age, race, gender, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected category. Yahoo will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law. Yahoo is dedicated to providing an accessible environment for all candidates during the application process and for employees during their employment. If you need accessibility assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please submit a request via the Accommodation Request Form (www.yahooinc.com/careers/contact-us.html) or call +1.866.772.3182. Requests and calls received for non-disability related issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.

We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace strengthens Yahoo and deepens our relationships. When you support everyone to be their best selves, they spark discovery, innovation and creativity. Among other efforts, our 11 employee resource groups (ERGs) enhance a culture of belonging with programs, events and fellowship that help educate, support and create a workplace where all feel welcome.

Benefits

• Our comprehensive benefits include healthcare, a great 401k, backup childcare, education stipends and much (much) more.

The compensation for this position ranges from $143,625.00 - $299,375.00/yr and will vary depending on factors such as your location, skills and experience. The compensation package may also include incentive compensation opportunities in the form of discretionary annual bonus or commissions.