Sr AI Machine Learning Engineer

Live the experience. From professional empowerment to continual learning opportunities. From ongoing investment in new and emerging technologies to a career of self-determination. At Ulta Beauty, our tech team is critical to our scalability—and is recognized that way. We’ve been defined as a “mature start-up.” A place where interdepartmental exposure, open doors, and genuine collaboration is ubiquitous. Where challenges come fast and furious, requiring agility, mental dexterity, and creativity. Where our passion for better solutions drives us and is core to who we are.

We’re engineering for the future of retail, and it’s no-holds-barred. But for those motivated by continual change and ambiguity, by superior leadership, by whip smart colleagues who will press you daily for your very best, you’ll find that virtually nothing’s impossible at Ulta Beauty.

THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE:

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Lead AI/ML Engineer to join our Agile team. In this role, you will be responsible for developing and implementing cutting-edge AI solutions that enhance our retail operations and customer engagement. You will lead a team of talented engineers and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and deliver high-impact AI projects on-time and on-budget. The candidate should be versatile, display collaborative qualities and be enthusiastic to tackle challenging problems.

YOU'LL ACCOMPLISH ALL THESE GOALS BY: 

• Research: Ability to understand the state of the art of a certain ML sub-field, analytically compare different solutions and collaborate in the selection of appropriate techniques to solve a domain specific problem. Ability to develop novel algorithms in that field.
• Algorithmic Development:  Understanding and implementation state of the art algorithms that will power retail-oriented AI solutions. Areas to tackle include Natural Language processing, general Machine Learning, Computer Vision techniques etc.
• Data analysis: Application of statistical techniques to gather insights from data, training ML algorithms and support strategic decisions of his/her core team. Analyze and interpret complex data sets to extract valuable insights and drive data-informed decision-making.
• Engineering: Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI and ML models to solve complex business problems in the beauty retail industry.. 
• Operationalization: Architect and implement scalable AI/ML systems and pipelines that integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure
• Product Innovation: Active participation on product R&D activities. Identify and suggest features for new prototypes that showcase relevant technical solutions to achieve business goals.
• Communication Communicate technical concepts and project progress effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Leading: Mentor and guide junior engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth

THE ESSENTIALS FOR SUCCESS: 

• BS or MS degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or other related degrees (e.g., Applied Mathematics) with a focus on Machine Learning. PhD in Computer Engineering or Computer Science will be preferred.
• 5 years’ experience in Ai/ML engineering work with supervised and unsupervised ML algorithm design. 
• Strong programming abilities and language familiarity with programming languages (Python, R, Java etc.)
• Strong experience with AI/ML frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn etc. 
• Knowledge of cloud platforms (e.g., Google Cloud, Azure), Databricks and experience with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
• Passion for Beauty Industry and keen interest in leveraging AI/ML to drive innovation and enhance customer experience.
• Experience working in an Agile/Scrum environment, with a strong understanding of Agile methodologies and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly to understand our rapidly evolving product, business, intellectual property, and guest needs. 
• Communicate clearly and concisely with technology and business partners. 
• Flexibility to travel (stakeholder meetings / training / conferences). 

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At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest North American beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. We bring possibilities to life through the power of beauty each and every day in our stores and online with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty’s own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring—hair, skin, brow, and make-up services.

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.