Principal Research Scientist (Recommender Systems)

The Job

The Principal Research Scientist (Recommender systems) will lead large and complex technical projects by developing innovative machine learning algorithms and directing the work of talented Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) researchers and engineers towards building scalable ML solutions for HBO Max. This role will be focused on advancing personalization and recommender systems and search to drive user experience and growth.

The person in the role will partner closely with product, engineering, content, marketing, and research stakeholders across WBD to identify ML opportunities, accelerate AI innovation, and to ensure delivery of impactful solutions for the business.

The Daily

• Develop innovative data science solutions that utilize machine learning and deep learning algorithms, statistical and quantitative modeling approaches to support product, engineering and marketing initiatives.
• Be a hands-on leader to mentor the team in the latest machine learning approaches, and to introduce new technologies and processes.
• Partner with ML engineering leadership to design and develop scalable machine learning systems to accelerate the learning cycle.
• Identify data science opportunities that deliver business value.
• Formulate key areas of the ML/AI roadmap, and educate both internal and external stakeholders at all levels to drive implementation and measurement.
• Provide thought leadership to enable ML/AI applications.
• Develop and evangelize best practices for scoping, building, validating, deploying, and monitoring ML/AI products.
• Prepare and present ML modeling results and analytical insights that help drive the business to senior leadership.

The Essentials

• Masters in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Statistics, Operations Research, or other equivalent quantitative fields (PhD preferred)
• 8 + years of work experience in Machine Learning, AI and Data Science with a proven track record to drive innovation and business impacts
• Strong experience in Recommender systems, personalization systems, collaborative filtering and information retrieval systems.
• Strong machine learning, deep learning, and statistical modeling expertise, such as causal inference modeling, ensembles, neural networks, NLP, reinforcement learning and bandits
• Familiarity and experience with modern large language model based techniques for recommender systems and personalization.
• Advanced knowledge of SQL and experience with big data platform (AWS, Snowflake, Spark, Google Cloud etc.)
• Proficiency in machine learning and deep learning languages and platforms (Python, TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch etc.)
• Experience in deploying machine learning algorithms and advanced modeling solutions
• Proven ability to deliver results in a fast-paced, high-energy environment
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain complex analysis and algorithms to non-technical audience
• Works effectively cross functional teams to build trusted partnership
• Working experience in digital media and entertainment industry preferred