Director, Machine Learning - Search & Recommendation

Upwork Inc.

Austin, Texas, United States
Not specified; individual base pyy depends on skil...
On-site
Lead engineering teams in high-scale environments
Deep technical fluency in distributed systems
Experience with search and recommendation systems
This role involves leading the engineering organization responsible for building systems that connect millions of clients and freelancers globally

Job Summary

  • This role involves leading the engineering organization responsible for building systems that connect millions of clients and freelancers globally.
  • You will define the technical strategy for Upwork's Search & Recommendations platform while aligning investments with long-term business goals.
  • The company offers comprehensive benefits including unlimited PTO, a 401(k) plan with matching, and 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

Matching Summary

This role involves leading the engineering organization responsible for building systems that connect millions of clients and freelancers globally.

Salary

Not specified; Individual base pay depends on skills, qualifications, experience, and location; Eligible for additional compensation components

Skills & Requirements

Must-have

  • Lead engineering teams in high-scale environments
  • Deep technical fluency in distributed systems
  • Experience with search and recommendation systems
  • Proven success leading software and ML engineers
  • Strong understanding of AI-native workflows

Nice-to-have

  • Fostering culture of ownership and inclusion
  • Ability to operate at multiple altitudes
  • Experience with agentic workflows
  • Championing engineering excellence practices
  • Translating technical depth into strategic clarity

Key Requirements

  • Significant experience leading engineering teams
  • Track record of delivering search or ranking systems
  • Ability to guide architecture decisions and mentor senior staff

Work Rights

Not specified

Tailored Resume

Cover Letter