Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Search
Job description
About the role
Roku is at the forefront of transforming the television viewing experience. As the leading TV streaming platform in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, we are dedicated to connecting viewers with the content they cherish while enabling content creators and advertisers to reach their audiences effectively. In this role, you will play a crucial part in shaping the future of our entertainment assistant, focusing on enhancing user experience through advanced machine learning techniques.
Key facts
What you'll do
- Spearhead the technical direction and strategy for the ranking, personalization, and recommendation systems that drive Roku's entertainment assistant.
- Design and implement advanced machine learning models utilizing deep learning, transformers, large language models (LLMs), bandit algorithms, reinforcement learning, and causal inference methodologies.
- Create multi-objective optimization frameworks that effectively balance user engagement, retention, content relevance, and monetization strategies.
- Innovate in the areas of conversational discovery and personalized content recommendations across the Roku platform.
- Conduct and analyze online A/B testing to assess the impact of features on critical product and business metrics.
- Architect scalable machine learning systems, data pipelines, and feature platforms that facilitate rapid experimentation and long-term scalability.
- Mentor and guide engineers, providing technical leadership across collaborative projects that involve engineering, product management, user experience, and analytics teams.
Requirements
- A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in machine learning, or a PhD with at least 5 years of relevant experience, particularly in search, recommendation systems, advertising, or personalization.
- Demonstrated expertise in developing ranking and recommendation systems, retrieval methods, and personalization strategies.
- Proven experience in building large-scale machine learning systems, particularly those that utilize deep learning, sequence models, LLMs, reinforcement learning, or bandit frameworks.
- Strong product intuition with a track record of optimizing user engagement, retention, and monetization simultaneously.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or Scala.
- Familiarity with distributed systems and machine learning infrastructure, including tools like Spark, Airflow, and cloud platforms.
- Excellent technical leadership, system design capabilities, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- A Master's or PhD degree in Computer Science, Statistics, or a closely related field.
What we value in your AI experience
At Roku, we actively engage with AI technologies to enhance our operations. We seek individuals who have demonstrated their ability to effectively utilize AI or automation to improve efficiency and elevate standards. Experience with agentic engineering tools, such as Claude Code or Cursor, is highly regarded, along with the ability to articulate projects where you have successfully implemented these technologies.
Practical notes
For candidates located in California, the anticipated annual salary for this position ranges from $361,300 to $510,000. Compensation is determined based on various factors unique to each applicant, including skills, certifications, and geographical location. This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, equity awards, life insurance, disability benefits, parental leave, wellness programs, and paid time off.
Roku promotes a hybrid work model, encouraging in-office collaboration from Monday to Thursday, with flexible remote work options on Fridays, unless specific roles necessitate full-time office attendance.
Accommodations
Roku is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. If you require adjustments during the hiring process, please reach out to EmployeeRelations@Roku.com.
Company culture
At Roku, we thrive in a dynamic environment where teamwork and collaboration are paramount. We prioritize hiring individuals who excel in their roles, work well with others, and maintain a grounded approach. A sense of humor is appreciated, and we believe that a smaller team of highly skilled individuals can achieve more than a larger group of less experienced team members. Our culture encourages independent thinking, creativity, and a commitment to delivering exceptional results through collaboration and trust.
For more information about Roku and our global impact, please visit our factsheet at https://www.weareroku.com/factsheet.
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