Senior Applied Scientist - Moloco Ads

About Moloco:

Moloco is an AI-native performance advertising company, bringing the power of AI advertising to the open internet. Founded in 2013 by machine learning engineers who had built AI advertising systems inside the world's largest technology companies, Moloco began from a shared mission: to build that same engine for the open internet.

Today, Moloco is one company with two businesses, built on the same compound AI system. Moloco Ads is our AI-native performance advertising platform, helping mobile app marketers acquire, retain, and re-engage high-value users across the open internet. Moloco Commerce Media is our AI-native retail media platform, enabling retailers and marketplaces to turn their platforms into thriving ad businesses. Both are powered by CARA (Compound Ad Recommendation Architecture), the AI system behind every Moloco product.

At Moloco, we bring together those who've already solved hard problems and those with the drive to. Here, we work on some of the complex problems in AI advertising, at a scale and level of sophistication very few companies can offer. Come build what's next.

About The Role

The impact you'll be contributing to Moloco:

The Research Science (RS) team focuses on the operation and optimization of our software systems working closely with infrastructure engineering teams, machine learning teams and data science teams. As an Applied Scientist, you will participate as an individual contributor on research projects alongside other research scientists within the context of a group of cross functional collaborators working in complex multi-causal environments to identify inefficiencies, analyze potential options, and propose solutions. Your work will contribute to driving performance improvements and cost reductions, debugging and investigating production issues, and stabilizing our core system as you develop a deep end-to-end understanding of the system.

Here’s what you’ll be working on:

• Work with other applied scientists on projects to evaluate the health of both internal and external components to make sure the Moloco system is running safely and efficiently.
• Learn from your senior peers how to identify new areas to improve our infrastructure and machine learning components by understanding internal system changes, external changes, and data changes, and identify and suggest interesting/useful next steps for your projects.
• Complete task as part of larger projects to complete deep unbiased analyses.
• Implement, and evaluate new algorithms and features in collaboration with senior Applied Scientists, Software Engineers and Machine Learning Engineers.
• Analyze massive, high-dimensional datasets from ad auctions and user interactions to uncover insights, define success metrics, and guide modeling and product decisions.
• Collaborate closely with product, engineering, and other scientists to iterate on experiments, define roadmaps, and translate business requirements into scientifically sound solutions.
• Improve the reliability, latency, and efficiency of online prediction and decision systems by applying rigorous experimentation, monitoring, and continual model refinement.
  
  

Basic Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Mathematics or related field, or industry experience in optimization of market prices or ML systems
• At least 4 years of engineering or applied science experience
• Proficient verbal and written English communication skills, with the ability to contribute to the creation of presentations and reports
• Quick understanding of new information and the demonstrated ability to learn new technical skills across engineering, machine learning, and data science
• Track record of building positive relationships with collaborators and stakeholders and working effectively with cross-functional partners in a global company
  
  

Compensation & Benefits

U.S.-based employees have access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, and well-being benefits and perks. U.S.-based employees also receive up to 12 scheduled paid holidays per calendar year and one Thrive Day off per quarter. Additionally, all employees have Flexible Time Off (FTO).

The successful candidate may be eligible for a bonus and equity awards. Eligibility and amounts are determined by performance and the terms of the applicable plans.

The location for this role is listed above. For base pay range purposes, location-based compensation is grouped into the following regions. Your region is determined by your assigned work location.

• Region A: Menlo Park Office, New York Office, SF Bay Area, New York Metro Area
• Region B: Seattle Office, Seattle, Los Angeles/Orange County, San Diego, Austin, Boston, Washington DC Metro Area, Miami
• Region C: All other U.S. locations
  
  

Salary Ranges:

Region A:

$188,000—$235,000 USD

Region B:

$169,200—$211,500 USD

Region C:

$159,800—$199,750 USD

Supporting Your Best Work and Your Best Life:

Our benefits are designed to support our people in doing their best work and living well, at work and beyond. Benefits vary by country, employment type, and eligibility. Connect with a recruiter to learn more about benefits in your region.

Moloco Values:

• Lead with Humility: Everyone’s voice is respected, valued, and heard. We win, lose, and learn together. Accountability and feedback are essential to our success.
• Uncapped Growth Mindset: We see all situations as opportunities to learn, grow, and improve as individuals and as an organization. We seek diverse perspectives, encourage curiosity, and promote experimentation to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
• Create Real Value: We pursue the most impactful opportunities with intensity and rigor. We take intelligent risks and make disciplined trade-offs to maintain deep focus. We help our customers win by delivering durable value.
• Go Further Together: We’re one team working towards one vision. We collaborate proactively and inclusively, involving the right people at the right time and in the right way. We strive to create a more equitable workplace. We won’t let each other fail.
  
  

Additional Resources:

• Moloco Company Blog
• Moloco Leadership
• Moloco Newsroom
  
  

AI Use in Interviews

Our interview process is designed to get to know the real you. Unless a round specifically includes AI as part of what's being assessed, we ask that candidates engage without AI assistance. Please review our AI Use in Interviews Policy before your interview to understand what to expect. Failure to comply with this policy may impact your candidacy.

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