Machine Learning Manager, Wayfair
Advertising Science
A global online homeware marketplace
Open for applications
A global online homeware marketplace
1001+ employees
Open for applications
1001+ employees
Company mission
To help everyone, anywhere create their feeling of home.
Role
Who you are
- 6+ years of experience (ideally 2+ years in a lead/manager role) building advanced machine learning models that solve real-world problems
- Strong theoretical grasp of machine learning concepts combined with hands-on expertise in deploying web-scale ML-based decision-making systems into production
- A hands-on, technical manager who can engage deeply with both core algorithm development and system design/architecture
- Experience with data-driven opportunity sizing, prioritization, and a bias towards building iteratively and learning as you go
- Comfortable making complex decisions (even in the face of ambiguity), making pragmatic trade-offs, and using goal-setting frameworks (e.g., OKRs)
- Proven track record of coaching and mentoring junior ML scientists and engineers — ranging from fresh PhD graduates to experienced ML scientists
- Experience working with commercial stakeholders to translate business objectives into appropriately scoped ML models/systems, ensuring alignment between commercial and ML objectives
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and steer strategy based on data-driven recommendations and analysis
- Familiarity with ML model development frameworks, orchestration, and pipelines, with experience in Airflow, Kubeflow, or MLFlow, as well as Spark, Kubernetes, Docker, Python, and SQL
Desirable
- Experience building intelligent bidding and/or advertising systems (e.g., CPC bidding, tROAS) for eCommerce or other two-sided marketplaces
- Experience with online learning, reinforcement learning (RL), or ML-based control systems
What the job involves
- We are looking for an experienced ML Manager to lead a newly-formed team focused on building intelligent ML-based bidding systems (e.g. tROAS, dynamic bidding, smart campaigns) for Wayfair’s “Sponsored Products” advertising business
- You will have the opportunity to develop 0-to-1 capabilities that unlock significant commercial value and contribute directly to Wayfair’s bottom line
- You will partner closely with talented engineers and scientists to tackle some of Wayfair’s most intellectually challenging machine learning, latency, and scalability problems
- Wayfair's SMART (Search, Marketing, and Recommendations Technology) team is at the forefront of shaping how millions of customers discover and engage with products
- We leverage cutting-edge machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data-driven strategies to deliver personalized shopping experiences
- As a member of our SMART team, you'll be responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing systems that enhance search capabilities, develop highly relevant product recommendations, and drive innovative marketing solutions
- Lead the Intelligent Bidding pod within the Advertising Science Machine Learning group, responsible for building 0-to-1 intelligent bidding capabilities (e.g., target ROAS, dynamic bidding) for Wayfair’s advertising platform
- Hire, develop, and coach a talented team of ML scientists to build scalable ML decision-making systems that directly contribute to Wayfair’s bottom line
- Partner closely with cross-functional teams across engineering, science, analytics, and product to develop a science strategy and roadmap for Supplier Ads bidding systems
- Design, build, deploy, and refine extensible, reusable, large-scale platforms that improve supplier experience, ROAS, and ad spend on Wayfair’s Sponsored Products
- Build robust monitoring, alerting, and edge-case handling mechanisms
- Collaborate with multiple science and engineering teams to drive the robust integration of our smart bidding platform with existing infrastructure and systems
- Research new developments in advertising, sorting, recommendations, and open-source packages, incorporating them into our internal systems
Our take
Wayfair emerged in the early era of eCommerce with a mission to revolutionize online shopping, offering customers a convenient platform to purchase goods. Today, it stands as one of the foremost global players in the online furniture delivery industry, boasting an impressive inventory of over 33 million products.
Renowned for its extensive product range and comprehensive service offerings, Wayfair distinguishes itself by providing an end-to-end customer experience, from browsing to doorstep delivery. Despite its prominence, the company faces profitability challenges attributed largely to expansion expenses. Nonetheless, its solid presence in the competitive online homeware sector solidifies its position as a key contender.
With ambitious global expansion plans, Wayfair remains committed to maintaining its leadership in the industry. As it aspires to become the ultimate destination for all home needs, its more recent ventures into physical retail represent significant strides toward this overarching goal.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Some candidates hear
back within 2 weeks
-14% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Company values
- Relentless Customer Focus: Delivering an exceptional customer experience drives everything we do. We invest in understanding our customers and partners. We are all in customer service
- Deliver Rsults With Agility: We prioritize work that drives long-term value. We execute with urgency, learn from failure, and nimbly pivot. The outcomes of our efforts are impactful, measurable results
- Use Good Judgement: We are bold and confident, never reckless. We make reasoned, calculated decisions based on data, critical thinking, and pattern recognition
- Build the Best Team: We lead by setting the bar high, articulating clear goals, and diving deep. We hire, develop, and leverage only the best. Our leaders continually reevaluate and strengthen their teams and do not shy away from hard decisions. We expect and demonstrate excellence
- Collaborate Effectively: We invest in cross-functional global partnerships that maximize impact and minimize duplication. We prize collaboration in all interactions – with our teammates, stakeholders, and suppliers. We disagree, align, and commit. Effectiveness and efficiency in collaboration are required.
- Respect Others: We earn and show respect, treating our teammates and partners with empathy and inclusion. We presume good intent while prioritizing impact. We balance confidence and candor with humility and kindness.
- Be an Owner: We are Wayfair first. We act on what’s best for the company, ahead of team or individual goals. We spend every dollar as if it is our own. We take pride in Wayfair’s success while planning the next win. We always think long-term
- Innovate & Improve: We are not limited by precedent. We boldly challenge the norm. We continually identify opportunities to innovate, improve, and simplify. We value incremental improvements, but we also look for game-changing breakthroughs.
- Adapt & Grow: We value adaptability and self-reflection. We find opportunity in every change, experience, and mistake. We are committed to continuous self-improvement.
Company HQ
Prudential / St. Botolph, Boston, MA
Articles
Leadership
Niraj Shah
(Co-Founder & CEO)Studied Engineering at Cornell University before co-founding Spinners, a Boston-based IT services company. Previously acted as Entrepreneur in Residence for Greylock and has served as CEO of Wayfair since co-founding the company in 2002.
Steven Conine
(Co-Founder)Co-founded Spinners before working for Operations at iXL. Conine also co-founded Pillar VC in 2016.
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