Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s largest work marketplace, connecting businesses with highly skilled professionals worldwide. From entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 enterprises, companies trust Upwork’s platform to access expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive meaningful business outcomes.
Upwork’s AI-powered platform has facilitated over $20 billion in economic opportunity for professionals worldwide. With professionals spanning 10,000+ skills, including AI and machine learning, software development, sales and marketing, customer support, finance and accounting, and more, Upwork empowers businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and build agile teams.
The Machine Learning Infrastructure & Data team is responsible for architecting and building the foundational systems and tools that enable efficient development, deployment, and management of machine learning models at scale.
As a Lead Machine Learning Engineer in the Machine Learning Infrastructure & Data team, you will play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and maintaining robust and scalable infrastructure components to support the company's machine learning initiatives. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including machine learning researchers, data scientists, and software engineers to build state-of-the-art platforms and tools that accelerate the development and deployment of machine learning models.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, implement, and optimize distributed systems and infrastructure components to support large-scale machine learning workflows, including data ingestion, feature engineering, model training, and serving.
- Develop and maintain frameworks, libraries, and tools to streamline the end-to-end machine learning lifecycle, from data preparation and experimentation to model deployment and monitoring.
- Architect and implement highly available, fault-tolerant, and secure systems that meet the performance and scalability requirements of production machine learning workloads.
- Collaborate with machine learning researchers and data scientists to understand their requirements and translate them into scalable and efficient software solutions.
- Stay current with the latest advancements in machine learning infrastructure, distributed computing, and cloud technologies, and integrate them into our platform to drive innovation.
- Mentor junior engineers, conduct code reviews, and uphold engineering best practices to ensure the delivery of high-quality software solutions.
What it takes to catch our eye:
- Passion for ML Infrastructure: We value enthusiasm for advancing ML infrastructure.
- Proven Impact: Show us your track record of delivering impactful solutions.
- Innovative Thinker: Bring creativity and fresh ideas to the table.
- Technical Proficiency: Solid foundation in software engineering and ML concepts.
- Collaborative Mindset: Strong communication and teamwork skills are a must.
- Continuous Learner: Stay updated with the latest advancements in the field.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to tackle complex problems effectively.
- Adaptability: Thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
At Upwork, you’ll shape the future of work for a global, remote-first workforce, creating economic opportunities for professionals worldwide. While we have a physical office in Palo Alto, we currently hire full-time employees in 21 U.S. states, making it easier than ever to join our mission from wherever you call home.
Our culture is built on trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence, all in service of our core mission: to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. We embrace authenticity and inclusion, encouraging everyone to bring their whole selves to work. Personal and professional growth is a priority here, supported through development programs, mentorship, and our Upwork Belonging Communities.
We’re proud to offer benefits that go beyond the basics, including comprehensive medical coverage for you and your family, unlimited PTO, a 401(k) plan with matching, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Visit our Life at Upwork page to learn more about our values, working principles, and the overall employee experience.
Ready to help shape the future of work? Check out our Careers page and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. to learn more about life at Upwork.
Upwork is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.
Please note that a criminal background check may be required once a conditional job offer is made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable law, including the California Fair Chance Act and local Fair Chance ordinances.
The annual base salary range for this position is displayed below. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long term equity incentive program.
Annual Base Compensation
$175,500—$277,500 USD
To learn more about how Upwork processes and protects your personal information as part of the application process, please review our Global Job Applicant Privacy Notice
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