Machine Learning Engineer

About Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & TechnologyDisney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology brings together engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, data scientists, and other technology professionals to build the technological foundation supporting Disney's global media business.The organization develops products and platforms across Disney+, Hulu, ESPN, ABC, ABC News, and other major media brands, combining technology, creativity, innovation, and storytelling at global scale.About the RoleDisney's Ad Platforms organization develops and operates high-performance, distributed, microservice-based advertising technology across Disney's digital properties, including Hulu and ESPN+.The team is seeking an experienced Manager, Machine Learning Engineering – Ad Platforms to provide technical and people leadership while advancing AI and machine learning capabilities across the advertising platform.This role will lead teams responsible for developing scalable ML/AI solutions that improve ad-serving capabilities and business outcomes. The position combines technical leadership, strategic planning, people management, architecture, machine learning, and cross-functional collaboration.Key ResponsibilitiesLead, mentor, and guide Data Scientists, Machine Learning Engineers, and AI Engineers.Design and deliver scalable machine learning solutions, including model architecture and algorithm selection.Establish best practices for model development, code quality, testing, documentation, and deployment.Define the strategic direction for machine learning initiatives in partnership with product and engineering stakeholders.Oversee the end-to-end ML workflow, including data collection, model development, deployment, and monitoring.Ensure ML solutions align with broader Ad Platforms strategies and global engineering standards.Explore emerging machine learning techniques, AI tools, and technologies.Communicate technical strategies, project progress, and results to leadership and cross-functional teams.Promote responsible AI practices, including fairness, explainability, privacy, and ethical considerations.Identify and prioritize high-impact machine learning opportunities across the organization.Partner with global teams to maintain consistency across ML platforms, tools, and development practices.Participate in on-call rotations according to team escalation and support requirements.What You'll DoThe successful candidate will collaborate across teams to develop architecture, design, and implementation strategies for ML/AI systems. The role requires strong technical judgment, a focus on scalable and maintainable solutions, and the ability to translate product requirements into effective technical implementations.You will also establish technical and operational metrics, identify opportunities for optimization, mentor team members, and contribute to a culture of continuous learning and innovation.Basic QualificationsBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field.8+ years of relevant industry experience.2–3+ years of people management or technical leadership experience.Strong understanding of machine learning fundamentals, deep learning, and statistical modeling.Proven experience translating business problems into scalable ML and GenAI solutions.Experience designing, building, and deploying machine learning systems in production.Experience deploying ML/GenAI solutions at scale using cloud platforms and MLOps practices.Advanced programming skills in Python, Java, or similar languages.Experience with ML/DL frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, JAX, or Hugging Face.Experience building, fine-tuning, evaluating, and deploying LLM-based systems, including RAG, prompt engineering, and model optimization.Demonstrated ability to lead global teams and collaborate across organizational boundaries.Preferred QualificationsExperience in the Ad Tech industry.Experience working with large-scale data and distributed systems.Knowledge of AWS, GCP, Azure, and MLOps pipelines.Contributions to the ML/AI community through publications, presentations, or open-source projects.Compensation & BenefitsThe hiring range for the Los Angeles, California area is $171,600–$230,100 per year, while the Seattle area range is $179,700–$241,000 per year.Actual compensation may vary based on geographic location, internal equity, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The overall compensation package may also include a bonus and/or long-term incentive units, along with medical, financial, and other benefits depending on the position and level offered.Equal OpportunityDisney is committed to providing an inclusive workplace and equal employment opportunities. Employment decisions are made without unlawful discrimination, and the company values diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds across its workforce.