Senior Machine Learning Engineer II, Ads Response Prediction @Instacart

Overview

As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer II on the Ads Response Prediction team at Instacart, the role focuses on leading the design and development of core ML models that enhance the ads ecosystem. It emphasizes research-oriented problem formulation and training methodology.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead research and development of pCTR and conversion prediction models, focusing on improving calibration and reducing training data biases.
• Design and implement debiasing techniques to address systematic prediction biases.
• Contribute to the next-generation Multi-Domain Multi-Task model architecture.
• Drive sequence modeling initiatives, including the TIGER generative retrieval system.
• Collaborate with the broader ML community in the company on Foundation Models.
• Formulate and scope ambiguous modeling problems from first principles.
• Publish and present findings internally and contribute to the team’s culture of technical rigor.

Requirements

• Graduate degree (Masters or PhD) in machine learning, statistics, computer science, information retrieval, or a related field.
• 6+ years of combined academic and industry experience in ML applied to ranking, recommendation, or prediction problems.
• Deep understanding of CTR/conversion prediction modeling and related architectures.
• Strong foundation in causal inference and training data bias mitigation.
• Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, Tensorflow, JAX).
• Strong communication skills to explain complex modeling decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in ads ranking or auction-based systems.
• Hands-on experience with autoregressive sequence models.
• Publication record in top-tier venues.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers.

Benefits

Instacart offers highly competitive compensation and benefits, including eligibility for equity grants. Specific compensation varies by location.

Location

Remote - United States

How to Apply

To apply, visit the Instacart careers page.