Lead Machine Learning Engineer at Thoughtworks in Chicago, IL

Lead Machine Learning Engineers at Thoughtworks use modern architectures to develop end-to-end scalable machine learning systems and applications. They use their specialized depth and breadth of knowledge to impact the achievement of client, project or service objectives and advocate for ways of working to promote and deliver excellence. They operate within the framework of functional policies, navigate through intricate challenges and apply their proficiency to contribute to the success of high-stakes projects. Their leadership extends beyond technical prowess, encompassing strategic thinking and effective collaboration to drive innovation and deliver solutions that meet and exceed organizational goals.

As a lead machine learning engineer on projects, you will be leading the design of technical solutions or perhaps overseeing a program inception to build a new system and/or application. Alongside hands-on coding, as a key influencer, you will shape the trajectory of machine learning engineering initiatives, playing a pivotal role in advancing the field and ensuring impactful outcomes for the broader objectives of the company.

Job responsibilities

• You will embrace a strategic mindset, contributing to the direction of machine learning (ML) initiatives and aligning technical solutions with broader organizational goals.
• You will play a pivotal role in program inception, shaping the development of new systems and applications from idea to reality, overseeing technical feasibility and resource allocation.
• You will leverage your deep understanding of modern architectures to lead the development of scalable and maintainable ML systems, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency.
• You will translate client needs into technically feasible and impactful ML applications, driving solution design and deployment within complex, high-stakes projects.
• You will own the development and maintenance of ML applications, including ML pipelines, model training and deployment, and monitoring and evaluation.
• As a key influencer, you will champion Responsible AI and effective ways of working within the team, advocating for a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• You will navigate intricate technical challenges with proficiency, employing your specialized knowledge to troubleshoot issues and guide the team towards successful resolutions.
• You will stay at the forefront of the evolving field of machine learning, actively seeking out and implementing new technologies and advancements to ensure Thoughtworks remains a leader in innovation.
• You will foster a collaborative environment, effectively leading your team through hands-on coding alongside mentorship and guidance, empowering individual growth and knowledge sharing.
• You will measure and analyze the impact of ML initiatives, iteratively refining approaches and ensuring solutions deliver tangible value to clients and the organization.

Job qualifications

Technical Skills

• You have experience in developing a technical vision and strategy, keeping it relevant and aligned to the business needs.
• You can design and execute cross-functional requirements based on business priorities.
• You have experience in writing clean, maintainable and testable code, demonstrating attention to refactoring and readability of the code using Python.
• You have experience with distributed systems and scalable architectures to handle large-scale ML applications.
• You have experience with building, deploying and maintaining ML systems using relevant ML techniques and platforms, i.e.: Scikit-learn, Tensorflow, MLFlow, Kubeflow, Pytorch.
• You have experience with building, deploying and maintaining ML systems and experience with application of MLOps principles and CI/CD to ML.
• You have experience in machine learning engineering and data science, are familiar with key ML concepts, algorithms and frameworks, and understand ML model lifecycles.
• You have experience with designing and operating the infrastructure required to run different types of ML training and serving workloads, i.e.: on-premise vs. cloud infrastructure, infrastructure as code, monitoring, etc.
• You have hands-on experience with on-premise and cloud services for building and deploying ML pipelines, i.e.: Azure, AWS, GCP and/or Databricks and associated ML managed services.

Professional Skills

• You understand the importance of stakeholder management and can easily liaise between clients and other key stakeholders throughout projects, ensuring buy-in and gaining trust along the way.
• You are resilient in ambiguous situations and can adapt your role to approach challenges from multiple perspectives.
• You don’t shy away from risks or conflicts, instead you take them on and skillfully manage them.
• You are eager to coach, mentor and motivate others and you aspire to influence teammates to take positive action and accountability for their work.
• You enjoy influencing others and always advocate for technical excellence while being open to change when needed.
• You are a proven leader with a track record of encouraging teammates in their professional development and relationships.
• Cultivating strong partnerships comes naturally to you; You understand the importance of relationship building and how it can bring new opportunities to our business.

Other things to know

Learning & Development

There is no one-size-fits-all career path at Thoughtworks: however you want to develop your career is entirely up to you. But we also balance autonomy with the strength of our cultivation culture. This means your career is supported by interactive tools, numerous development programs and teammates who want to help you grow. We see value in helping each other be our best and that extends to empowering our employees in their career journeys.

Responsible Use of AI in Recruitment

At Thoughtworks, we use AI tools to support our recruitment team with administrative tasks such as drafting communications, scheduling interviews and writing job descriptions.

Crucially, our AI tools do not screen, assess, rank or make hiring decisions. Every application is reviewed by our team and all selection decisions are made exclusively by our interviewers and hiring managers.

We are committed to fairness and responsible AI. We actively manage our AI systems by testing, monitoring for biased outcomes and implementing mitigation measures. We hold our third-party vendors to these same high standards through a rigorous governance process. For additional information, please see our full Thoughtworks AI Policy for Recruitment.

EEO

Thoughtworks is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, stermination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Thoughtworks is also an affirmative action employer of veterans and individuals with disabilities.

For additional information, please see the Thoughtworks, Inc. Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action Policy Statement.

US - Work Authorization

Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment in the United States.

Accommodations

Thoughtworks is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, in accordance with applicable law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, participate in interviews, or otherwise engage in the hiring process, you may request an accommodation by completing this form or speaking with your recruiter. Requests may be made at any stage of the application or interview process.

Once a request is received, Thoughtworks will engage in an interactive process with the applicant to determine an appropriate accommodation. Applicants are not required to disclose medical diagnoses or detailed personal information in order to request an accommodation. All accommodation requests will be handled in a timely, confidential, and respectful manner, consistent with applicable legal requirements.

Requesting an accommodation will not negatively affect your consideration for employment. Company prohibits retaliation against any applicant for requesting an accommodation or participating in the accommodation process. Accommodations made during the recruitment process are not a guarantee of future or continued accommodations once hired. If you are hired by Thoughtworks, and require an accommodation to perform the essential functions of your role, you may be asked to engage in our reasonable accommodation process.

Cancellations

As a technology consultancy, the projects we undertake are subject to change based on client needs and agreements. While we strive for consistency, please be aware that project scope or availability may shift, or projects may even be cancelled, during the recruitment and selection process, which is often outside of our direct control. Should the project related to this vacancy be significantly altered or cancelled, all impacted candidates will be promptly and duly informed of the change

About Thoughtworks

Thoughtworks is a dynamic and inclusive community of bright and supportive colleagues who are revolutionizing tech. As a leading technology consultancy, we’re pushing boundaries through our purposeful and impactful work. For 30+ years, we’ve delivered extraordinary impact together with our clients by helping them solve complex business problems with technology as the differentiator. Bring your brilliant expertise and commitment for continuous learning to Thoughtworks. Together, let’s be extraordinary.

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Salary

Benefits: https://www.thoughtworks.com/en-us/careers/benefits

The annual salary range posted is subject to many factors and may vary depending on experience, geographic location, job responsibilities, performance, skills and/or training.

Salary

$172,000—$276,000 USD See here our AI policy.