Staff Applied Scientist - Machine Learning

Rokt is an ecommerce technology company with the mission of making every transaction more relevant. The Rokt ecommerce Network leverages proprietary machine learning systems, powering billions of transactions for hundreds of millions of customers, and is trusted by companies like Live Nation, Fanatics, Macy's, AMC Theatres, PayPal, Uber, Hulu, Staples, Albertsons, and HelloFresh.

About the role

As a Staff Applied Scientist in the Rokt Brain team, you will lead applied research, experimentation, and model development projects—harnessing a diversity of ML theories, concepts, and models to improve complex systems powering 10 billion+ transactions per year. Growth pathways to Principal Applied Scientist (IC Track) and Applied Science Manager/Director (People Leader track) are available based on your preferences and abilities.

Responsibilities

• Own the research, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance of machine learning systems and services at Rokt.
• Optimize auction and decisioning logic, applying model predictions to maximize value across Rokt's multi-sided marketplace.
• Conduct applied ML research, prototype new modeling approaches, and rigorously test innovations.
• Evaluate and improve model performance, ensuring robustness, scalability, and interpretability.
• Translate complex business needs into practical ML solutions, collaborating with product and engineering teams.
• Stay ahead of emerging ML trends, contributing to knowledge sharing through tech talks, brown bags, and best practice evangelism.
• Act as technical and project leader of a small team of specialists.
• Provide leadership on complex technical issues, setting standards for technical excellence—from coding to architectural best practices.
• Work cross-functionally with engineering and product leadership to plan and manage delivery expectations of roadmap items.
• Actively monitor progress and intervene where required to mitigate risks and bottlenecks, managing expectations within and outside the team.

Requirements

• PhD or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related field with specialization in ML, AI, or Information Retrieval, and experience leading PhD-level scientists/engineers on projects.
• 10+ years of industry experience building production-grade ML systems.
• Deep expertise in at least two of the following:
  • ML for Ads, E-commerce, or Two-Sided Marketplaces
  • Deep Learning Architectures (e.g., MMoE, PLE, DCN, Transformers, Graph Neural Networks)
  • Bayesian Modelling & Probabilistic Methods
  • Reinforcement Learning (Contextual Bandits, Policy Optimization)
  • Price & Revenue Optimization
  • Representation Learning & Embeddings
  • Model Optimization (quantization, distributed training, GPU optimization, JIT compilation, mixed precision, inference optimization)
  • Knowledge Distillation

Schedule

Rokt has a 4-day in-office, 1-day remote hybrid structure with a flexible approach to start/finish times.

Pay

Target total compensation ranges from $470k - $615k, comprised of a fixed annual salary of $290k - $360k, plus employee equity plan grant.

Benefits

• Equity in a profitable, fast-growing company approaching $1 billion in revenue.
• Dollar-for-dollar 401K matching plan (up to 4% of fixed annual remuneration).
• Fully funded health insurance (Dental, Optical, and Medical).
• Generous allowances for wellness, technology, mobile, and transit.
• Daily catered lunch, stocked pantry & fridges.
• Extra leave (bonus annual leave, sabbatical leave, etc.).