At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop machine learning models for personalised recommendations on Spotify.
- Company: Join Spotify, the world’s leading audio streaming service with a passion for music.
- Benefits: Flexible remote work, competitive salary, and a culture of inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on how millions discover their next favourite song or podcast.
- Qualifications: Experience in building recommendation systems and a strong understanding of the ML stack.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for mentorship and career growth.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
The Personalization team makes deciding what to play next easier and more enjoyable for every listener. From Blend to Discover Weekly, we’re behind some of Spotify’s most-loved features. We built them by understanding the world of music and podcasts better than anyone else. Join us and you’ll keep millions of users listening by making great recommendations to each and every one of them.
The Personalization (PZN) team is at the heart of how Spotify connects listeners with the content they love. Every day, hundreds of millions of people rely on the experiences we build, from Home and Search to Made For You and Discover Weekly.
Surfaces-NPV is an EU-based squad within the Surfaces Recommendations product area. We own recommendation quality on the Now Playing View, one of Spotify’s most personal and high-impact surfaces, and drive the introduction of new content verticals. We’re a small, senior-heavy team that values craft, autonomy, and shipping. We use AI coding tools such as Claude Code, experiment constantly, and believe the best ML engineers understand the full stack from user need to production system.
What You’ll Do
- Design, train, and ship machine learning models that power recommendations on the Now Playing View for hundreds of millions of users.
- Own ranking systems end-to-end, from experimentation and training pipelines to online serving and monitoring.
- Build and iterate on generative and agentic ML approaches to improve session steering and cross-content discovery.
- Work in an AI-native development environment, using AI tools to accelerate development while applying strong engineering judgment.
- Run A/B experiments, define success metrics, and translate improvements into measurable user impact.
- Collaborate closely with engineers, data scientists, researchers, and product managers to bring ideas into production.
- Shape the ML roadmap by identifying high-impact opportunities and mentor teammates.
Who You Are
- You have hands-on experience building recommendation or personalization systems at scale.
- You’re comfortable working across the ML stack, including pipelines, backend systems, and infrastructure.
- You think in products and understand how model decisions impact user experience.
- You’re fluent with AI-assisted development and use it to accelerate experimentation thoughtfully.
- You’re curious about emerging approaches like generative models and agentic ML systems.
- You’ve taken models from prototype to production and care about reliability and monitoring.
- You’re comfortable with ambiguity and enjoy defining new approaches in evolving problem spaces.
Where You’ll Be
This role is based in London. We offer you the flexibility to work where you work best! There will be some in-person meetings, but still allows for flexibility to work from home.
Spotify is an equal opportunity employer. You are welcome at Spotify for who you are, no matter where you come from, what you look like, or what’s playing in your headphones. Our platform is for everyone, and so is our workplace. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all thrive, contribute, and be forward-thinking! So bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It’s in our differences that we will find the power to keep revolutionizing the way the world listens.
At Spotify, we are passionate about inclusivity and making sure our entire recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We have ways to request reasonable accommodations during the interview process and help assist in what you need. If you need accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know - we’re here to support you in any way we can.
Spotify transformed music listening forever when we launched in 2008. Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the chance to enjoy and be passionate about these creators. Everything we do is driven by our love for music and podcasting. Today, we are the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service.
Senior ML Engineer - Personalization (Now Playing, Remote) employer: Spotify
Contact Detail:
Spotify Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior ML Engineer - Personalization (Now Playing, Remote)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former Spotify employees on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio showcasing your past projects, especially those related to recommendation systems or ML models. This will help you stand out during interviews and show that you know your stuff.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get ready for technical interviews by brushing up on your ML concepts and coding skills. Use platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to sharpen your problem-solving abilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team at Spotify. Don’t miss out!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior ML Engineer - Personalization (Now Playing, Remote)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior ML Engineer role. Highlight your experience with recommendation systems and how it aligns with what we do at Spotify. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission!
Showcase Your Projects: Include specific examples of projects where you've built or improved ML models, especially in personalisation. We love seeing real-world applications of your skills, so don’t hold back on the details!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value diverse perspectives and experiences, so share what makes you unique and how that can benefit our team at Spotify.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Spotify
✨Know Your ML Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your machine learning knowledge, especially around recommendation systems. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with building and deploying models, as well as any specific projects you've worked on that relate to personalisation.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Spotify values engineers who can navigate ambiguity and define new approaches. Prepare examples of how you've tackled complex problems in the past, particularly in evolving environments. Highlight your thought process and the impact of your solutions.
✨Familiarise Yourself with AI Tools
Since the role involves working in an AI-native development environment, be prepared to discuss your experience with AI coding tools like Claude Code. Share how you've used these tools to accelerate development and improve experimentation.
✨Collaborate and Communicate
This position requires close collaboration with various teams. Think of examples where you've successfully worked with engineers, data scientists, or product managers. Emphasise your communication skills and how you ensure everyone is aligned towards a common goal.