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Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Autopilot

Liftoff is the leading growth acceleration platform for the mobile industry, helping advertisers, publishers, game developers and DSPs scale revenue growth with solutions to market and monetize mobile apps.

Liftoff’s solutions, including Accelerate, Direct, Influence, Monetize, Intelligence, and Vungle Exchange, support over 6,600 mobile businesses across 74 countries in sectors such as gaming, social, finance, ecommerce, and entertainment. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Redwood City, CA, Liftoff has a diverse, global presence.

About the Autopilot Team

The Autopilot team is responsible for developing and maintaining Liftoff’s budget pacing system, a critical component of our Accelerate product. Accelerate allows customers to set a defined advertising budget with daily spend limits, and the Autopilot system intelligently determines how to allocate that budget throughout the day. Our goal is to maximize the utility and performance of each ad dollar spent by dynamically adjusting spend pacing and optimizing ad opportunities in real time. The Autopilot team builds the systems and algorithms that ensure our clients’ budgets are used efficiently and effectively, driving high-value outcomes at scale.

As a Machine Learning Engineer on the Bidding Intelligence group, you will:

  • Build state-of-the-art deep learning models to make accurate bidding decisions in millions of auctions per second
  • Work with an experienced team of ML, Software, and Infrastructure Engineers
  • Design, engineer & implement reliable, scalable, and cost-efficient systems
  • Achieve core business objectives by enabling next generation ML models and technologies
  • Utilize vendor-based products (AWS, Weights & Biases, etc.), open source technologies (PyTorch, PySpark, etc.), and in-house tooling

Desired qualities and experiences:

  • 6+ years of industry experience in Machine Learning, Software Engineering and/or Infrastructure
  • 3+ years of industry experience applying Machine Learning to large scale problems
  • Very strong coding ability
  • Good team communication and collaboration skills
  • B.S. or higher in Computer Science (PhD is a plus)

Nice to have:

  • Previous experience in ad-tech
  • Experience building machine learning tooling and/or platforms
  • Python, Golang
  • ML, PyTorch, PySpark
  • Game theory, auction theory

Location:

This role is eligible for full-time remote work in one of our entities: CA, CO, ID, IL, FL, GA, MA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NV, NY, OR, TX, UT, and WA.

We are a remote-first company with US hubs in Redwood City, Los Angeles, and New York City.

Travel Expectations:
We offer several opportunities for in-person team gatherings, including but not limited to project meetings, regional meetups, and company-wide events. We expect our employees to attend these gatherings at least once per quarter. These gatherings provide essential opportunities for collaboration, communication, and team building.

Compensation: 

Liftoff offers all employees a full compensation package that includes equity and health/vision/dental benefits associated with your country of residence. Base compensation will vary based on candidate's location and experience. The following are our base salary ranges for this role: 

  • SF Bay Area, NYC, Los Angeles/Orange County: $220,000 - $260,000
  • Seattle/Olympia, Austin, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Boston: $200,000 - $240,000 
  • All other cities and towns in our approved states: $190,000 - $225,000 

#LI-EL1


We use Covey as part of our hiring and/or promotional process for jobs in NYC and certain features may qualify it as an AEDT. As part of the evaluation process we provide Covey with job requirements and candidate-submitted applications. We began using Covey Scout for Inbound on January 22, 2024.

Please see the independent bias audit report covering our use of Covey here.

Liftoff is committed to providing and maintaining a work environment where all employees and candidates are treated with dignity and respect and that is free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. Liftoff is further committed to providing an equal employment opportunity for all employees and candidates for employment free from discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, gender (including sexual harassment, gender harassment, and harassment due to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, gender nonconformity, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, ancestry (including association, affiliation, or participation with persons or activities related to national origin, English-proficiency or accent, or immigration status), physical or mental disability, medical condition(s), genetic information of an individual or family member of the individual, marital or domestic partner status, age, veteran or military status, family care status, requesting or taking pregnancy, parental or disability leave, requesting an accommodation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance. All such discrimination and harassment is unlawful and will not be tolerated. Liftoff maintains a continued commitment to equal employment opportunity and expects the full cooperation of all personnel.

 

Liftoff's Compensation Strategy

Liftoff's compensation strategy includes competitive market rate along with equity and benefits and perks that will give our employees what they need to do their best work. In order to ensure teams are compensated fairly for the work performed, we map out specific levels and take into consideration the cost of labor within each location. Liftoff provides employees a total compensation package of competitive market salaries, equity, health and wellness stipends, medical benefits associated with your country of residence. The base compensation will vary based on location, experience as well as level.

 

Agency and Third Party Recruiter Notice:

Liftoff does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies in response to job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers or Recruiting Team. All candidates must be submitted via our Applicant Tracking System by approved Liftoff vendors who have been expressly requested to make a submission by our Recruiting Team for a specific job opening. No placement fees will be paid to any firm unless such a request has been made by the Liftoff Recruiting Team and such a candidate was submitted to the Liftoff Recruiting Team via our Applicant Tracking System.

