Senior Machine Learning Engineer II, Search & Recommendations Ranking
Core
Architecting the ranking backbone that unifies search, discovery, recommendation, ads, and merchandising into a single value-aware platform for the grocery delivery journey.
Role type
Senior IC machine learning engineer (search & recommendations ranking)
Builds
Foundational ranking backbone models, value-aware optimization systems, and LLM-enhanced retrieval features for Instacart's shopping platform.
Domain
Grocery delivery / E-commerce / Search & Recommendation Systems
Deliverable
production ML models
Required skills
Multi-objective optimization, Multi-task learning (MMOE/PLE), Causal inference & uplift modeling, Low-latency inference engineering, Online experimentation design, Python, SQL, TensorFlow/Pytorch, XGBoost
Preferred skills
Contextual bandits, Feature store architecture, Vector + lexical retrieval, LLM adapter tuning for feature generation
Technologies
TensorFlow, PyTorch, XGBoost, Python, SQL, Pandas
Responsibilities
Architect the unified ranking platform, design search autosuggest systems, develop long-horizon objective functions, build production-grade multi-task models, own the inference layer optimization, advance evaluation practices for incremental GTV, partner across teams to translate business goals, mentor ML engineers
Seniority
Senior, hands-on IC with technical leadership
