Director, Machine Learning Engineering

The Machine Learning Engineering (MLE) team helps Data Scientists build models at the scale and velocity required for Personalization, Forecasting, Marketing, Content and Audience Segmentation, Payments Optimization, Fraud prevention and many other use cases. Our ML Engineers work with Data Scientists to build data ingestion pipelines and launch efficient high-performance models. This work informs decisions affecting millions of consumers, with a direct tie to The Walt Disney Company’s revenue. MLE is a tight data-driven team with big goals seeking people who solve the toughest challenges at scale, using and building distributed systems in a fast-paced collaborative team environment. 

The Director of MLE builds and leads a team of high performing ML Managers and Engineers, supporting multiple sophisticated platforms, infrastructure, and applications for Disney. The Director also builds relationships with critical teams across the organization both internal and external to ensure the smooth collaboration needed to deliver these projects. This includes external vendors, executive sponsors and partners, program managers, architects, engineers, governance and legal, and others. 

What the Director of MLE Does: 

• Clearly communicate a vision to the team and executive leadership that defines the team’s purpose, ownership, contribution, commitment to quality, excellence, and a business enabling agile DevOps culture – promoting and driving technical innovation. 

• Collaborate with data scientists to build internal infrastructure and services, improving their productivity through self-serve tooling and direct support 

• Stay abreast of the latest trends, research, and technological advancements in AI/ML and recommend new technologies and methods that could benefit the organization. 

• Collaborate with senior leadership and other department heads to align AI/ML initiatives with business objectives 

• Collaborate with technical leaders, providing senior technical direction on enterprise level projects while being a champion of change and proactive business development. 

• Oversee, mentor, and develop managers and engineers who are proficient in software, mathematics and machine learning. Guide career management and set operational direction for areas of ownership. 

• Regularly meet with key partners and collaborators to gain feedback, align on needs, and grow overall team impact. 

• Hold exemplary leadership and communication abilities (both verbal and written), partnering closely with business, creative, and technology leaders to pitch new insights and deliver public presentations. 

• Own outcomes and resolve project or program delays, conflicts, and performance issues. 

• Influence others through data-based persuasion and fact-based argument. 

• Oversee financial planning, test and production environments, architectural fit, compliance, resource scheduling, delivery landmarks, collaboration, and service level objectives. 

• Lead others through example and inspiration, bring a can-do attitude, and deliver magic to your team and business partners. 

Required Qualifications 

• BS in Computer Science, Software, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or related field of study 

• 12+ years of experience leading software engineering teams, supporting and deploying products or services