Principal Machine Learning Engineer, Matching and Recommendations
Bumble Inc.
Apply to this jobWhat you'll do
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Define and lead the technical strategy for AI and Machine Learning systems that power recommendations, ranking, and personalization across Bumble products, delivering measurable improvements in user engagement and safety
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Design, develop, and deploy production-grade models using modern ML frameworks such as PyTorch , ensuring scalability and reliability in high-traffic environments
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Build and deploy production AI Agents using raw and fine-tuned foundational Large Language Models (LLMs), along with sub-agents, tools, and MCP integrations
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Architect end-to-end ML pipelines, integrating data processing (e.g. Spark, Airflow) with model training, evaluation, and deployment workflows
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Drive experimentation frameworks, including A/B testing and offline evaluation, to continuously improve model performance and product outcomes
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Partner cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and Data leadership to translate business challenges into impactful ML solutions, collaborating with purpose and influencing at senior levels
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Mentor and elevate senior individual contributors, fostering a culture of Excellence, Curiosity, and continuous learning across the ML community
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Take ownership of complex, ambiguous problem spaces, seeing initiatives through from insight to impact while adapting approaches with an agile mindset
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Champion responsible AI practices, ensuring fairness, transparency, and user safety are embedded into all machine learning systems
About You
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Typically requires 10–15 years of experience, though we welcome candidates with alternative backgrounds that demonstrate equivalent skills.
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Deep expertise in machine learning, with hands-on experience building and deploying large-scale systems in production environments
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Strong proficiency in Python and at least one major ML framework (e.g. PyTorch, TensorFlow), with experience in areas such as recommendation systems, ranking models, or NLP
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Expertise in prompting and fine-tuning Large Language Models (LLMs) and building production AI Agents
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Proven experience designing scalable data and ML pipelines using tools such as Spark, Airflow, or similar distributed systems
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Demonstrated ability to operate as a senior individual contributor, influencing technical strategy and decision-making without direct authority
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Experience partnering effectively across functions, collaborating with purpose and taking ownership of outcomes in complex organisational environments
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A track record of mentoring and uplifting others, role modelling Respect and Excellence while building inclusive, high-performing teams
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Strong AI fluency, with the ability to independently design, evaluate, and optimise ML systems, and guide others in the responsible and effective application of AI
Benefits & Perks
Insurance: Medical/dental/vision, 30-day eligibility. Bumble has multiple competitive offerings that will be available to you on the first of the month following date of hire.
Unlimited PTO + 1 company-wide week off + Focus Fridays every week
Fully paid life and long-term disability insurance
401k with 4% company match if you contribute 6%, 90-day eligibility
Monthly wellness benefit and access to Noom, Unmind, and Your Money Line
Maternity and Fertility benefit + 26 week paid parental leave
Premium App Access
Compensation (from employer):
345000–410000 USD per year
Summary
Lead AI/ML systems design, develop large-scale models, and build scalable data pipelines.
Job title
Principal Machine Learning Engineer, Matching and Recommendations
Experience level
10–15 years
Industry
software
Location requirements
Austin, Texas; remote work possible
Salary
345000–410000 USD per year
Management role
No
Required skills
Preferred skills
Specializations
Structured locations inferred from the posting.
Austin, TX, USA
Texas, USA