About this role
Shopify
Join Shopify's innovative team as we work on the development and implementation of state of the art HSTU models (Hierarchical Sequential Transduction Unit) to recommend the best growth drivers and action for merchants and buyers. You'll play a pivotal role in solving high-impact data problems that directly improve merchant success and consumer experience.
As a Machine Learning Engineering (MLE) lead or individual contributor, you'll be at the forefront of building AI solutions that anticipate both merchant needs and personalization for 100M+ shoppers.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and deploy Generative AI, natural language processing, and HSTU-based recommendation models at scale
- Design and implement scalable AI/ML system architectures supporting models
- Build sophisticated inference pipelines that process billions of events and deliver real-time recommendations
- Implement data pipelines for model training, fine-tuning, and evaluation across diverse data sources (merchant events, consumer interactions, payment sequences)
- Experiment with novel architectures
- Optimize for production through advanced techniques like negative sampling, ANN search, and distributed GPU training
- Collaborate cross-functionally with product teams, data scientists, and infrastructure engineers to deliver measurable business impact
- Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences, translating complex ML concepts into actionable insights
Qualifications
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Mastery in recommendation systems, Gen AI or LLMs
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End-to-end experience in training, evaluating, testing, and deploying machine learning products at scale
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Experience in building data pipelines and driving ETL design decisions using disparate data sources
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Proficiency in Python, shell scripting, streaming and batch data pipelines, vector databases, DBT, BigQuery, BigTable, or equivalent, and orchestration tools
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Experience with running machine learning in parallel environments (e.g., distributed clusters, GPU optimization)
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This role may require on-call work
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At Shopify, we pride ourselves on moving quickly—not just in shipping, but in our hiring process as well. If you’re ready to apply, please be prepared to interview with us within the week. Our goal is to complete the entire interview loop within 30 days. You will be expected to complete a pair programming interview, using your own IDE.
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This role may require on-call work.
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Ready to redefine e-commerce through AI innovation? Join the team that’s making commerce better for everyone.
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About the discipline
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Engineering. It’s our DNA.
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Engineering isn't a department at Shopify. It's our DNA. The engineers who thrive here care about the code, the system, and the merchants relying on both. They want hard problems and uncomfortable growth. They find solutions without waiting for permission. They ship weekly. They want commerce to work better for everyone. So does our founder, Tobi, who still codes and still shapes where this thing is going.
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They're open source nerds. They pair program because two brains write better code than one. New tools, new models, new approaches. They experiment constantly. Most of what's standard here started as someone hacking on something.
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They use AI like a keyboard, reflexively and everywhere, to clear the mundane and make room for thinking. And they work in the open. The fastest way to learn here is to watch someone better than you do the work. If that sounds like you, come build with us.
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Infrastructure engineering
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Infrastructure Engineers at Shopify build and maintain the systems that handle millions of requests per second and billions of dollars in transactions. At that scale, performance gains matter and weak assumptions surface quickly. Your systems power the experience for millions of entrepreneurs and buyers every minute of every day, including peak events like Black Friday.
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Engineers at Shopify spend the majority of their time actually writing code to build and improve infrastructure. You’ll solve problems that don’t exist anywhere else, with challenges that push what’s possible. If that lights you up, come build with us.
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Growth and rewards
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Mastery-matched compensation.
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Mastery
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At Shopify, getting better at your craft and increasing your impact is how you grow. Twice a year, we assess both in our Mastery cycle, Shopify’s performance review. Achieving higher Mastery is a promotion, and when you earn a promotion your total rewards grow with it. Crafter and manager are equal paths, so you can pursue excellence in the craft you’re best at.
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Total Rewards
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With Flex Comp, your Rewards Wallet gives you agency over your compensation mix. Adjust your mix of cash, restricted share units, and stock options (including programs like Long-Term Equity) to where it makes sense for you, and mix it up anytime as life and priorities change. Buying a house? Want more skin in the game? Just experimenting? It’s your call.
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Flex Comp program offerings vary based on location, role, and employment type. Full details are set out in our Terms & Conditions and related plan documents.
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Built for real life
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Room for the rest of your life.
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Flexible work, remote by design
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A flexible vacation policy means most Shopifolk can take the vacation days they feel they need to recharge.
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If a change of everyday scenery is more your jam, Destination 90 means you can work from (almost) anywhere in the world for 90 days of the year.
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Your setup
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Your battlestation is your home base. Request the desk, chair, and AV gear you need to get shit done.
Benefits
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You need ‘em, we’ve got ‘em. Our health and welfare benefits may include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance depending on your country. If you’re in a country without a package, you'll receive a monthly allowance. We also offer mental health support for you and your dependents, including immediate and confidential services like counseling and coaching sessions.
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Family support
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We offer fertility benefits globally, along with paid parental leave to welcome a new family member.