Lead Machine Learning Engineer, Ad Platforms

Lead Machine Learning Engineer, Ad Platforms

Job :  
Location: Seattle, Washington / Santa Monica, California

Business: Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology

Date posted: Dec. 05, 2025

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is a global organization of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, data scientists, and more – all working to build and advance the technological backbone for Disney’s media business globally. Ad Platforms is responsible for Disney’s industry‑leading ad technology and products – driving advertising performance, innovation, and value across all media platforms.

Our mission is to advance AI and machine learning capabilities across the Ad Platform by delivering scalable, high‑impact AI/ML and data science solutions that enhance ad decisioning, forecasting, experimentation and ad experience. We are seeking a Lead Machine Learning Engineer to join this innovative team.

• Drive innovation and apply state‑of‑the‑art AI and machine learning across advertising domains, including inventory forecasting, ad experience, ad pacing, pricing, targeting, and efficient ad delivery
• Invent and iterate on novel solutions to complex advertising challenges with rapid prototyping and deployment cycles
• Design, build, and scale robust ML systems that power core ad platform capabilities
• Champion engineering excellence through best practices in code quality, system design, and operational reliability
• Mentor and support junior engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and technical growth

• Minimum seven years of hands‑on experience developing and deploying large‑scale machine learning systems
• Strong knowledge of AI/ML technologies, mathematics and statistics
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, and a strong teamwork ethic with both technical and non‑technical audiences
• Strong foundations in algorithms, data structures, and numerical optimization with experience in programming languages such as Python (primary), Java and SQL
• Familiarity with tools and frameworks such as Tensor Flow, PyTorch, Hugging Face libraries and others
• Proven proficiency in deep learning methodologies, including recurrent and sequence‑based models
• Hands‑on experience with transformer architectures (e.g., BERT, GPT, ViT) for natural language and vision tasks
• Strong understanding of multimodal embedding techniques for integrating text, image, audio, and structured data
• Experience with LLM models such as GPT, Claude, Gemini, Llama, etc. and a strong grasp of LLM evaluation methodologies, including RAG architectures
• A proven track record of thriving in a fast‑paced, data‑driven, and collaborative work environment

• Experience in digital video advertising or digital marketing domain
• Experience with forecasting models

Bachelor’s (MS or PhD preferred) in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field

Seattle, Washington / Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica, CA: $171,600 – $230,100 per year;
Seattle: $179,700 – $241,000 per year. Base pay may vary based on equity, skills, and experience. Bonus and/or long‑term incentive units may be provided, in addition to a full range of benefits.

At Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology, we blend imagination and innovation to reimagine how people experience the world’s most beloved stories and products. We build products and platforms that enable connection between people and the stories and sports they love.

The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates are a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise. We create entertainment experiences that are cherished by families worldwide.

Disney Streaming Technology LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law.

The Walt Disney Company and its affiliated companies welcome job seekers with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation, email Candid This address is for accommodation requests only.