Senior Software Engineer, Machine Learning (Ads)

Discord is used by over 200 million people every month for many different reasons, but there’s one thing that nearly everyone does on our platform: play video games. Over 90% of our users play games, spending a combined 1.5 billion hours playing thousands of unique titles on Discord each month. Discord plays a uniquely important role in the future of gaming. We are focused on making it easier and more fun for people to talk and hang out before, during, and after playing games.

We are looking for a Senior Software Engineer specializing in Machine Learning to join our Revenue ML team at Discord. This team partners with our revenue product groups, focusing on both consumer revenue and our emerging Ads initiative. This role will specifically contribute to our Ads ML efforts, helping to build and scale ML capabilities in areas such as ads measurement, targeting, and delivery ranking.

As part of this team, you will play a critical role in developing foundational ML models that enhance ad relevance, optimize performance, and drive revenue. This is a unique opportunity to work on an early-stage Ads ML platform and have a direct impact on the business’s success. Our tech stack includes Python, ML frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch, large-scale data infrastructure, and real-time ad-serving technologies.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Design, develop, and deploy machine learning models for ads measurement, targeting, and ranking.
• Improve our ads measurement framework by integrating first-party and third-party data to provide accurate campaign performance insights.
• Develop sophisticated ML models to infer user interests, enhance ad targeting.
• Build and optimize ad ranking models to serve the most effective ads based on campaign objectives (e.g., app installs, impression delivery).
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product, engineering, and business teams to define and execute on the Ads ML roadmap.
• Scale our ML infrastructure to support an increasing number of concurrent ad campaigns while ensuring low-latency decision-making.
• Drive research and implementation of state-of-the-art ML techniques in the field of online advertising.

What You Should Have:

• 5+ years of experience as a Machine Learning Engineer or Data Scientist.
• 3+ years of experience specifically in Ads ML (ads ranking, personalization, optimization, user profiling, targeting, or measurement).
• Strong proficiency in Python and experience building ML models for large-scale applications.
• Proven track record of designing, implementing, and scaling ML-driven ad systems in real-world applications.
• Experience working with real-time ML inference, A/B testing, and optimization frameworks.
• Strong understanding of performance advertising and how ML impacts revenue and advertiser retention.
• The ability to thrive in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment and build systems from the ground up.

Bonus Skills:

• Experience with large-scale data infrastructure and distributed computing.
• Familiarity with deep learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.
• Knowledge of ad tech industry standards and third-party measurement solutions.

#LI-Remote

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $202,000 to $222,000 + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role and level. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include equity, or benefits.

Why Discord? 

Discord plays a uniquely important role in the future of gaming. We're a multiplatform, multigenerational and multiplayer platform that helps people deepen their friendships around games and shared interests. We believe games give us a way to have fun with our favorite people, whether listening to music together or grinding in competitive matches for diamond rank. Join us in our mission! Your future is just a click away!

Check out our inclusion, diversity and purpose efforts, company principles, or learn more about the Life @ Discord experience!