Principal Machine Learning Engineer, Matching and Recommendations

Principal Machine Learning Engineer, Matching and Recommendations at Bumbleinc.

About the role You will spearhead the technical direction for the machine learning systems that drive personalization and ranking across the Bumble platform. This role focuses on scaling production models to improve user interactions and safety while mentoring senior engineering talent.

Location: London, UK
Engagement: Employee - Regular/Permanent

What you'll do

• Establish technical strategy for recommendation and ranking engines to boost user engagement.
• Build and release production‑ready models using PyTorch.
• Develop AI agents utilizing fine‑tuned foundational LLMs, sub‑agents, and MCP integrations.
• Architect end‑to‑end ML pipelines by connecting data processing tools like Spark and Airflow with deployment workflows.
• Manage experimentation frameworks including A/B testing and offline evaluation.
• Collaborate with Product and Engineering leadership to convert business goals into technical ML solutions.
• Provide mentorship to senior individual contributors to promote engineering excellence.
• Lead initiatives in ambiguous environments and ensure responsible AI practices regarding fairness and safety.

Requirements

• 10 to 15 years of professional experience or equivalent background.
• Advanced proficiency in Python and major ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Experience building large‑scale production systems for recommendation, ranking, or NLP.
• Expertise in fine‑tuning LLMs and creating production‑grade AI agents.
• Background in designing distributed data and ML pipelines using Spark or Airflow.
• Ability to influence technical strategy as a senior individual contributor.
• Experience working across departments to deliver results in complex organizations.
• History of mentoring others and fostering inclusive team environments.

Skills & tools

• Python
• PyTorch
• TensorFlow
• Spark
• Airflow
• Large Language Models (LLMs)
• AI Agents
• Recommendation Systems
• Ranking Models
• NLP

Practical notes

Compensation is determined based on qualifications, experience, and skill set.

Benefits

• Unlimited PTO
• Private medical and dental insurance
• Mental health support
• Subsidized gym membership
• Enhanced parental leave
• Competitive maternity package
• Personal learning and development budget
• Double‑matched pension contributions up to 6%

Bumble Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and supports reasonable adjustments for candidates. We may use AI tools to transcribe interviews or compare resumes, but all hiring decisions are made by people; you may opt out of AI‑supported processes at any time.