Sr. Principal Machine Learning Engineer

FreeWheel, a Comcast company, provides comprehensive ad platforms for publishers, advertisers, and media buyers. Powered by premium video content, robust data, and advanced technology, we're making it easier for buyers and sellers to transact across all screens, data types, and sales channels. As a global company, we have offices in nine countries and can insert advertisements around the world.

Job Summary

We are seeking a Sr Principal Scientist of Research & Optimization Sciences to lead a world-class organization of research scientists and machine learning experts focused on developing the next generation of optimization, prediction, targeting, and marketplace systems. This executive will define the scientific vision, research agenda, and technical strategy for large-scale advertising and marketing platforms, driving innovations that directly impact revenue, customer performance, and marketplace efficiency.

The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in machine learning, optimization, economics, operations research, and experimentation with a proven ability to lead globally distributed research organizations. This leader will translate cutting-edge research into production systems operating at internet scale while partnering closely with Product, Engineering, Data Science, and Business leadership.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

Research Leadership

• Define and execute the long-term research strategy for optimization, targeting, bidding, forecasting, and marketplace systems.
• Lead a global team of research scientists and applied researchers across multiple geographies.
• Identify emerging opportunities in machine learning, artificial intelligence, optimization, and computational economics.
• Foster a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, experimentation, and measurable business impact.

Machine Learning & Optimization

• Drive development of large-scale machine learning systems for prediction, recommendation, targeting, and campaign optimization.

• Advance state-of-the-art approaches in:

• Predictive modeling

• Reinforcement learning

• Causal inference

• Auction theory

• Multi-objective optimization

• Control systems

• Operations research

• Oversee research from problem formulation through experimentation, deployment, and production monitoring.

Marketplace & Platform Strategy

• Lead innovation across demand-side platform (DSP) optimization, campaign delivery, supply optimization, and audience targeting systems.
• Partner with Product and Engineering leaders to align research investments with strategic business objectives.
• Develop frameworks that improve advertiser outcomes, platform efficiency, and marketplace health.

Organizational Leadership

• Recruit, mentor, and retain top-tier scientific talent.
• Establish technical standards, research processes, and career development frameworks.
• Build collaborations across research, engineering, product, and commercial organizations.
• Represent the company externally through publications, patents, industry conferences, and academic partnerships.

Business Impact

• Translate advanced research into measurable improvements in revenue, efficiency, customer performance, and platform scalability.
• Drive data-driven decision-making through experimentation and causal measurement frameworks.
• Evaluate strategic technology investments and emerging opportunities.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, or related quantitative field.

• 15+ years of experience developing machine learning and optimization systems.

• 10+ years of leadership experience managing research scientists and technical organizations.

• Demonstrated success deploying research innovations into production environments at scale.

• Deep expertise in several of the following:

• Machine Learning

• Optimization

• Operations Research

• Control Theory

• Economics and Auction Design

• Statistical Modeling

• Large-Scale Experimentation

• Track record of publications, patents, or significant scientific contributions.

• Exceptional communication and executive stakeholder management skills.

• Experience leading research organizations within digital advertising, marketing technology, marketplaces, or internet-scale platforms.

• Expertise in demand-side platforms (DSPs), bidding systems, targeting technologies, or advertising optimization.

• Experience managing globally distributed teams.

• Strong record of academic and industry thought leadership.

• Consistent exercise of independent judgment and discretion in matters of significance.

• Regular, consistent and punctual attendance. Must be able to work nights and weekends, variable schedule(s) as necessary.

• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Success Metrics

• Measurable improvements in platform performance and optimization outcomes.
• Successful deployment of research innovations into production systems.
• Growth and retention of scientific talent.
• Patent generation and publication output.
• Revenue impact attributable to optimization and machine learning initiatives.
• Strategic advancement of the company's AI and optimization capabilities.

Ideal Candidate Profile

A recognized leader in applied machine learning and optimization research who can bridge cutting-edge science and business outcomes. This executive is equally comfortable discussing auction theory, reinforcement learning, organizational strategy, and executive-level business priorities, while building teams capable of solving some of the industry's most challenging large-scale optimization problems.

Employees at all levels are expected to:

• Understand our Operating Principles; make them the guidelines for how you do your job.
• Own the customer experience think and act in ways that put our customers first, give them seamless digital options at every touchpoint, and make them promoters of our products and services.
• Know your stuff be enthusiastic learners, users and advocates of our game-changing technology, products and services, especially our digital tools and experiences.
• Win as a team make big things happen by working together and being open to new ideas.
• Be an active part of the Net Promoter System a way of working that brings more employee and customer feedback into the company by joining huddles, making call backs and helping us elevate opportunities to do better for our customers.
• Drive results and growth.
• Support a culture of inclusion in how you work and lead.
• Do what's right for each other, our customers, investors and our communities.

Disclaimer: This information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications.

Skills

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business, Innovation, Leadership, Mathematics Modeling, Team-Building

Compensation

Primary Location Pay Range: This job can be performed in California with a good faith estimated pay range upon hire of $288,594.24 - $384,792.31 USD.

Comcast intends to offer the selected candidate base pay within the posted range for this role at the time of posting dependent on job-related, non-discriminatory factors such as experience. The application window is 30 days from the date job is posted, unless the number of applicants requires it to close sooner or later.

Base pay is one part of the Total Rewards that Comcast provides to compensate and recognize employees for their work. Most sales positions are eligible for a Commission under the terms of an applicable plan, while most non-sales positions are eligible for a Bonus. Additionally, Comcast provides best-in-class Benefits to eligible employees. We believe that benefits should connect you to the support you need when it matters most, and should help you care for those who matter most. That's why we provide an array of options, expert guidance and always-on tools, that are personalized to meet the needs of your reality - to help support you physically, financially and emotionally through the big milestones and in your everyday life. Please visit the compensation and benefits summary on our careers site for more details.

Education

Ph. D. (Required)

Certifications (if applicable)

Relevant Work Experience

15 Years +

Comcast is an equal opportunity workplace. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. Comcast will consider for employment applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the requirements of applicable law, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Please note that federal state, or local laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit Comcast from hiring individuals convicted of certain crimes. Additionally, an applicant's criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship on the job duties of this position, which may result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment.