Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Programmatic Ads

Pinterest; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 222,716 - 389,753; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Job summary

Pinterest is seeking a Staff ML Engineer to design, own, and scale end-to-end ML systems for real-time bidding, ad scoring, and yield optimization. You will frame problems, define metrics, design features, train models, and run online experiments to maximize advertiser value.

You will collaborate with Ads Ranking & Bidding, Measurement, and Programmatic Engineering to productionize signals and integrate models into the ads stack, while leveraging AI to speed up analysis and iteration.

Qualifications

• Industry experience building and shipping large-scale production ML systems in ads, search, recommendations, or related domains.
• Deep experience with control/optimization algorithms for bidding, pacing, allocation, or similar marketplace problems.
• Strength in probabilistic modeling and measurement (e.g., quality/fraud signals, deep-learning engagement prediction) and trade-offs between coverage, accuracy, and impact.
• Proven Staff-level technical leadership as an IC: driving technical direction and cross-team alignment without formal people management.
• Demonstrated ability to use AI to improve speed and quality of your workflow, with a track record of validating AI-assisted outputs.
• Degree in CS, Statistics, or a related field.
• Experience with Cursor, Copilot, Codex, or similar AI coding assistants for development, debugging, testing, and refactoring.
• Familiarity with LLM-powered productivity tools for documentation search, experiment analysis, SQL/data exploration, and engineering workflow acceleration.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement algorithms for real-time bidding, ad scoring/ranking, inventory selection, and yield optimization across multiple exchanges.
• Own end-to-end ML systems: problem framing, metrics, data/feature design, model training, evaluation, and online experimentation.
• Introduce and productionize new exchange and supply signals (e.g., quality, conversions, identity, fraud, content understanding) to unlock incremental advertiser value.
• Partner closely with Ads Ranking & Bidding, Measurement, and Programmatic Engineering to integrate new models and objectives into the ads stack.
• Use AI to accelerate analysis, experimentation, and iteration while applying strong judgment and vision.

Skills

Large-scale ML systems

Bidding & ranking

Probabilistic modeling

Staff-level leadership (IC)

AI-assisted workflows

Education

Degree in CS/Statistics or related

Tools

Cursor

Copilot

Codex

LLM productivity tools

Job description

What You'll Do

• Design and implement algorithms for real‑time bidding, ad scoring/ranking, inventory selection, and yield optimization across multiple exchanges.
• Own end‑to‑end ML systems: problem framing, metrics, data/feature design, model training, evaluation, and online experimentation.
• Introduce and productionize new exchange and supply signals (e.g., quality, conversions, identity, fraud, content understanding) to unlock incremental advertiser value.
• Partner closely with Ads Ranking & Bidding, Measurement, and Programmatic Engineering to integrate new models and objectives into the ads stack.
• Use AI to accelerate analysis, experimentation, and iteration (e.g., exploring model variants, automating path from learnings to launch) while applying strong judgment and vision.

What We're Looking For

• Industry experience building and shipping large‑scale production ML systems in ads, search, recommendations, or related domains.
• Deep experience with control/optimization algorithms for bidding, pacing, allocation, or similar marketplace problems.
• Strength in probabilistic modeling and measurement (e.g., quality/fraud signals, deep‑learning engagement prediction) and making principled trade‑offs between coverage, accuracy, and impact.
• Proven Staff‑level technical leadership as an IC: driving technical direction and cross‑team alignment without formal people management.
• Demonstrated ability to use AI to improve speed and quality of your workflow, with a strong track record of validating and stress‑testing AI‑assisted outputs.
• Degree in Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field.
• Experience with Cursor, Copilot, Codex, or similar AI coding assistants for development, debugging, testing, and refactoring.
• Familiarity with LLM‑powered productivity tools for documentation search, experiment analysis, SQL/data exploration, and engineering workflow acceleration.

Relocation Statement

This position is not eligible for relocation assistance. Visit our PinFlex page to learn more about our working model.

In‑Office Requirement Statement

The role will need to be in the office for in‑person collaboration three times per quarter and therefore needs to be in a commutable distance from one of the following offices: San Francisco, Palo Alto, Seattle.

Compensation

Base salary range: $222,716 – $389,753 USD. The position is also eligible for equity. Final salary is based on location, travel, relevant prior experience, or particular skills and expertise.

EEO Statement

Pinterest is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, status as a protected veteran, physical or mental disability, medical condition or genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member) or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state or local laws. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you require a medical or religious accommodation during the job application process, please complete this form for support.

Application Statement

By submitting this application, I certify that all information submitted in my application and throughout the hiring process is true, accurate, and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any false statement, omission, or misrepresentation may disqualify me from employment consideration or result in termination if discovered after hire.