Job Details

Director of Engineering, Personalization & Recommendation

As the Director of Engineering for Personalization & Recommendation Systems, you will lead the charge in building a deep, holistic understanding of our learners and use that insight to power the core intelligence of our product. You will guide a team of engineers to build the recommendation and matching systems that connect students to the most relevant content across our platform, including Search, Ads, and our content feed. Your leadership will transform Quizlet from a memorization tool into a personalized, AI-powered coach that drives user engagement, retention, and monetization.

This is an onsite position in our San Francisco office. To help foster team collaboration, employees are expected to be in the office a minimum of three days per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday) and as needed by your manager or the company.

In This Role, You Will

• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of 10+ machine learning and software engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and high-impact execution
• Define and execute the strategic and technical roadmap for all personalization and recommendation initiatives, directly contributing to Quizlet's key business metrics
• Spearhead the development of "User 360," a comprehensive understanding of learners derived from synthesizing behavioral signals, explicit inputs, and conversation history into rich user profiles and embeddings
• Own the end-to-end lifecycle of machine learning models powering all matching and ranking systems across Ads, Search, and Feed, optimizing offline performance (e.g., NDCG) and online business impact (e.g., CTR, user satisfaction)
• Partner with Product, Data Science, and AI & Data Platform teams to deliver an AI-driven learning experience
• Drive technical excellence in scalable, reliable ML systems and build a robust, innovative operational foundation

What You Bring To The Table

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related quantitative field
• 15+ years of industry software engineering experience with at least 4 years in a leadership role managing ML-focused teams
• Proven experience building and deploying large-scale recommendation, search, or personalization systems with significant business impact
• Deep technical expertise in ML, including ranking models, collaborative filtering, deep learning, and embeddings
• Demonstrated success in hiring, developing, and retaining top engineering talent
• Strong strategic mindset with the ability to translate business needs into a technical roadmap

Bonus Points If You Have

• Experience in the EdTech or consumer mobile space
• Experience applying Generative AI, LLMs, or agentic systems to enhance personalization
• A track record of publications in top-tier AI/ML conferences (e.g., RecSys, KDD, NeurIPS, ICLR)
• Experience building ML systems on a modern MLOps stack for feature management, model training, and inference

Compensation, Benefits & Perks

• Quizlet is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Total compensation is market competitive, including a base salary range and stock options
• Healthy work-life balance
• 20 vacation days per year
• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-sponsored 401k plan with company match
• Access to learning resources to support professional growth
• Paid Family Leave, FSA, HSA, and wellness benefits
• Volunteer time off

Why Join Quizlet?

• Massive reach: 60M+ users, 1B+ interactions per week
• Cutting-edge tech: Generative AI, adaptive learning, cognitive science
• Strong momentum: Top-tier investors, sustainable business
• Mission-first: Work that makes a difference in people's lives
• Inclusive culture: Equity, diversity, and belonging

In Closing

At Quizlet, we value passionate people who contribute unique perspectives. We encourage initiative, learning through challenges, and collaboration in a respectful, supportive environment where all can grow and succeed together. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Important Notice

Quizlet does not accept unsolicited agency resumes or profiles. No fees will be paid for unsolicited resumes, and such resumes will be considered the property of Quizlet.