# Senior Machine Learning Engineer
## About the Role
Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is seeking a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to develop and productionize machine learning models that power personalization and recommendations across Disney Streaming products, including Disney+ and Hulu.
This individual contributor role will lead recommendation and personalization algorithm research, development, and productionization. You will collaborate with Engineering, Product, Data, and Editorial teams to identify personalization opportunities, define technical approaches, manage stakeholder expectations, and help shape the roadmap for algorithmic work.
## Key Responsibilities
* Develop and maintain machine learning algorithms for personalization, recommendations, and predictive systems.
* Research and apply modern machine learning techniques to improve streaming product experiences.
* Productionize, monitor, maintain, and explain algorithms to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
* Develop and maintain ETL pipelines using orchestration tools such as Airflow and Jenkins.
* Build scalable streaming and batch data pipelines capable of supporting petabyte-scale datasets.
* Establish and maintain standards for algorithm development, testing, and deployment.
* Identify new personalization opportunities in collaboration with product and business stakeholders.
* Partner with data teams to improve data collection, experimentation, and analysis.
* Evaluate the complexity of machine learning problems and select practical approaches that deliver effective solutions.
* Coordinate requirements and manage expectations across Product, Engineering, and Editorial teams.
* Contribute to the roadmap for personalization and recommendation algorithms and broader company objectives.
## Required Qualifications
* 5+ years of experience developing machine learning models, performing large-scale data analysis, and/or working in data engineering.
* 5+ years of experience writing production-level, scalable code using Python and SQL.
* 3+ years of experience developing algorithms for deployment to production systems.
* In-depth understanding of modern machine learning methods, including deep learning, models, and their mathematical foundations.
* Experience deploying and maintaining data pipelines and engineering big-data solutions using technologies such as Databricks, S3, and Spark.
* Ability to assess machine learning problem complexity and apply simple, effective solutions when appropriate.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills.
* Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
## Preferred Qualifications
* Master’s or PhD in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
* Production experience developing content recommendation algorithms at scale.
* Experience building and deploying full-stack machine learning pipelines, including data extraction, data mining, model training, feature development, testing, and deployment.
* Familiarity with metadata management, data lineage, and data governance principles.
* Experience loading and querying cloud-hosted databases.
* Experience with AWS and Databricks.
## Skills & Competencies
* Machine learning and deep learning
* Recommendation and personalization algorithms
* Predictive modeling
* Python and SQL
* Large-scale data analysis
* Data engineering and ETL
* Feature engineering
* Big-data processing
* Streaming and batch data pipelines
* Algorithm development and productionization
* Model testing and deployment
* Databricks, S3, and Spark
* Airflow and Jenkins
* Data experimentation and analysis
* Data governance and lineage
* Problem-solving and technical judgment
* Cross-functional collaboration
* Stakeholder management
* Written and verbal communication
## Education & Experience
**Education**
* Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related quantitative field required.
* Master’s or PhD in a related quantitative field preferred.
**Experience**
* 5+ years in machine learning, large-scale data analysis, and/or data engineering.
* 5+ years writing production-level, scalable Python and SQL.
* 3+ years developing algorithms for production deployment.
## Work Arrangement & Schedule
* **Work Type:** Onsite
* **In-Person Requirement:** 4 days per week at the designated office location.
* **Location:** Glendale, California, United States.
* The source also provides compensation ranges for New York, NY and Santa Monica, CA; these locations do not match the stated Glendale, CA job location.
## Compensation & Benefits
* **New York, NY hiring range:** $148,700–$199,400 per year.
* **Santa Monica, CA hiring range:** $141,900–$190,300 per year.
* Actual base pay may vary based on geographic region, internal equity, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other factors.
* Bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package.
* Medical, financial, and other benefits may be available depending on the level and position offered.
## Compliance / Additional Information
* The role is an Individual Contributor position.
* The position supports Disney Streaming products and personalization initiatives across Disney+ and Hulu.
* Compensation and benefits are subject to the applicable position level and geographic region.
* Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology emphasizes technology, innovation, scalability, collaboration, and consumer-focused product development.