Lead Machine Learning Engineer

Salesforce is the #1 AI CRM, inspiring the future of business with AI+Data+CRM. This Lead Machine Learning Engineer role is within the Trust Intelligence Platform, focusing on building scalable and resilient ML pipelines for the security engineering organization. The lead will shape defense strategy, detect unknown threats using advanced probabilistic modeling and graph analytics, elevate the organization through mentorship and tooling, and operationalize intelligence with engineering rigor to minimize alert fatigue and maximize analyst efficiency.

Must Have

• Shape defense strategy by translating security threats into mathematical problems.
• Champion a rapid prototyping culture to validate hypotheses quickly.
• Lead evolution of threat detection using advanced probabilistic modeling, graph analytics, supervised and unsupervised learning.
• Expose sophisticated threats like system intrusions, lateral movement, beaconing, and insider attacks.
• Act as a force multiplier, mentoring junior scientists and engineers.
• Build internal tooling, feature stores, and libraries to accelerate the team.
• Influence broader security engineering roadmap for closed-loop security telemetry.
• Deliver production-grade models with engineering rigor (CI/CD, scalable code) and adversarial resilience.
• Minimize "alert fatigue" and maximize analyst efficiency for the SOC.
• Extensive experience (3-5+ years) in data science, with 2+ years in cybersecurity ML.
• Designing, implementing, and deploying anomaly detection, clustering, and graph models in production.
• Hands-on comfort with high-volume logs and proficiency with Spark/Pyspark, Snowflake, Flink, Apache Kafka.
• Deep understanding and application of containerization (Docker) and workflow orchestration (Kubernetes, Apache Airflow).
• Mastery of Python programming and leading ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Demonstrated success in implementing comprehensive MLOps methodologies.
• Solid foundation in feature engineering techniques and feature stores.
• Experience in formulating ML governance policies and ensuring adherence to data security regulations.
• Ability to structure a data-driven solution for vague business problems autonomously.
• A related technical degree is required.

Good to Have

• Masters or PhD in a quantitative field.
• Expertise in advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) methodologies.
• Experience contributing to open-source security data science tools.
• Presentations at major security conferences (Black Hat, DEF CON, BSides) or data conferences.
• Background in offensive security (Penetration Testing/Red Teaming) with an "attacker's mindset."
• Demonstrated experience conducting research or working collaboratively with Machine Learning (ML) research teams.
• Previous experience in a mentoring role for junior engineers.
• Track record of publications and/or patents in quantitative disciplines.

Perks & Benefits

• Time off programs
• Medical, dental, vision, mental health support
• Paid parental leave
• Life and disability insurance
• 401(k)
• Employee stock purchasing program

