Job Summary:
The Walt Disney Company is a global organization focused on building and advancing the technological backbone for Disney’s media business. The Lead Machine Learning Engineer will work across multiple machine learning areas with a primary focus on generative AI applications, driving innovation and applying state-of-the-art AI and machine learning across advertising domains.
Responsibilities:
• Develop, optimize, and productionize innovative technologies in generative AI (mixed media, video, and agentic LLM applications) as well as in traditional ML modeling applications.
• Create, evaluate, improve, optimize technologies
• Drive innovation and apply state of the art AI and machine learning across advertising domains, including inventory forecasting, ad experience, ad pacing, pricing, targeting, and efficient ad delivery.
• Invent and iterate on novel solutions to complex advertising challenges with rapid prototyping and deployment cycles.
• Design, build, and scale robust ML systems that power core ad platform capabilities
• Champion engineering excellence through best practices in code quality, system design, and operational reliability.
• Mentor and support junior engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and technical growth.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor's in computer science or equivalent experience.
• Prior experience rigorously developing, researching, and/or productionizing any of the following generative AI modeling or AI-based editing domains: image, video, mixed media, audio, LLMs, or agentic flows. For example: experience with diffusion models, flow models, similar generative techniques, agentic applications, etc.
• Very strong interest to self-teach via publications and training resources in generative modeling including in generative video and diffusion modeling.
• Experience creating ML datasets (especially in computer vision or generative AI) or developing rigorous quality evaluation processes or data labeling processes. Must include an appreciation for the importance of rigorous quality evaluation processes.
• Experience developing language-processing applications via LLMs or agentic flows.
• Experience in rapid creative prototyping with generative AI is a plus, such as examples of rapid development of creative generative AI prototyping in research labs, hackathons, etc.
• Minimum 7 years of hands-on experience developing and deploying large-scale machine learning systems.
• Strong knowledge of AI/ML technologies, mathematics and statistics.
• Excellent communication, collaboration skills, and a strong teamwork ethic with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong foundations in algorithms, data structures, and numerical optimization with experience in programming languages such as Python (primary), Java and SQL.
• Familiarity with deep learning tools and frameworks such as TensorFlow, Pytorch, Jax, Hugging libraries etc.
• Expert knowledge with traditional (tabular) ML modeling and methods.
• Proven proficiency in deep learning methodologies, fine tuning, and transformer architectures.
• A proven track record of thriving in a fast-paced, data-driven, and collaborative work environment.
• Experience working closely with UX and front end designers building production generative AI products.
Preferred:
• MS or PhD (preferred) in computer science or equivalent experience.
• Experience with multimodal models and embedding techniques.
• Computer vision or visual content understanding experience.
• Experience in digital video advertising or digital marketing domain.
• Diffusion model or generative AI controls research experience. (Otherwise strong interest to learn).
Company:
The Walt Disney Company started as a cartoon studio and evolves into sports coverage and television shows. Founded in 1923, the company is headquartered in Burbank, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.