Senior Machine Learning Engineer Recommendation and Personalization

In the role of Senior Machine Learning Engineer for Recommendation and Personalization you will report to the Director of Data Science and Machine Learning in the Center for Data and Insights working from Los Angeles or San Francisco area in California. You will lead the research development and test of advanced models and work together with product and engineering partners to deliver tailored experiences for our fans across the anime ecosystem including anime video recommendations digital manga suggestions merchandise personalization anime-themed gaming music and more. This position will collaborate closely with scientists engineers product owners to prototype innovative algorithms evaluate their impact and integrate them into production systems that drive user engagement retention discovery and satisfaction.
We work a hybrid schedule in-office three days a week; Tuesday Wednesday Thursday. This position can be based in our Los Angeles or San Francisco offices.

Core Areas of Responsibility

• Research design and implement machine learning algorithms for recommendation systems including collaborative filtering content-based models and deep learning and generative recommendation approaches to personalize content discoveries.
• Co-develop end-to-end ML pipelines for data ingestion feature engineering model training evaluation and deployment using scalable cloud platforms with engineers.
• Optimize models for accuracy latency and scalability to handle massive user interaction data from streaming and multi-platform multi-domain experiences across the fandom.
• Integrate personalization solutions with other services and implement monitoring for model performance bias detection and automated retraining.
• Collaborate on A/B testing experimentation and iterative improvements to refine recommendations based on user feedback and evolving content trends.

About You

We get excited about candidates like you because you have:

Experience: You bring 8+ years of hands-on experience in applied machine learning with a proven track record in building recommendation systems or personalization engines ideally in media entertainment or e-commerce platforms.

Technical Skills: Expert in Python and frameworks like TensorFlow PyTorch or Scikit-learn with proficiency in MLOps tools such as MLflow Docker and cloud services like AWS SageMaker Databricks or similar. Experience with big data tools (e.g. Spark) and cloud infrastructure (e.g. AWS/GCP) for handling large-scale datasets.

Cross-Functional Collaborations: Experienced in partnering with data scientists and analysts engineers and product teams to deploy models that align with business objectives like increasing user retention and content consumption.

Communication Skills: Strong ability to document research findings explain algorithmic choices and present results to diverse stakeholders for effective adoption.

Educational Background: Graduate degree (MS or PhD) in Computer Science Machine Learning Statistics or a related quantitative field with publications or contributions in recommendation systems being a plus.

Our team is composed of passionate Machine Learning Engineers and Data Scientists who have already made a significant impact across our product offerings content strategy and user engagement metrics. As we expand our scope our team is poised to become the cornerstone of innovation and growth across various business verticals within the company. We are dedicated to leveraging advanced machine learning techniques to continue transforming how users interact with and enjoy our offering of video contents and all other services.

In addition to getting to work with fun passionate and inspired colleagues you will also enjoy the following benefits and perks:

#LifeAtCrunchyroll #LI-Hybrid

What We Do

At Crunchyroll we deliver what anime fans love—anytime anywhere. With the world’s largest anime streaming library we connect fans to the stories characters and creators they love. But Crunchyroll is more than just a destination to watch anime—it's a global ecosystem where anime lives and breathes beyond the screen. From streaming and theatrical releases to merch games news events and music we offer fans immersive experiences that celebrate anime culture in all its forms. Headquartered in the U.S. with teams and reach across the globe Crunchyroll is an independently operated joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex of Japan. This unique partnership gives us the power to scale globally while staying rooted in anime’s cultural origins ensuring authenticity and access for fans everywhere. We believe anime is more than entertainment—it’s a way of life. And we’re here to champion that passion every day.

Why Work With Us

We take the People Experience seriously here at Crunchyroll. Join a diverse team of talented ambitious people who treat each other well and believe that how we win is just as important as winning.

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