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CEO of Liftoff
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Jeremy Bondy
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Average salary estimate

$225000 / YEARLY (est.)
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$190000K
$260000K

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What You Should Know About Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Autopilot, Liftoff

As a Staff Machine Learning Engineer at Liftoff, you'll join an innovative team dedicated to redefining how advertisers effectively manage their budgets in the mobile space. Liftoff, a leader in growth acceleration for the mobile industry, offers a vibrant environment where your expertise can shape the future of app monetization. In this role, you'll be at the heart of our Autopilot team, developing cutting-edge algorithms that empower our customers to maximally utilize their advertising budgets. Collaborating with talented professionals, you will build advanced deep learning models, enhancing our system that smartly adjusts clients' ad spending in real-time to optimize performance across millions of auctions every second. You'll employ a range of technologies from AWS to open-source frameworks like PyTorch, ensuring your solutions are scalable and efficient. We’re looking for someone with substantial experience in Machine Learning and Software Engineering who thrives in a team-oriented setting. If you enjoy problem-solving and have a passion for ad-tech, Liftoff is the perfect place to further your career while making a significant impact.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Autopilot Role at Liftoff
What are the primary responsibilities of a Staff Machine Learning Engineer at Liftoff?

As a Staff Machine Learning Engineer at Liftoff, your main responsibilities will include developing and maintaining advanced deep learning models for our Autopilot system. You'll also work closely with multidisciplinary teams to implement scalable solutions that enhance budget management capabilities for clients, ensuring that advertising budgets are allocated effectively across various platforms.

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What qualifications are required for the Staff Machine Learning Engineer position at Liftoff?

To qualify for the Staff Machine Learning Engineer position at Liftoff, candidates should possess at least 6 years of experience in Machine Learning, Software Engineering, or Infrastructure. A strong background in coding is essential, alongside a B.S. in Computer Science or a related field, with a PhD considered a plus. Previous experience in ad-tech and knowledge of ML frameworks such as PyTorch and PySpark will also be advantageous.

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What technologies will a Staff Machine Learning Engineer at Liftoff be working with?

At Liftoff, a Staff Machine Learning Engineer will work with a variety of technologies, including AWS for cloud solutions, and frameworks such as PyTorch and PySpark for machine learning tasks. You will also engage in designing and implementing systems using in-house tools and open-source technologies, focusing on building robust and scalable models for advertising budget optimization.

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How does the Autopilot system benefit clients using Liftoff's services?

The Autopilot system at Liftoff allows clients to set defined advertising budgets with daily spending limits. By intelligently pacing and optimizing ad opportunities throughout the day, it maximizes the performance and value derived from each ad dollar, ensuring that clients achieve higher spending efficiency and return on investment in their advertising strategies.

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Is remote work an option for the Staff Machine Learning Engineer role at Liftoff?

Yes, the Staff Machine Learning Engineer role at Liftoff is eligible for full-time remote work within certain states in the U.S. Liftoff embraces a remote-first work culture, providing flexibility and the opportunity for employees to collaborate virtually while engaging in essential in-person team gatherings regularly.

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Common Interview Questions for Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Autopilot
Can you explain your experience with machine learning algorithms relevant to ad-tech?

When answering this question, you should highlight specific machine learning models you have developed or enhanced, particularly those that apply to large-scale auction environments or budget optimization in advertising. Mention any results or impact your models have had on business outcomes.

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Describe a challenging problem you faced while implementing a machine learning solution?

Use this question to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Discuss a real scenario where you encountered significant hurdles, the approach you took to overcome them, and the ultimate success of your solution, emphasizing how it relates to your role at Liftoff.

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How do you ensure that machine learning models remain unbiased and fair?

It's crucial to mention the methodologies you use to evaluate model bias, such as fairness metrics, and your processes for training data validation. Highlight any experience you have with bias audits or using diverse datasets to train your models more equitably.

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What coding languages are you most proficient in, and how do they relate to machine learning?

Discuss your expertise in languages such as Python and Golang, stressing how your coding skills have been applied in building machine learning solutions. Make sure to relate these to specific frameworks or libraries you have used in your projects.

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How do you approach collaboration in a cross-functional team?

Share your strategies for effective communication and collaboration with team members from different backgrounds. Emphasize any tools or methods you use to ensure alignment and productivity in achieving shared goals.

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What strategies do you use to keep up with the latest trends in machine learning?

Talk about your methods for continuous learning, such as following key publications, attending conferences, or participating in online courses. Mention any specific aspects of machine learning in ad-tech that particularly interest you.

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How do you measure the success of a machine learning model?

Explain the various metrics you consider, such as accuracy, precision, recall, and business-related KPIs. Additionally, discuss how you might use A/B testing or other methods to evaluate model performance in a real-time bidding environment.

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Can you share an example of a machine learning project you led?

Provide a concise overview of a significant project where you led the design and implementation of a machine learning solution. Focus on the challenges, your leadership role, and the final results achieved, tailoring your response to align with the objectives at Liftoff.

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What do you find most exciting about working in ad-tech?

Your answer should reflect your passion for the intersection of technology and marketing. You might talk about the dynamic nature of ad-tech, the opportunities for innovation it presents, and how it impacts the way businesses connect with consumers.

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How do you handle feedback and criticism regarding your work?

Discuss your openness to feedback as a vital part of personal and professional growth. Share how you have incorporated constructive criticism in the past to improve your machine learning models or work performance.

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Full-time, remote
DATE POSTED
April 5, 2025

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