Machine Learning Engineer, Instacart

• The ideal candidate for this role will bring a combination of experience in both economics and machine learning
• This might be a recent economics PhD graduate with relevant research experience, typically in computationally intensive empirical topics, as well as some exposure to machine learning coursework and applications
• We are also interested in candidates with industry experience in the creation, deployment, and maintenance of machine learning models at scale, especially if they have some background or experience in economics or an economics-adjacent field
• More senior candidates are also welcome to apply
• Graduate-level research experience on data-intense problems or 1+ years of industry experience in machine learning or economics-focused roles
• A blend of economic theory, applied econometrics, and business skills that let you jump into a fast-paced environment and contribute from day one
• Expertise in causal inference with observational and experimental data
• Strong engineering skills with expertise in R or Python and fluency in data manipulation (SQL, Pandas) and machine learning (scikit-learn, XGBoost, Keras/Tensorflow) tools
• An ability to identify and prioritize high-impact problems and deliver solutions that provide reasonable trade-offs between urgency and quality
• Willing and able to travel internationally based on job requirements
• Self-motivation and a strong sense of ownership

Desirable

• We are looking for economists and machine learning engineers to join our fast-moving team
• The Economics team at Instacart works on a range of interesting and challenging problems, from aligning the incentives in our multi-sided marketplace to analyzing the role of prices and product placement in our customers' decision-making
• Some of the core areas of focus for our team include pricing, online advertising, uplift and long term value modeling, and general causal inference
• You will help design and build end-to-end machine learning solutions
• You will be working in small and cross-functional product teams, with great opportunities for growth and ownership of projects
• You will be an active member of an internal community, including economists, data scientists, operations research scientists and machine learning engineers, sharing learnings, best practices and research across many domains
• You will develop high impact solutions to support Instacart's ambitious growth plans
• You will work closely with engineers, product managers, other teams, and both internal and external stakeholders, owning a large part of the process from problem understanding to recommending a solution and testing it in controlled experiments
• You will have the freedom to suggest and drive organization-wide initiatives

• Wellness Tailored to You: Medical, dental, vision, retirement, life & disability coverage right alongside physical & mental wellness programs, memberships and stipends to keep you and your family feeling your best.
• Family Building Benefits: No matter where you are in your family journey, we support you. Our plans cover modern family planning for all. We offer leave for all parents, flexible working schedules and an active Parents@ community.
• Work From Home Stipend: We help outfit your WFH setup and offer reimbursements so you can be your most productive while at home.
• Flexible Time Off: We all recharge differently. Take the time you need with our flexible time off policy and company-wide Self-Checkouts where we encourage everyone to sign off.
• Learning & Development: Whether you're just starting your career or leading teams, we provide customized L&D programs to help you grow and an annual allowance to pursue your development.
• Future Planning: We have you covered as you plan for your future. 401(k) matching in the US and RRSP in Canada, student loan assistance through Peanut Butter, free Rocket Lawyer membership, SoFi & First Republic financial planning and more.
• Four Year Fill-Up: We encourage our tenured employees to take longer breaks and truly unplug by doing something they love – typically four consecutive weeks around the four year mark.
• Community Connection: Support the communities you care about with volunteer weeks and get involved with our social impact program, Instacart Serves.
• Instacart Express Membership: We help keep your fridge stocked. Unlock grocery discounts with our Instacart Beta app while testing our latest features.

Total funding: $2.9bn

Instacart is an online grocery marketplace that operates a pick-up and delivery system in the US and Canada. Unlike standard grocery shopping, Instacart sends a “personal shopper” to your local store to buy your products, who then delivers them straight to your door on the same day via their own car. The company also supplies the Instacart Platform, with services for stores encompassing eCommerce, fulfilment, in-store, ads, and insights.