Machine Learning Engineer at Substack

At Substack, we are building a new economic engine for creators by moving media and communities away from traditional advertising models. We are looking for a Lead Machine Learning Engineer to join our small, agile team in the United States. In this full-time, on-site role, you will be instrumental in shaping how we integrate advanced machine learning into our platform. You will work alongside software engineers and data scientists to build, deploy, and maintain models that directly enhance the experience for our users.

Key outcomes

• Take the lead on our strategy for machine learning adoption and the integration of advanced technical tools.
• Work with cross-functional partners to identify and define opportunities where machine learning can drive our product roadmap forward.
• Design, train, and deploy models using Python and modern frameworks like PyTorch.
• Utilize existing ML systems to accelerate the delivery of new product features and internal workflows.
• Integrate complex pipelines into our primary TypeScript application.
• Ensure our models are optimized for high performance, efficiency, and scalability.
• Build robust data pipelines to handle preprocessing, feature engineering, and model training.
• Take full ownership of the integrated product experiences and internal tools you develop.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of professional experience working with data and machine learning systems.
• Expert-level programming skills in Python, including deep familiarity with essential machine learning libraries.
• A comprehensive understanding of deep learning, statistical modeling, and core machine learning algorithms.
• An autonomous mindset. We operate as a small team where every individual is expected to take full ownership of their work and act as a leader.
• A commitment to maintaining high standards for production systems.
• A collaborative spirit and the ability to work effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Fluency in English.

Preferred qualifications

• Proficiency in Node.js to help bridge the gap between our ML models and our codebase.
• Practical experience working with cloud platforms such as AWS or Modal.
• Previous experience building and maintaining consumer-facing web applications at scale.

Compensation

We offer a competitive compensation package that includes equity and a salary range of $200,000 to $250,000 USD. Final offers are based on a variety of factors, including your specific expertise and professional experience.

How to apply

If you are passionate about empowering independent creators and want to help us build a better business model for the future of media, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application to be considered for this role. Substack is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.