Software Engineer, Machine Learning

About The CompanyDiscord is a leading communication platform used by over 200 million active users worldwide each month. The platform is renowned for its versatility in facilitating real-time conversations, community building, and content sharing across diverse interests. With a strong focus on gaming, Discord hosts a vibrant community where more than 90% of users engage in gaming activities, collectively spending approximately 1.5 billion hours each month exploring thousands of unique titles. The company's mission is to make it easier and more enjoyable for people to connect, communicate, and share experiences before, during, and after gaming sessions. As a pioneer in the social and gaming technology space, Discord continues to innovate and expand its platform capabilities to enhance user engagement and personalization.About The RoleWe are seeking a highly skilled Staff Software Engineer specializing in Machine Learning to join our Discovery/Engagement ML team. In this role, you will be instrumental in designing and implementing advanced machine learning solutions that significantly impact user engagement, content discovery, and personalization across our platform. Your expertise will help shape the technical direction of our recommender systems and ML infrastructure, ensuring they are scalable, efficient, and capable of supporting tens of millions of users daily. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including product managers, data scientists, and engineers to develop end-to-end ML systems that unlock new opportunities for growth and user satisfaction. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work on cutting-edge ML models, including deep learning and reinforcement learning, to enhance the overall user experience and drive innovation in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.Qualifications8+ years of experience in applied Machine Learning, with a proven track record of delivering scalable ML solutions.Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field.Deep expertise in mainstream recommendation system architectures such as two-tower, transformer-based models, multi-task learning, or wide and deep models.Strong proficiency in Python and familiarity with ML frameworks like PyTorch, JAX, or TensorFlow.Extensive experience building high-performance machine learning systems at scale, from ideation through to deployment.Solid product intuition with a focus on user feedback and real-world impact of ML applications.Excellent communication and collaboration skills, capable of leading complex technical initiatives and aligning stakeholders.Ability to thrive in ambiguous environments and tackle open-ended, technically challenging problems.ResponsibilitiesSet the technical direction for the team by defining architectural standards, addressing systemic challenges, and fostering innovation.Design, develop, and scale robust, high-throughput, low-latency recommender systems that serve millions of users daily.Build and deploy advanced ML models utilizing deep learning, reinforcement learning, and optimization techniques to enhance user engagement.Collaborate with cross-functional teams to shape ML-driven product roadmaps, balancing rapid iteration with scalability and system complexity considerations.Lead the development of end-to-end ML pipelines, ensuring reliability, efficiency, and maintainability.Stay current with emerging ML research and industry best practices to continuously improve platform capabilities.Mentor junior engineers and contribute to a culture of technical excellence and innovation.BenefitsCompetitive salary range of $272,000 to $306,000, commensurate with experience and skills.Equity options to share in the company's success.Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options and the possibility to work from our San Francisco office.Generous paid time off and holidays to support work-life balance.Opportunities for professional growth and development through training and conferences.Inclusive and collaborative company culture that values diversity and innovation.Equal OpportunityDiscord is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all employees. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected status.