About the Role

The Principal Applied Scientist will drive transformative innovation in auction design for Sponsored Products and Brands across non-search surfaces like product detail pages and the homepage. They will reimagine auction mechanisms to optimize business drivers and shopper needs, while advancing scientific capabilities and mentoring junior scientists. This role directly impacts ad relevance, revenue growth, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Improve auction mechanisms for non-search surfaces through offline simulation and online testing
• Design and prototype models to optimize ad inventory allocation for shoppers and advertisers
• Advance scientific and technical rigor by implementing best-in-class algorithms and methodologies
• Establish a long-term vision for scientific innovation and future-proof technical stacks
• Mentor and guide junior scientists and engineers to foster a culture of excellence

Required Skills & Qualifications

Must Have:

• 5+ years of hands-on work in predictive modeling and analysis
• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related technical field
• Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language
• Experience leading experienced scientists and developing junior members

Nice to Have:

• 10+ years of relevant work in industry or academia
• Knowledge of problem solving, algorithm design and complexity analysis
• Experience creating novel algorithms and advancing the state of the art
• Peer-reviewed scientific contributions in premier journals and conferences
• Experience distilling informal customer requirements into problem definitions

Benefits & Perks

• Base pay ranging from $179,000 to $309,400/year depending on geographic market
• Equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation
• Full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits