Head of Machine Learning - Nextdoor

#TeamNextdoor

Nextdoor is where you connect to the neighborhoods that matter to you so you can belong. Our purpose is to cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood they can rely on.

Neighbors around the world turn to Nextdoor daily to receive trusted information, give and get help, get things done, and build real-world connections with those nearby — neighbors, businesses, and public services. Today, neighbors rely on Nextdoor in more than 315,000 neighborhoods across 11 countries.

At Nextdoor, we offer a warm and inclusive work environment that embraces a hybrid employment experience, providing a flexible experience for our valued employees.  

Meet Your Future Neighbors

As the Head of Machine Learning, you will deliver on a portfolio of AI/ML solutions that curate, predict, and synthesize information to aid in product and feature development across the business needs and portfolio of Nextdoor products using multi-modal Generative and predictive methods and related techniques.

The Impact You’ll Make

We seek a senior leader to drive an AI/ML portfolio at the intersection of Generative AI (e.g., Multi-modal AI, Large Language Models, etc..), NLP, and knowledge graph. These AI assets will support the automation of processes, improve decision-making, and deliver more personalized experiences to users of our solutions and Nextdoor customers. 

Your responsibilities will include: 

• You will lead a team of Machine Learning Engineers in developing ML solutions across marketing, engineering, product, and operations
• You will build a foundation of impactful AI assets to enable an enhanced and reliable understanding of data and systems (e.g., multimodal understanding and generation)
• You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and execute projects that leverage LLMs for various applications, such as text generation, summarization, translation, multi-agent systems, and more
• You will deliver cutting-edge AI/ML solutions, working with leads from engineering, product, and marketing operations to craft a roadmap driven by value, built to be robust, and with secure infrastructure and measures of success
• You will analyze and fine-tune model performance through experimentation, iteration, and data-driven insights
• You will deliver and design optimal AI/ML solutions with various architectural patterns
• You will provide technical leadership and mentorship to team members, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning
• You will stay up to date with the latest advancements in AI, machine learning, and adjacent technologies and apply this knowledge to enhance existing models and methodologies
• You will bring a broad awareness of the landscape of ML and AI-based tools for solving common end-user problems (e.g. recommendation systems, prediction, generative AI)
• You will collaborate with product teams to integrate AI solutions or agents into real-world applications and platforms

What You’ll Bring To The Team

• You have a Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field
• You have 10+ years of impactful experience in AI/ML-relevant fields, such as machine learning, deep learning, and large language models
• You are an expert in working with Large Language Models, particularly GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) variants, including prompt engineering and data embedding
• You have a strong understanding of generative models, deep learning, and natural language processing techniques. Knowledgeable of multi-agent systems
• You are proficient in programming languages like Python and PySpark and have experience with machine learning frameworks or platforms like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Databricks
• You can drive research projects from ideation to implementation, producing tangible outcomes, and you have experience deploying AI models into production environments
• You can leverage your experience, industry-leading practices, and technical leaders to meet strategic goals
• You can guide significant technical initiatives and bring process improvements to existing groups, tailoring them to the organization's areas of improvement
• You excel at solving problems and have a creative mindset to address complex AI/ML challenges
• You are a strong communicator and can effectively collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholders

Rewards

Compensation, benefits, perks, and recognition programs at Nextdoor come together to create one overall rewards package.

The starting salary for this role is expected to range from $245,000 to $438,000 on an annualized basis, or potentially greater in the event that your 'level' of proficiency exceeds the level expected for the role. Compensation may also vary by geography.

We also expect to award a meaningful equity grant for this role. With equal quarterly vesting, your first vest date would be within the first 3 months of your start date.

Overall, total compensation will vary depending on your relevant skills, experience, and qualifications. We have you covered! Nextdoor employees can choose between a variety of great health plans. We cover 100% of your personal monthly premium for health, dental, and vision – and provide a OneMedical membership for concierge care.

At Nextdoor, we empower our employees to build stronger local communities. To create a platform where all feel welcome, we want our workforce to reflect the diversity of the neighbors we seek to serve. We encourage everyone interested in our purpose to apply. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, or any other trait that unfairly targets a group of people. In accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we always consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

For information about our collection and use of applicants’ personal information, please see Nextdoor's Personnel Privacy Notice, found here.