Director, Machine Learning Science - Content AI

Our Technology Team partners with teams across Expedia Group to create innovative products, services, and tools that deliver high-quality experiences for travelers, partners, and our employees. A single technology platform powered by data and machine learning provides secure, differentiated, and personalized experiences that drive loyalty and traveler satisfaction.

We’re seeking a Director of Machine Learning Science to lead our Content AI strategy and execution. In this pivotal role, you will move beyond traditional ML applications to architect the next generation of our Content Engine. You will leverage Large Language Models (LLMs), Multimodal Modality, Agentic Workflow to ensure that every image, review, property description, and video is not only relevant but inspiring, safe, and hyper-personalized.

Responsibilities

• Define the Content AI Strategy: Establish the technical roadmap and OKRs for the Machine Learning systems that power Content Generation, Content Moderation, and Content Relevance across our global ecosystem.
• Lead AI Innovation: Spearhead the deployment of cutting‑edge AI solutions (LLMs, Diffusion Models) to automate content creation (text, image, video) and summarization, enhancing discovery on both app and web platforms.
• Pioneer Agentic Workflows: Drive the research and development of autonomous AI Agents capable of reasoning over vast content repositories to answer complex traveler queries and perform multi-step planning tasks.
• Master Content Relevance & Safety: Oversee the development of models that rank and personalize content to improve conversion and loyalty, while simultaneously building robust automated moderation pipelines to ensure brand safety, trust, and quality at scale.
• Bridge the Gap between Research & Product: Prioritize efforts between foundational platform migration/optimization and cutting‑edge experimentation with new GenAI features.
• Influence & Collaborate: Foster cross‑functional partnerships with Product, Engineering, Legal, and Supply teams to integrate AI‑generated content into the core user experience seamlessly.
• Build a World‑Class Team: Recruit, mentor, and manage a high‑performing team of Applied Scientists and AI Engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and rapid experimentation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate degree (PhD preferred) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Linguistics, or equivalent experience.
• 12+ years of experience in Machine Learning Science with a specific focus on NLP, Computer Vision, or Recommender Systems.
• 5+ years of people‑management experience, with a track record of leading high‑performing science teams in a tech‑first environment.
• Hands‑on experience with Generative AI technologies (e.g., Transformer architectures, LLMs like LLaMA/GPT, RAG pipelines, PEFT/LoRA fine‑tuning).
• Understanding of hallucination, latency, and cost optimization.
• Proven experience in the Content ML/AI space, specifically regarding Content Understanding, Moderation, Generation, and Relevance, creating rich and immersive user experiences.
• A proven track record of taking high‑risk, high‑reward ML projects from proof‑of‑concept to large‑scale production serving millions of users.

Preferred Qualifications

• Agentic AI Experience: Experience building and deploying Agentic workflows with tool use, planning, and reasoning capabilities.
• Ability to translate complex AI concepts into clear business value for executive stakeholders.

Pay Range: Total cash base $242,000.00 to $338,500.00 in San Jose. Potential to increase salary up to $387,000.00 based on performance. Starting pay varies by location, budget, and experience.

Benefits: medical/dental/vision, paid time off, Employee Assistance Program, wellness & travel reimbursement, travel discounts, International Airlines Travel Agent membership.

If you need assistance with any part of the application or recruiting process due to a disability or other physical or mental health conditions, please reach out to our Recruiting Accommodations Team through the Accommodation Request. Expedia is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age.