Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Are you ready to revolutionize the advertising industry?

At Cognitiv, we are not just another AdTech company—we are industry trailblazers redefining media buying with our Deep Learning Advertising Platform. Since 2015, we have harnessed the power of cutting-edge deep learning technology and data science to transform how brands connect with their customers. Our mission? To bring intelligence to advertising and deliver unparalleled precision, relevance, and impact at scale.

With our innovative platform, advertisers enjoy unprecedented flexibility—whether it is activating Dynamic Deals through their preferred DSP, leveraging our managed service DSP, or utilizing our industry-first ContextGPT product. As a part of Cognitiv, you will be at the forefront of AI-driven advertising solutions, driving change and achieving remarkable growth in a rapidly evolving industry.

Now, we’re growing—and looking for passionate engineers to help shape the future.

The Role

• We’re seeking a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to help orchestrate and scale the entire ML lifecycle at Cognitiv. As we transition from a legacy platform to a modern, automated, and highly scalable system, this role will be central in shaping the next generation of our ML infrastructure.
• You’ll own automation across data ingestion, model training, deployment, and monitoring, enabling rapid experimentation and iterative refinement while maintaining operational excellence. This is a high-impact opportunity to reduce bottlenecks, streamline workflows, and drive architectural improvements that power a wide variety of models critical to Cognitiv’s growth.

What You'll Do

• Own the entire ML lifecycle —from data exploration and model development to deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain scalable data pipelines and infrastructure to support automated model training, evaluation, deployment, and lifecycle management.
• Redesign and optimize systems to handle scalability challenges and complex workflows.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product, engineering, operations, and ML teams to drive alignment and impact.
• Take ownership of core codebases while mentoring and supporting junior engineers.

Tech Stack

• Languages/Frameworks: Python (primary), PyTorch Lightning
• Cloud/Infra: AWS, Docker, Apache Airflow
• Data: ClickHouse, S3, distributed data processing tools
• Models: Deep Learning, LLMs, Hugging Face ecosystem

Who You Are

• Senior Engineer – You’ve delivered complex systems end-to-end and write strong, production-level Python.
• MLOps expertise – You’re skilled in ML automation, infrastructure at scale, and building robust pipelines.
• Deep learning practitioner – You’re hands-on with PyTorch (ideally PyTorch Lightning) and familiar with LLMs and the Hugging Face ecosystem.
• Cloud & infra fluent – You know AWS, Docker, and Airflow, and you’re comfortable managing TB-scale data.
• Architect + builder – You think strategically about long-term system design while still rolling up your sleeves to code.
• Owner mindset – You take full responsibility for production codebases and drive them forward independently.
• Resilient & gritty – You thrive in ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and push through obstacles.
• Strong communicator – You collaborate effectively across technical and non-technical stakeholders, resolving conflicts productively.
• In-person collaborator – You want to work onsite MTW in Bellevue, WA.

Bonus Points If You Have

• Startup or AdTech experience.
• Experience with ClickHouse or other high-performance analytical databases.
• Familiarity with PySpark or distributed processing.
• Low-latency model serving experience.
• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in a relevant field.
• Strong C++ programming background.

What You’ll Find at Cognitiv

• Festiv – We make work fun with cross-team games, events, and creative team bonding.
• Responsiv – You’ll be close to clients and leadership, influencing real outcomes.
• Inclusiv – Diversity and individuality are celebrated across all levels.
• Inventiv – We reward curiosity and embrace bold ideas.
• Transformativ – We support your growth with training, mentorship, and flexibility.
• Collaborativ – We operate across coasts, connected by purpose and teamwork.

Location & Compensation

• Location: Bellevue or San Mateo (hybrid: 3 days in-office, 2 days remote)

Compensation is based on experience, skills, and other factors. Base salary is just one part of your total rewards at Cognitiv—you’ll also receive equity and a comprehensive benefits package.

Highlights include:

• Medical, dental & vision coverage (some plans 100% employer-paid)
• 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Unlimited PTO + Work-From-Anywhere August
• Career development with clear advancement paths
• Equity for all employees
• Hybrid work model & daily team lunch
• Health & wellness stipend + cell phone reimbursement
• 401(k) with employer match
• Parking (CA & WA offices) & pre-tax commuter benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Comprehensive onboarding (Cognitiv University)…and more!

Salary: $200,000-$230,000 Base Salary + Equity

Cognitiv is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all.