Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Summary

Join Unity's Ads Applied Research team as a Principal Machine Learning Engineer and lead the design, development, and deployment of next-generation ML systems for Unity Ads. You will architect and deploy scalable machine learning systems, drive the technical direction of ML initiatives, translate research into practical solutions, and partner with cross-functional teams. This senior role requires leading experimental design, defining data infrastructure requirements, and promoting best practices for model development. You will also mentor team members and ensure Unity remains at the forefront of ML innovation in ad tech. The position offers a chance to significantly impact Unity's monetization products and shape the overall ML strategy.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, or a related field—or equivalent practical experience
• Proven track record of delivering impactful ML solutions in production, particularly in large-scale, high-throughput systems (e.g., ad tech, recommendation systems, marketplaces)
• Deep expertise in machine learning frameworks and tools (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.) and a strong understanding of modern model architectures
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to formulate and validate complex hypotheses using large datasets
• Excellent communication skills, capable of articulating technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience leading ML initiatives and mentoring other engineers or researchers
• Familiarity with data pipelines, model ops, and cloud ML deployment

Responsibilities

• Architect and deploy scalable, production-grade machine learning systems to optimize ad delivery, bidding strategies, and user engagement
• Drive the technical direction of ML initiatives—identifying key opportunities, defining roadmaps, and mentoring team members across disciplines
• Translate state-of-the-art research into practical solutions, ensuring Unity remains at the forefront of ML performance and innovation in the ad tech space
• Partner cross-functionally with data science, product, and engineering teams to align ML capabilities with strategic business goals
• Lead experimental design, performance evaluation, and model tuning for high-impact use cases
• Define requirements for data infrastructure, tooling, and processes to support advanced ML initiatives
• Promote best practices for model development, testing, deployment, and monitoring

Preferred Qualifications

International relocation support is not available for this position