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# Lead Machine Learning Engineer

- **Company:** Snap Inc.
- **Location:** UK
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** A/B Testing, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, Augmented Reality, C++ (Programming Language), Code Review, Computer Programming, Python (Programming Language), Machine Learning, Software Engineering, Pytorch, Open-source Models, Large Language Models, Deep Learning, Generative AI, Information Technology, Machine Learning Operations, Stable Diffusion
- **Published:** October 13, 2026
- **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/lead-machine-learning-engineer-generative-ai-image-video-specs-inc-10429095

## About the Role

* A passion for machine learning, with the curiosity to explore new research and the judgment to know what is worth building
 * Deep understanding of mathematics, deep learning, and generative modeling
 * Ability to set technical direction and lead complex initiatives through ambiguity
 * Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain trade-offs, align partners, and help other engineers grow
 * Strong product judgment and meticulous attention to visual quality, * Strong background in Machine Learning, with experience developing generative models, computer vision systems, or related deep learning applications
 * Strong programming skills in Python or C++, with proficiency in PyTorch or a comparable deep learning framework
 * Bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, statistics, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
 * At least 5 years of ML experience after a bachelor's degree, 4 years after a relevant master's degree, or 1 year after a relevant PhD
 * Demonstrated experience leading complex ML projects into production, including architecture decisions, guiding other engineers, and cross-functional delivery, * 7+ years of experience developing and deploying machine learning systems, with a track record of hands-on technical leadership
 * Experience shipping consumer-facing products for image or video generation and editing
 * Hands-on experience with diffusion or flow matching models, including fine-tuning, conditioning, or inference optimization
 * Experience evaluating visual quality, prompt adherence, identity preservation, or temporal consistency
 * Knowledge of computer graphics, augmented reality, or multimodal models for creative applications
 * A track record of translating research into successful GenAI products

## Description

As the team's hands-on technical lead, you'll set direction, build alongside engineers, and turn advances in generative AI into creative experiences for millions of Snapchatters.

What you'll do:

 * Lead the development of ML-powered products and AI Lenses, focusing on image and video generation and editing, as well as LLM-powered experiences
 * Define the team's technical roadmap and architecture for GenAI pipelines, including diffusion and flow matching models. Balance visual quality, latency, reliability, and cost
 * Drive complex projects from prototype to production. Turn ambiguous ideas into clear technical plans, guide execution, and stay hands-on to ship initial consumer-facing experiences within weeks
 * Partner with Product, Software Engineering, Lens Content, and Data Science to shape ideas, align priorities, and improve experiences through A/B testing and user feedback
 * Turn emerging research into practical improvements. Evaluate open-source models and third-party APIs, establish quality benchmarks, and lead build-versus-buy decisions
 * Mentor and unblock engineers through hands-on collaboration, technical design, and code reviews. Build reusable capabilities that help the team deliver better products, faster