At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the ML/AI function, architecting innovative systems for real-world banking workflows.
- Company: Saris AI, a cutting-edge startup revolutionising the banking industry with applied AI.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, premium benefits, equity package, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Be part of a stellar team backed by top Silicon Valley VCs, driving innovation.
- Why this job: Join us to tackle complex challenges and make a real impact in the trillion-dollar banking sector.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in ML/AI engineering, with leadership experience and deep technical expertise.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 130000 € per year.
About Saris AI
We're a San Francisco, Montreal and Toronto based applied AI startup that's building the future of work in the banking industry. We are tackling a $100 billion/yr problem, doubling every quarter and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with multi-turn AI agentic systems.
Our goal is to tackle the type of automation problems that require long-context reasoning, tool orchestration across legacy systems, and strict compliance loops: the ones without known answers. We’ve shipped real agents that handle real customer workflows in production. With a growing customer base and live deployments, we’re scaling up fast and looking for deeply technical builders who want to have outsized impact early.
Your mission is to:
- Own and lead the ML/AI function end-to-end, setting technical direction and standards across the company.
- Architect and guide the development of multi-modal, agentic AI systems powering real-world workflows.
- Define and oversee evaluation frameworks, datasets, and performance metrics to continuously improve agent quality.
- Drive productionization of ML systems, ensuring reliability, scalability, and compliance in real-world environments.
- Build and mentor a high-performing ML team over time, setting best practices across modeling, experimentation, and deployment.
Who You Are:
- 8+ years of experience in ML/AI engineering, including time as a technical lead or manager.
- Proven track record of leading ML initiatives end-to-end, from problem definition to production deployment.
- Deep experience with LLMs and/or agentic systems, ideally in real-world, customer-facing applications.
- Strong understanding of ML fundamentals (deep learning, transformers, model evaluation, tradeoffs).
- Experience scaling ML systems in production, including monitoring, iteration, and reliability.
- Demonstrated ability to lead engineers, influence architecture decisions, and drive technical direction.
- Comfortable operating in early-stage, ambiguous environments with high ownership.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex ML concepts into clear decisions.
Bonus Points If You:
- Have experience building agentic systems, orchestration layers, or long-context reasoning systems.
- Are comfortable across the stack (data → modeling → infra → APIs).
- Have worked with both open-source and closed LLMs, including fine-tuning or retrieval systems (RAG).
- Have a strong product mindset and care deeply about real-world impact, not just model performance.
Why Join Saris AI?
- Join us in building the future of work for the trillion-dollar banking industry using cutting edge AI technology.
- Tackle ambiguous technical challenges with no clear answers.
- Competitive compensation with premium benefits and equity package.
- Work with a stellar team of engineers, builders, and leaders; including repeat YC founders with a successful exit (Ready Education).
- We already have production agents live with revenue-generating customers.
- Our team is backed by Tier 1 Silicon Valley VCs.
ML Engineering Lead in San Francisco employer: Saris AI
Saris AI is an exceptional employer for those looking to make a significant impact in the banking industry through cutting-edge AI technology. With a competitive compensation package, premium benefits, and a culture that fosters innovation and collaboration, employees are empowered to tackle complex challenges in a dynamic environment. The opportunity for professional growth is immense, as team members work alongside experienced leaders and contribute to pioneering projects that are already generating revenue.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land ML Engineering Lead in San Francisco
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your ML projects, especially those that demonstrate your ability to tackle complex problems. This will give you an edge and show potential employers what you're capable of.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. Practice explaining your past projects and how you've led teams through challenges. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with our mission at Saris AI.
We think you need these skills to ace ML Engineering Lead in San Francisco
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for AI:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for AI and ML shine through! We want to see how excited you are about tackling complex problems and building innovative solutions in the banking industry.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in ML engineering, especially any leadership roles you've had. We’re looking for someone who can take charge, so don’t be shy about showcasing your past successes and how they relate to our mission.
Be Clear and Concise:While we love a good story, keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to explain your technical skills and experiences, making it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Saris AI
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your ML fundamentals, especially deep learning and transformers. Be ready to discuss your past experiences leading ML initiatives and how you've tackled real-world problems. This is your chance to showcase your technical expertise!
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a potential ML Engineering Lead, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to lead teams and influence architectural decisions. Prepare examples of how you've built and mentored high-performing teams in the past, and be ready to discuss your approach to setting best practices.
✨Embrace Ambiguity
Saris AI thrives in early-stage environments with lots of unknowns. Be prepared to share how you've navigated ambiguous situations in your previous roles. Highlight your problem-solving skills and your comfort with taking ownership in challenging scenarios.
✨Communicate Clearly
Strong communication skills are key for this role. Practice explaining complex ML concepts in simple terms, as you'll need to translate these ideas for various stakeholders. Think about how you can convey your vision for ML systems and their impact on real-world workflows.