Lead Machine Learning Engineer

1stDibs is a one-of-a-kind online marketplace that connects design lovers to more than one million extraordinary pieces, from furniture and fine art to jewelry and fashion. As a leading global marketplace for design lovers, we enable shoppers to discover beautiful things and engage with top sellers from around the world. We encourage our shoppers to interact with sellers throughout all stages of the transaction, including item inquiries, price negotiations and customization requests.

As the Lead Machine Learning Engineer at 1stDibs, you will be a key driver in shaping the future of our marketplace by developing intelligent, data-driven products that enhance the user experience and drive business growth.

The Machine Learning team is at the core of the 1stDibs experience. We are responsible for the algorithms that power our search engine, recommendation systems, and pricing insights. As a Lead Machine Learning Engineer, you will tackle some of our most impactful challenges, from optimizing search relevance and ranking to building top-of-the-funnel recommendation models that inspire our discerning clientele. Your work will directly influence how millions of design lovers discover and connect with the world's most beautiful things.

What You Will Do:

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of scalable machine learning models and services for core business areas, including search relevance, advertising, pricing, and recommendations.
• Architect and build robust, production-grade ML pipelines and REST APIs to serve models at scale.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to understand business requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Drive innovation by researching and experimenting with new algorithms and technologies to solve complex problems.
• Own the end-to-end lifecycle of machine learning projects, from initial ideation and data analysis to deployment, monitoring, and iteration.

Who You Are:

• You have 5+ years of hands-on experience building and deploying machine learning models in a production environment.
• You possess a strong understanding of core ML algorithms, including classification, regression, ranking, and recommendation systems, and know when to apply them.
• You are proficient in Python and common ML frameworks like Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch.
• You have proven experience building and maintaining production services and REST APIs, demonstrating strong software engineering fundamentals.
• You have experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure) for deploying and managing ML workloads.
• You are a strategic thinker with the ability to connect machine learning initiatives to tangible business and product outcomes.
• You are a strong communicator and collaborator, capable of leading complex projects and working effectively with cross-functional teams.

Nice to Haves:

• Experience with Large Language Models (LLMs) and their application in areas like search or recommendations.
• Experience with MLOps principles and tools (e.g., MLflow, Kubeflow).
• Familiarity with search technologies such as Elasticsearch or Solr.
• Previous experience working in an e-commerce or online marketplace environment.

Our overall compensation package is made of several parts, base compensation being one of them. At 1stDibs we value and are proud of our culture, innovation, professional development and training workshops, trust and giving back to the community.  Equity, a comprehensive benefits package, and incentive (IF APPLICABLE)  are all are components of your total compensation package.  Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors.

The 1stDibs mission, to enrich lives with the extraordinary, can only be achieved when diversity, equity and inclusion are embedded into our values, culture and the way we do business. Enabling access to and celebrating unique and diverse perspectives is at the very core of what we do. We are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent in the industry, who are reflective of the diversity of our communities, and fostering an environment where every individual feels they belong, are valued and heard. As a leading design marketplace, we leverage the power of our platform and brand to empower historically underrepresented individuals, and the businesses they own, across the art and design industries.

Total Compensation Statement 

1stDibs views the value of the employees' compensation package in its totality. The package may comprise base salary, variable compensation (either equity or cash, where applicable), and health and work-life benefits, and is reviewed annually. Ultimately, we'll determine your pay based on your location, experience, and other job-related factors. 

Benefits (US based positions)

• Competitive medical/dental/vision benefits, including a $0 single medical plan, with HSA employer contributions. Health plan includes gender affirmation and infertility care.
• We are flexible with our PTO. We generally expect employees take around 15 days/year.
• All employees enjoy ownership in 1stDibs in RSUs, through new hire grants, and/or annual refresh grants, if eligible.
• The choice to work in our New York headquarters, with monthly in-office meals and mixers, and happy hours, and/or the option to work completely remotely. We truly prioritize flexibility for all employees.
• Fully paid wellness benefits, including One Medical membership and WellHub.
• Fully paid parental leave, leave to care for a family member, and bereavement leave, including reproductive loss.
• Company match of donations to 501c3 charities, up to $250/year.
• Full benefits package includes FSA, life and disability insurance, EAP, commuter benefits, and more.