As a Senior Machine Learning Engineer on our dynamic team within PayPal, you will design and develop advanced machine learning models to address complex business challenges. Your daily tasks include building recommendation systems using architectures like two-tower retrieval and multi-task learning, as well as implementing feed or home-screen ranking algorithms that balance engagement, diversity, freshness, and fairness while ensuring low-latency performance. You will also work with large-scale graph neural networks for social interaction graphs and apply contextual bandits for optimizing user notifications. Essential skills include proficiency in PyTorch or TensorFlow, experience with distributed training, model serving, and feature stores, and the ability to communicate technical ideas clearly across teams. Prior industry experience at consumer-facing tech companies is highly valued, as is a PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related field.
Design and develop machine learning models using modern recommender architectures like two-tower retrieval and multi-task learning.
Implement feed or home-screen ranking systems with competing objectives such as engagement, diversity, freshness, and fairness.
Build low-latency serving systems for machine learning models to ensure fast response times.
Utilize graph neural networks or large-scale graph embeddings for social/interaction graphs in applications.
Apply contextual bandits, Thompson sampling, or RL techniques for solving Next Best Action and notification problems.
Develop distributed training, model serving, feature stores, and conduct rigorous A/B testing for ML systems.
What we're looking for
Hands-on experience with modern recommender architectures and low-latency serving systems.
Expertise in graph neural networks, large-scale graph embeddings, and contextual bandits.
Strong background in distributed training, model serving, feature stores, and A/B testing.
Experience building feed or home-screen ranking systems with multiple competing objectives.
Prior work at a consumer social, marketplace, content, or fintech company preferred.
PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related field strongly preferred.
Market check
Salary context
This
$159,500–$236,500
range sits above
48%
of similar postings on FindRole.
Peer median band
$160,250–$241,500
Median floor and ceiling across peers.
Typical midpoint (25–75%)
$173,662–$246,425
Middle half of comparable postings.
Based on 240 comparable postings.*
* 240 is the maximum number of comparable postings sampled.
Employer
About PayPal
PayPal is a leading global digital wallet and online payment system, founded in 1998, that allows individuals and businesses to send, receive, and manage funds securely in over 200 markets.
PayPal currently has
86 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$160,500–$237,600
across 86 roles with salary data.