Machine Learning Manager - Ads Targeting Modeling

In this role, you will define and drive the engineering strategy for Reddit’s Ads Targeting products—solutions critical to scaling our business and serving tens of thousands of advertisers. You will develop machine learning–powered features that identify and target highly qualified users and content, thereby maximizing outcomes for a diverse group of advertisers. Ads Targeting products rely on rich user, content, and advertiser models that accurately match users with campaigns. We are looking for an industry leader in machine learning recommendations, optimization, and marketplace dynamics, with a strong technical background, solid business acumen, and excellent cross-functional stakeholder management skills. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity with broad influence across Reddit’s Ads platform.

The ideal candidate understands the value that ads can bring to our users, advertisers, and Reddit as a whole. As the Machine Learning Manager for the Ads Targeting Modeling team, you will partner closely with Engineering Managers, Product Managers, and Data Scientists to:

• Define the vision and product strategy for Ads Targeting Modeling.
• Optimize and evolve existing targeting products.
• Build new ML-powered targeting solutions to help advertisers reach relevant audiences at scale.

Responsibilities

Technical Vision & Strategy:

• Lead the development and optimization of first-party and automation-based targeting products that scale with Reddit’s growing Ads business.
• Shape a long-term technical vision that balances performance, personalization, and scalability while delivering measurable advertiser outcomes.

Execution & Delivery:

• Own the execution of your team’s roadmap and ensure consistent, predictable, and high-quality delivery.
• Prioritize initiatives effectively, balancing long-term innovation with emergent needs.
• Coach engineers and technical leads on execution, project management, and architectural tradeoffs.
• Identify risks early and communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical partners.

Recruiting & Team Growth:

• As the Ads Targeting Modeling team scales rapidly, you’ll be responsible for growing your team—writing job descriptions, sourcing, interviewing, and helping close top-tier talent.
• You’ll be supported by an experienced recruiting team but will be directly accountable for hiring and team scaling.

Career Development:

• Guide engineers in setting and achieving career goals.
• Create development plans, provide mentorship, and foster a team culture focused on growth and accountability.
• Encourage engineers to stretch beyond their comfort zones, grow their leadership skills, and become force multipliers for the organization.

Requirements

• Experience managing and growing ML engineering teams, ideally having scaled a team by more than 100%.
• Proven track record in building and shipping large-scale, end-to-end machine learning products.
• Technical expertise in at least one of the following areas: Machine Learning, NLP, Ranking, Search Engines, Recommender Systems, or Knowledge Graphs.
• Experience managing engineering teams, including hiring, onboarding, and talent development.
• Demonstrated success launching new products (0 → 1) and scaling mature product lines.
• Hands-on technical skills—you are capable of solving complex problems yourself, though you prefer to guide your team in doing so.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively collaborate across remote teams and communicate complex topics with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience with data-driven decision making and using data to guide roadmap priorities.
• Exposure to developing and executing multi-year technical strategies.
• Passion for building high-performing, inclusive teams and working closely with cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., Product Management, Product Marketing Management, Data Science, Sales).
• Experience mentoring and growing individual contributors.
• Management experience in the advertising domain or within ad tech platforms.
• Familiarity with marketplace dynamics and auction-based ad delivery systems.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Healthcare Benefits
• 401k Matching
• Workspace benefits for your home office
• Personal & Professional development funds
• Family Planning Support
• Flexible Vacation (please use them!) & Reddit Global Wellness Days
• 4+ months paid Parental Leave
• Paid Volunteer time off

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