Manager, Machine Learning - Search

At Loblaw Digital, we are committed to delivering exceptional experiences for our customers. Our mission is to build innovative online shopping solutions and design impactful apps that enhance lives across the country. As the team behind the digital presence of Canada's largest and most successful retailer, we are based in downtown Toronto, working in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and collaborative environment. We are transforming the way Canadians shop by creating leading eCommerce experiences in online grocery shopping, beauty, pharmacy, loyalty, and apparel. And we're just getting started!
To achieve our ambitious goals, we seek talented and passionate individuals who are eager to collaborate, solve challenging problems, and make a significant, lasting impact on Canadians. Join us in shaping the future of retail.Join the dynamic team behind Canada's largest grocery retailer and become a driving force in enhancing customer experiences and propelling business growth. As a Machine Learning Engineering Manager, you will be at the forefront of innovation, leading the design, development, and implementation of cutting-edge machine learning models and algorithms, including integration with LLMs and other GenAI tools. Your leadership will directly impact millions of Canadians, shaping the way they interact with search interfaces and ultimately enhancing their shopping experience.In this role, you will oversee the development of advanced technologies such as Gen AI, LLMs, ML models, Vector search, semantic search, and semantic matching, constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. You will guide your team in working with large datasets to identify trends and patterns that inform and improve search engine functionality. Your focus will be on evaluating and enhancing model performance using various metrics, ensuring the highest level of efficiency and accuracy. Staying abreast of the latest advancements in machine learning and related technologies is crucial, applying new knowledge to continually refine our solutions.
As a manager, you will cultivate a collaborative environment where your team's ideas are valued, and they are empowered to challenge assumptions and contribute to a dynamic atmosphere. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, data scientists, and software engineers, bringing diverse perspectives to the table to deliver groundbreaking solutions. Join us in shaping the future of search technology and making a significant impact on the shopping experience for millions of Canadians

What You'll Do

• Cultivate a deep understanding of the portfolio of machine learning components we utilize, including AI, Gen AI, and LLMs, along with their respective strengths and weaknesses, to provide solutions to existing and future challenges.
• Lead the technical architecture for machine learning components and cross-functional ML teams, ensuring integration with advanced AI technologies.
• Define the long-term vision for your team, aligning with the company's strategic and tactical goals, with a focus on machine learning and AI initiatives.
• Translate project goals and product roadmaps into organized technical tasks, collaborating with other EMs to ensure alignment.
• Guide the team to improve our AI and ML components, ML Ops, and processes through your knowledge of industry trends and tools, along with your own experiences.
• Provide guidance and direction to the ML development team to remove obstacles and keep initiatives on target and moving forward.
• Coach and mentor developers in the team through technical design sessions, code reviews, and pair programming, with an emphasis on machine learning and AI practices.
• Provide technical guidance and support in resolving critical production issues, particularly those related to machine learning and AI.
• Collaborate with business and product stakeholders to successfully deliver new machine learning and AI features and capabilities.
• Construct design documents and documentation to aid in maintenance and code reuse, particularly for machine learning and AI systems.
• Have one-on-one meetings with your team members.
• Conduct performance reviews and set accountability for team members

Does This Sound Like You?

• Minimum of 5-7 years in software development, including substantial AI/ML experience.
• Several years in a leadership role, managing and mentoring teams of engineers and data scientists.
• Proven track record in managing complex projects, including planning, execution, and delivery.
• Experience working closely with product managers, data scientists, and other stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of machine learning algorithms, frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch), and programming languages (e.g., Python, Java).
• Strong knowledge of AI/ML concepts, including advanced technologies like Gen AI, LLMs, and semantic search.
• Expertise in data handling, preprocessing, and pipeline development, with proficiency in SQL/NoSQL databases.
• Ability to analyze large datasets, identify trends, and evaluate model performance using various metrics.
• Strong understanding of security architecture and data privacy regulations, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
• Ability to solve complex technical problems and drive innovation with a continuous learning mindset.
• Practical experience in the production implementation of high availability AI/ML systems, ensuring reliability and scalability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of presenting technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to adapt to changing technologies and business requirements, fostering a positive and inclusive team culture

At Loblaw Digital, we are committed to continually strengthening our culture by seeking out exceptional individuals who embody our values, build trust, and forge meaningful connections. Our innovation thrives because our colleagues are passionate about their work and excited about the future of eCommerce. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with some of the brightest digital minds and leverage world-class technologies to create products our customers will love.Even if you are unsure whether your experience matches every requirement, we encourage you to apply. We value diverse perspectives and experiences that can enrich our team.We have a long-standing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, knowing it makes our company a better place to work and shop. We strive to create accessible environments for our colleagues, candidates, and customers. If you need accommodation due to a disability (visible or invisible, temporary or permanent), please let us know at any stage of the application and employment process. We are dedicated to providing equitable opportunities for all.