Job CategorySoftware EngineeringAbout SalesforceSalesforce is the #1 AI CRM, where humans with agents drive customer success together. Here, ambition meets action. Tech meets trust. And innovation isn’t a buzzword — it’s a way of life. The world of work as we know it is changing and we're looking for Trailblazers who are passionate about bettering business and the world through AI, driving innovation, and keeping Salesforce's core values at the heart of it all.Ready to level-up your career at the company leading workforce transformation in the agentic era? You’re in the right place! Agentforce is the future of AI, and you are the future of Salesforce.We’re Salesforce, the Customer Company, inspiring the future of business with AI+ Data +CRM. Leading with our core values, we help companies across every industry blaze new trails and connect with customers in a whole new way. And, we empower you to be a Trailblazer, too — driving your performance and career growth, charting new paths, and improving the state of the world. If you believe in business as the greatest platform for change and in companies doing well and doing good – you’ve come to the right place.We are a foundation machine learning platform team within the Trust Intelligence Platform organization with a main focus to build and accelerate scalable and resilient machine learning pipelines across the security engineering organization. We are looking for a highly motivated, hands-on lead machine learning engineer with a strong business understanding of cybersecurity problems, who acts as a force multiplier security data scientist for our security organization. The lead will not simply build models; they will architect the data-driven strategy for our threat detection capabilities.Your impact:Shape the Defense Strategy: You will own the decision-making process—translating vague security threats into concrete mathematical problems. By championing a rapid prototyping culture, you will validate hypotheses in days rather than months, ensuring our engineering resources are focused only on high-value detections while killing low-signal ideas early.Detect the "Unknown Unknowns": You will lead the evolution of our threat detection, introducing more advanced probabilistic modeling, graph analytics, supervised and unsupervised learing. Your work will expose sophisticated threats—such as active system intrusions, lateral movement, beaconing, and insider attacks—that evade traditional defenses, directly reducing the organization's risk surface.Elevate the Organization: You will act as a force multiplier, mentoring junior scientists and engineers, and building the internal tooling, feature stores, and libraries that make the whole team faster. You will influence the broader security engineering roadmap to ensure a closed loop security telemetry that is treated as a first-class citizen.Operationalize Intelligence: By prioritizing engineering rigor (CI/CD, scalable code) and adversarial resilience, you will deliver production-grade models that the SOC actually trusts—minimizing "alert fatigue" and maximizing analyst efficiency.Required skills:Extensive experience (3-5+ years) in data science, with at least 2+ years dedicated to the cybersecurity domain designing, implementing and deploying systems of anomaly detection, clustering, and graph models in production.Extended practical knowledge and familiarity with security frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK and OCSF.Hands-on comfort with high-volume logs and proficiency with Spark/Pyspark, Snowflake, Flink and streaming services such as Apache KafkaDeep understanding and application of containerization (Docker) and workflow orchestration (Kubernetes, Apache Airflow) for automated ML pipelines.Mastery of Python programming, including proficiency in leading ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch) and adherence to software engineering best practices.Demonstrated success in implementing comprehensive MLOps methodologies, encompassing CI/CD pipelines, testing protocols, and model performance monitoring.Solid foundation in feature engineering techniques and the implementation of feature stores.Experience in formulating ML governance policies and ensuring adherence to data security regulations.Ability to explain complex statistical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and executive leadership.Proven ability to manage scope, timelines, and stakeholder expectations across multiple organizations.High degree of autonomy with the ability to look at a vague business problem and structure a data-driven solution without needing a predefined roadmap.A related technical degree is required.Preferred skills:Masters or PhD in a quantitative fieldExpertise in advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) methodologies.Experience contributing to open-source security data science tools.Presentations at major security conferences (Black Hat, DEF CON, BSides) or data conferences.Background in offensive security (Penetration Testing/Red Teaming) with an "attacker's mindset."Demonstrated experience conducting research or working collaboratively with Machine Learning (ML) research teams.Previous experience in a mentoring role for junior engineers.Track record of publications and/or patents in quantitative disciplines.Unleash Your PotentialWhen you join Salesforce, you’ll be limitless in all areas of your life. Our benefits and resources support you to find balance and be your best, and our AI agents accelerate your impact so you can do your best. Together, we’ll bring the power of Agentforce to organizations of all sizes and deliver amazing experiences that customers love. Apply today to not only shape the future — but to redefine what’s possible — for yourself, for AI, and the world.AccommodationsIf you require assistance due to a disability applying for open positions please submit a request via this Accommodations Request Form.Posting StatementSalesforce is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non-discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. What does that mean exactly? It means that at Salesforce, we believe in equality for all. And we believe we can lead the path to equality in part by creating a workplace that’s inclusive, and free from discrimination. Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal. Any employee or potential employee will be assessed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications – without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran or marital status, political viewpoint, or other classifications protected by law. This policy applies to current and prospective employees, no matter where they are in their Salesforce employment journey. It also applies to recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, assessment of job performance, discipline, termination, and everything in between. Recruiting, hiring, and promotion decisions at Salesforce are fair and based on merit. The same goes for compensation, benefits, promotions, transfers, reduction in workforce, recall, training, and education.In the United States, compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, job level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, and benefits. Salesforce offers a variety of benefits to help you live well including: time off programs, medical, dental, vision, mental health support, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and an employee stock purchasing program. More details about company benefits can be found at the following link: https://www.salesforcebenefits.com.Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, Salesforce will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.At Salesforce, we believe in equitable compensation practices that reflect the dynamic nature of labor markets across various regions. The typical base salary range for this position is $189,100 - $260,100 annually. In select cities within the San Francisco and New York City metropolitan area, the base salary range for this role is $207,800 - $285,800 annually. The range represents base salary only, and does not include company bonus, incentive for sales roles, equity or benefits, as applicable.