Principal ML Engineer, Recommendation Systems

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Launch Potato is seeking a Principal ML Engineer for Recommendation Systems to lead personalization across billions of predictions with a remote-first team and a base in Salt Lake City, UT. The role requires 10+ years designing and deploying large-scale ML systems, deep expertise in personalization, and a proven zero to one track record with patents, publications, or clear product impact. You will set the technical vision, define company-wide personalization architecture, and build reusable infrastructure while solving cold start, real-time learning, and exploration/exploitation, plus mentor senior engineers and represent the company externally. Must-haves include mastery of deep learning, causal inference, multi-armed bandits, and graph models, and a commitment to privacy preserving and responsible AI. To apply, tailor your CV and cover letter to show scalable ML platforms, cross-functional delivery, and measurable business KPIs; highlight leadership, strategic influence, and any public speaking or publications. Base salary ranges 160,000 to 250,000 plus profit sharing and strong benefits; Launch Potato is an equal opportunity employer.

WHO ARE WE?

Launch Potato is a profitable digital media company that reaches over 30M+ monthly visitors through brands such as FinanceBuzz, All About Cookies, and OnlyInYourState.

As The Discovery and Conversion Company, our mission is to connect consumers with the world’s leading brands through data-driven content and technology.

Headquartered in South Florida with a remote-first team spanning over 15 countries, we’ve built a high-growth, high-performance culture where speed, ownership, and measurable impact drive success.

WHY JOIN US?

At Launch Potato, you’ll accelerate your career by owning outcomes, moving fast, and driving impact with a global team of high-performers.

BASE SALARY: $160,000 to $250,000 per year, paid semi-monthly

MUST HAVE:

• Expertise building ML systems with deep expertise in large-scale personalization
• Recognized industry expertise through patents, publications, or significant product impact
• Proven success architecting ML platforms serving billions of predictions in production
• Demonstrated track record of 0→1 innovation in personalization or recommender systems
• Mastery across multiple ML domains including deep learning, causal inference, multi-armed bandits, and graph-based models

EXPERIENCE: 10+ years designing, developing, and deploying large-scale machine learning systems with a focus on personalization

YOUR ROLE
Establish the technical vision for personalization at Launch Potato, solving the company’s most complex ML challenges and influencing strategy, architecture, and innovation across teams.

OUTCOMES

• Define company-wide personalization strategy and architecture, driving alignment across all ML teams
• Solve critical technical challenges such as cold start, real-time learning, and exploration/exploitation tradeoffs
• Design and implement advanced ML solutions using cutting-edge techniques (e.g., graph neural networks, causal models, bandit algorithms)
• Create and enforce ML architecture patterns, design standards, and reusable infrastructure across teams
• Lead multi-quarter, cross-functional initiatives that redefine how personalization impacts business KPIs
• Act as technical mentor to senior ML engineers, guiding complex decision-making and scaling team capability
• Represent Launch Potato’s technical brand externally through speaking engagements, open source contributions, or publications
• Champion privacy-preserving personalization, responsible AI practices, and adaptive learning systems

COMPETENCIES

• Visionary Thinking: Defines the future state of ML infrastructure and personalization strategy. Balances deep technical rigor with a strong understanding of product impact.
• Architectural Excellence: Designs scalable, modular systems that support billions of predictions and enable rapid experimentation. Sets high standards for maintainability and performance.
• Technical Influence: Drives decision-making and builds consensus across teams and stakeholders without direct authority. Provides trusted guidance in ambiguous situations.
• Expert-Level Execution: Navigates deep technical complexity while maintaining execution velocity. Translates research insights into production-ready solutions.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Coaches senior engineers, facilitates technical reviews, and raises the technical bar for the entire organization.
• External Thought Leadership: Represents LP in the ML community and contributes to growing its reputation as a leader in ML innovation.
• Curious & Forward-Looking: Constantly explores new approaches to personalization and actively prototypes cutting-edge methodologies.

TOTAL COMPENSATION
Base salary is set according to market rates for the nearest major metro and varies based on Launch Potato’s Levels Framework. Your compensation package includes a base salary, profit-sharing bonus, and competitive benefits. Launch Potato is a performance-driven company, which means once you are hired, future increases will be based on company and personal performance, not annual cost-of-living adjustments.

Want to accelerate your career? Apply now!

Since day one, we've been committed to having a diverse, inclusive team and culture. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity company. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.