Staff ML Engineer – Search & Discovery Relevance
About this role
Coupang is building next-generation search and discovery infrastructure to handle billions of products and match them to customer intent across its e-commerce platform. Search and discovery engineering teams design and optimize end-to-end stacks including serving layers, pipelines, and machine learning components to sustain hypergrowth. Staff machine learning engineers drive technical direction, build large-scale systems, and collaborate with senior leadership on innovations in areas such as deep learning and large language models.
Incoming engineers tackle complex scaling challenges, improve search relevance and query understanding, and establish operational excellence across technical stacks. Success in the group requires translating business needs into robust architecture, removing technical blockers, and aligning strategies with cross-functional stakeholders. Ideal candidates bring extensive industry experience in information retrieval and distributed systems, coupled with a track record of delivering high-impact machine learning infrastructure.
What you will do
- Build end-to-end search and discovery systems while designing next-generation AI products to support ongoing business growth.
- Drive key technical developments and execute initiatives with strong operational ownership to overcome complex roadblocks.
- Ensure solid machine learning design patterns and maintain high standards of operational excellence across all services.
- Identify major business opportunities through a metrics-driven approach to system performance and product relevance.
- Establish strong collaborations with partner teams and stakeholders across different functional areas.
- Recruit and develop high-caliber talent to strengthen the engineering organization.
What you need
- Bring at least 6 years of professional industry experience working within technology companies.
- Demonstrate a broad and deep understanding of information retrieval, deep learning, large language modeling, data processing, and real-time serving technologies.
- Present a solid track record of delivering large and complex software systems that generated substantial business impact.
- Possess strong system design capabilities and advanced problem-solving skills for distributed architectures.
- Communicate clearly and collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams and leadership levels.
Nice to have
- Working experiences on search and recommendations systems
- Search relevance and query understanding expertise
- Experience as a technical lead or manager of engineering teams
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and AD&D insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Account
- Long-term and Short-term Disability insurance
- 401K Plan with Company Match
- 18 to 21 days of Paid Time Off per year based on tenure
- Paid parental leave and pre-tax commuter benefits
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the compensation range for this position?
The base pay for this position ranges from $174,000 per year to $299,000 per year. Pay is based on several factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
What does the recruitment process look like?
The hiring process consists of an application review, a phone interview, and an onsite or virtual onsite interview. The exact nature of the recruitment process may vary according to the specific job and may change due to scheduling or other circumstances.
What technologies and focus areas are involved in the role?
The role involves information retrieval, deep learning, large language modeling, data processing, and real-time serving. Engineers work to improve search relevance and query understanding for customer-facing e-commerce experiences.