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Auction Theory Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Instacart

OR · On-site

This is a role for someone who thinks in terms of control theory, constrained optimization, and auction economics, and who can translate those frameworks into production code that makes millions of ...

InMobi

Applied Scientist III

San Mateo, CA

Specifically, our scientists tackle challenges across traffic shaping, fraud detection, ad quality, pricing strategies, and auction theory, along with their practical applications. We leverage the ...

InMobi

Applied Scientist III

San Mateo, CA · On-site

Specifically, our scientists tackle challenges across traffic shaping, fraud detection, ad quality, pricing strategies, and auction theory, along with their practical applications. We leverage the ...

InMobi

Applied Scientist III

San Mateo, CA · On-site

Specifically, our scientists tackle challenges across traffic shaping, fraud detection, ad quality, pricing strategies, and auction theory, along with their practical applications. We leverage the ...

Netflix

Data Scientist 5 - Ads Experimentation

$372K - $600K/yr

Marketplace Dynamics & Auction Theory: Drive the advancement and implementation of biddable media models and dynamically priced auctions. You will develop strategies to optimize marketplace mechanics ...

Netflix

OR

$372K - $600K/yr

Marketplace Dynamics & Auction Theory: Drive the advancement and implementation of biddable media models and dynamically priced auctions. You will develop strategies to optimize marketplace mechanics ...

Netflix

Data Scientist 5 - Ads Experimentation

$372K - $600K/yr

Marketplace Dynamics & Auction Theory: Drive the advancement and implementation of biddable media models and dynamically priced auctions. You will develop strategies to optimize marketplace mechanics ...

Netflix

OR

$372K - $600K/yr

Marketplace Dynamics & Auction Theory: Drive the advancement and implementation of biddable media models and dynamically priced auctions. You will develop strategies to optimize marketplace mechanics ...

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Auction Theory information

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in auction theory roles within organizations?

Professionals specializing in auction theory often encounter challenges such as designing mechanisms that balance fairness and efficiency, interpreting complex bidder behavior, and adapting models to suit varied real-world markets like online advertising or energy trading. Additionally, collaborating with cross-functional teams—including economists, data scientists, and engineers—requires strong communication skills to translate theoretical concepts into practical applications. Staying updated with emerging research and evolving market practices is also essential to ensure solutions remain innovative and effective.

What is the difference between Auction Theory vs Auction Analyst?

AspectAuction TheoryAuction Analyst
Required CredentialsDegree in economics, mathematics, or related field; knowledge of game theoryDegree in finance, economics, or related; analytical skills in auctions
Work EnvironmentResearch-focused, academic or consulting settingsFinancial institutions, auction platforms, or consulting firms
Industry UsageUsed in economic research, policy design, and auction mechanism developmentAnalyzing auction outcomes, advising clients, optimizing bidding strategies

While Auction Theory involves the study and development of auction models and strategies, an Auction Analyst applies these principles practically by analyzing auction data and advising on bidding strategies. Both roles require a strong understanding of economics and mathematics, but Auction Theory is more research-oriented, whereas Auction Analysts focus on real-world application and data analysis.

What is auction theory?

Auction theory is a branch of economics that studies how people behave in auction markets and how different auction designs affect outcomes such as prices and resource allocation. It analyzes bidding strategies, auction formats (like English, Dutch, first-price, and second-price), and the incentives of participants. Researchers and practitioners use auction theory to design auctions that maximize efficiency, revenue, or fairness, and it is widely applied in areas such as government procurement, spectrum sales, and online marketplaces.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Auction Theory Analyst, and why are they important?

To succeed as an Auction Theory Analyst, you typically need a strong background in economics, mathematics, and game theory, often supported by an advanced degree such as a master's or Ph.D. Proficiency with analytical tools like MATLAB, R, or Python, as well as familiarity with economic modeling software, is commonly required. Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills help convey complex concepts and collaborate with stakeholders. These competencies are crucial for designing effective auctions, analyzing bidding strategies, and maximizing value in competitive marketplaces.
Infographic showing various Auction Theory job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution.
Senior Software Engineering Manager, Ads Auction & Marketplace Optimization

Senior Software Engineering Manager, Ads Auction & Marketplace Optimization

Roku

Austin, TX

Other

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

About the team 

The Advertising Performance group focuses on performance for all participants in the Advertising ecosystem - Advertisers, Publishers and Roku. The systems and solutions span across different disciplines and technologies to perform realtime multi-objective optimization with distributed systems at large scale and low latencies. We use Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, AI, Control and Optimization Systems and Auction Dynamics to solve a large set of complex problems. At the core of this is our Machine Learning, Experimentation and Inference Platform that powers the entire landscape which we continuously evolve over time.

About the role 

In this role you will build teams focused on the Ads Auction and Marketplace to optimize yield, gross profit, perform realtime multi-objective optimization across various short and long term objectives, build control and simulation systems, design and run experiments and extend the experimentation framework. 

You will partner closely with other Engineering, Inventory and Product teams to define the vision and strategy for your group and to build and deliver the roadmap.

What you'll be doing 
  • Building teams and mentoring engineers across geographic locations and time zones
  • Defining the strategy and building the long-term roadmap by partnering with Product, Science and Engineering teams
  • Leading the design, implementation, and evolution of real-time ads auction and marketplace systems
  • Building and enhancing core auction capabilities including ad pod construction, bid valuation, ranking, pricing, pacing and budget enforcement
  • Designing auction logic that balances viewer experience (ad load, relevance, repetition) with advertiser performance, publisher yield, platform revenue and gross profit
  • Driving yield and gross profit optimization through auction design, floor strategies, and pricing experiments
  • Leading experimentation using A/B testing, auction simulations, offline replay frameworks, and make data-driven decisions based on performance metrics and statistical rigor
  • Stay at the forefront of advancements in related areas
We're excited if you have 
  • 3+ years of experience leading teams that apply auction theory, quantitative optimization, advanced statistical methods to large, sophisticated datasets
  • 5+ years experience of leading engineering teams from design to implementation, ensuring scalability and reliability
  • Deep mathematical understanding of auction theory, game theory, economics, quantitative optimization and statistics
  • Hands-on experience with Python and Java in a production environment
  • BS or higher in CS, Economics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in the Advertising domain
  • 5+ years of experience applying auction theory, game theory, economics, quantitative optimization, advanced statistical methods to large, sophisticated datasets
  • MS or PhD in CS, Economics, Math or a related quantitative field

Apply