Opportunity at
PinterestSr. Manager, Machine Learning Engineering-Applied Research
Pinterest operates a visual discovery platform where global users find ideas and plan for their activities. The company seeks a Sr. Manager, Machine Learning Engineering-Applied Research…
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About This Role
Pinterest operates a visual discovery platform where global users find ideas and plan for their activities. The company seeks a Sr. Manager, Machine Learning Engineering-Applied Research to oversee an Applied Science unit focused on modern recommendation systems. In this position, the individual will guide a team of researchers and engineers to translate complex algorithms from research into production systems. This leadership role involves shaping the technical roadmap, balancing short-term business…
Job Description
Pinterest operates a visual discovery platform where global users find ideas and plan for their activities. The company seeks a Sr. Manager, Machine Learning Engineering-Applied Research to oversee an Applied Science unit focused on modern recommendation systems.
In this position, the individual will guide a team of researchers and engineers to translate complex algorithms from research into production systems. This leadership role involves shaping the technical roadmap, balancing short-term business goals with long-term technological advancements, and collaborating closely with cross-functional departments including Ads Engineering, Core Engineering, Infrastructure, Content, and Data Science.
This opportunity is ideal for an experienced technical manager with a background in recommendation engines and large-scale web data. The role operates on an on-site collaboration model requiring physical presence 1 to 2 times per quarter, and applicants may be based anywhere in the country. Pinterest provides an equitable and inclusive workplace, considering all qualified candidates regardless of background.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute the strategic vision and technical roadmap for next-generation recommendation systems.
- Transition advanced machine learning research into functional, production-ready systems that influence core business metrics.
- Manage, mentor, and foster the professional growth of machine learning researchers and software engineers.
- Establish team charters that balance breakthrough research with foundational embedding development for company-wide products.
- Partner with groups such as Core Engineering, Ads Engineering, Infrastructure, Content, and Data Science to scale technical solutions.
Requirements
- Minimum of 7 years of combined post-graduate academic and industry experience in applying advanced machine learning to web-scale data.
- At least 3 years of direct people management experience.
- Demonstrated track record of delivering high-impact initiatives across multiple product areas using data-driven insights.
- Proven background in mentoring, coaching, and developing software and machine learning engineers.
- Ability to transform ambiguous questions into structured projects with clear success metrics.
Qualifications
- Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Statistics, Information Sciences, or a related field.
- History of publishing work at premier machine learning and recommendation system conferences including KDD, RecSys, NeurIPS, and CVPR.
- Experience utilizing modern large language models, agentic workflows, and generative AI tools to boost productivity and context extraction.
Core Skills
Benefits
- Eligible for equity in addition to base salary.
- Base salary range between $227,871 and $469,147 USD for US-based applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the employment type and location for this role?
This is a full-time position located in San Francisco with an on-site collaboration requirement of 1 to 2 times per quarter, allowing applicants to reside anywhere in the country.
What is the salary range for this position?
The base salary range for US-based applicants is between $227,871 and $469,147 USD, and the position is also eligible for equity.
Does Pinterest provide relocation assistance for this role?
No, this position is not eligible for relocation assistance.
What educational background is required?
Applicants must hold an MS or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, NLP, Statistics, Information Sciences, or a related field.
Sample Interview Questions
AI-generated questions tailored to this specific role — a preview of the full practice set.