Senior Manager, Machine Learning Research Science

Are you ready to revolutionize the advertising industry?

At Cognitiv, we are not just another AdTech company—we are industry trailblazers redefining media buying with our Deep Learning Advertising Platform. Since 2015, we have harnessed the power of cutting-edge deep learning technology and data science to transform how brands connect with their customers. Our mission? To bring intelligence to advertising and deliver unparalleled precision, relevance, and impact at scale.

With our innovative platform, advertisers enjoy unprecedented flexibility—whether it is activating Dynamic Deals through their preferred DSP, leveraging our managed service DSP, or utilizing our industry-first ContextGPT product. As a part of Cognitiv, you will be at the forefront of AI-driven advertising solutions, driving change and achieving remarkable growth in a rapidly evolving industry.

Now, we’re growing—and we’re looking for a Machine Learning Research Leader to scale and guide our world-class ML science team.

This position will be located in San Mateo, CA with a hybrid work schedule of 3 days in office (Mon/Tue/Wed) and 2 days remote (Thursday/Friday).

The role

We are seeking a technical leader who can balance strategic leadership with hands-on contributions. You’ll oversee a growing team of ML research scientists, guide innovation in deep learning and LLMs, and directly advance Cognitiv’s real-time bidding and recommendation systems. This role is critical to our success, sitting at the intersection of cutting-edge research and production-scale delivery.

What You'll Do

• Lead and Mentor. You manage and grow a team of Machine Learning Research Scientists, fostering a collaborative, innovative environment while mentoring individuals on both technical challenges and career development.
• Set Strategic Direction. You define and execute the vision for machine learning research within the adtech domain, representing the team in strategic discussions and contributing to company-wide initiatives.
• Drive Technical Innovation. You oversee the design and implementation of cutting-edge deep learning architectures, staying current with LLM research and guiding the integration of new breakthroughs into Cognitiv’s solutions.
• Stay Hands-On. You actively contribute through coding, experimentation, and code reviews, ensuring technical excellence and adherence to best practices.
• Advance AdTech Performance. You continuously improve models and algorithms to drive ad targeting, real-time bidding performance, and audience relevance.
• Enable Scalable Systems. You collaborate with operations, engineering, and cross-functional partners to refine data pipelines, model deployment, and monitoring systems.
• Deliver Results. You manage project timelines, resources, and deliverables, ensuring successful completion of high-impact research initiatives.

Tech Stack

• Core Tools – Python, PyTorch, deep learning architectures (transformers, recommendation models).
• Traditional ML – XGBoost, PCA.
• Big Data / Infra – Spark, Hadoop, distributed training systems.
• Cloud Platforms – AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• Bonus – C .

Who You Are

• Experienced Leader with Advanced Education. You have a Master’s or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, and 5–7 years of experience in machine learning R&D. You’ve led teams of researchers and senior ICs/PhDs, balancing leadership with 30–50% hands-on contribution (coding, reviews, experimentation).
• Deep Learning, LLMs & Model Tuning. You bring deep technical expertise in PyTorch, transformers, and Large Language Models (LLMs), with proven experience in large-scale training and fine-tuning of deep neural networks.
• Machine Learning Breadth. You understand both deep learning and traditional ML techniques (e.g., XGBoost, PCA) and know how to apply the right approach to the right problem.
• Engineering Excellence. You’re proficient in Python with strong foundations in algorithms, data structures, and software engineering principles, and you’ve built models in real-time, high-throughput systems (e.g., recommender systems, adtech).
• Production Experience. You’ve developed, deployed, and optimized machine learning models in production, working with distributed systems, cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), and big data frameworks (Hadoop, Spark).
• Strong Communicator. You excel at written and verbal communication, project management, and driving alignment in fast-paced, dynamic environments.

Bonus Points If You Have

• AdTech & RTB Experience. Prior exposure to advertising technology and real-time bidding (RTB) systems is a strong plus.
• Distributed Systems & Cloud. Familiarity with big data frameworks (Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• C Skills. Strong C programming ability is a significant advantage alongside Python expertise.
• Research & Community Impact. A track record of published research or meaningful contributions to the machine learning community.
• Bridging Research and Delivery. Experience managing both exploratory research timelines and production-grade delivery cycles.

Life At Cognitiv: Our solutions provide advertisers with more time and freedom to concentrate on what matters to them most, both professionally and personally. We carry this philosophy into our workplace, offering our employees more chances to grow, collaborate, and achieve their goals. At Cognitiv, you will get MORE:

• Festiv - Fun and positivity are integral to our work environment. From cross-departmental games to friendly competitions and unique events, we ensure a dynamic and enthusiastic culture.
• Responsiv - Making a difference for our clients is at the heart of what we do. To make this one of our superpowers, we strive to create a culture of open communication and continuous learning. You will work closely with clients and key company stakeholders, sharpening your communication skills in a supportive environment where your input and ideas are valued and integral to our success.
• Inclusiv - Diversity and inclusion are more than just words to us—they are principles we live by. We celebrate unique perspectives, ensuring everyone feels valued and respected.
• Inventiv - As industry pioneers, we continuously reinvent and reimagine solutions. Sharing our knowledge and expertise to educate and lead the market is part of our DNA. If you love questioning the status quo, pushing boundaries, and challenging conventional thinking, you will fit right in. We admire intellectual curiosity and encourage it at every turn.
• Transformativ - We invest in the continuous growth and development of our team members, celebrating their contributions and supporting their work-life balance and overall well-being. Our holistic training, onboarding programs, and professional growth and development initiatives ensure you have the resources to succeed.
• Collaborativ - We transcend geographical boundaries, seamlessly operating across two coasts. Our culture thrives on cross-departmental collaboration and a unified sense of purpose, making teamwork a cornerstone of our success.

Salary

• $250,000-$285,000 Base Salary DOE Equity

Actual compensation is based on multiple factors that are unique to each candidate, including and not limited to job-related knowledge, level of relevant experience, education and skills. Base salary is just one component of your total rewards package at Cognitiv. Employees are eligible for equity and various benefits.

Here are some of the many benefits that our employees receive:

• Medical, Dental and Vision coverage, including some plans that are 100% employer paid
• 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Career Ladders slated to advance your career
• Unlimited PTO
• Work-From-Anywhere August
• Equity at all levels
• Comprehensive onboarding program (Cognitiv University)
• Hybrid work model
• Daily Lunch On Us
• Health and Wellness Stipend
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Parking Expense (CA & WA Offices)
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Pre-tax commuter benefits

and MORE!

Cognitiv is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants, regardless of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.