Senior Machine Learning Engineering Manager

EvenUp EvenUp · Vertical AI · San Francisco, CA · Hybrid · Data Science

Senior Machine Learning Engineering Manager to build and lead a new Machine Learning and Generative AI function, focusing on high-visibility, high-impact generative AI products including Document Generation, Knowledge Bases, and Agentic Systems. The role involves hiring, mentoring, setting vision and culture, designing roadmaps, providing technical leadership, and delivering product outcomes.

What you'd actually do

  1. Build and lead a new Machine Learning team; drive hiring, mentoring, vision, and culture from day one.
  2. Design and execute a clear roadmap across Document Generation (primary), Voice Agents, and agent-based Knowledge Base systems.
  3. Provide hands-on technical leadership in LLMs, ML, and GenAI, setting best practices and engineering standards for the function.
  4. Collaborate cross-functionally with Product and Engineering to align priorities, unblock teams, and ensure delivery of impactful solutions.
  5. Deliver visible product impact fast, with clear successes in the first 90 days—especially within Document Generation—and scale the team to a robust, autonomous ML function within the first year.

Skills

Required

  • Proven success building and managing high-performing ML or Data Science teams, ideally from scratch in fast-paced, startup-like environments.
  • Deep domain expertise in machine learning, NLP, LLMs, and generative AI, with hands-on experience taking systems to production.
  • Excellent cross-functional communication and leadership skills, with a strong record of partnering closely with Product and Engineering.
  • Experience and comfort with ML engineering languages and frameworks—Python, PyTorch (or similar), and modern LLM/generative AI tooling.
  • A true builder’s mentality: ready to launch, scale, and shape a new technical domain within a rapidly growing company.
  • Experience in industries such as SaaS, fintech, big tech, or startups, with roles such as Senior Engineering Manager (ML), Director/Head of ML, or Senior Applied Scientist Manager.
  • 3+ years of experience directly leading and managing a machine learning or data science team
  • at least 5+ years of hands-on professional experience in machine learning engineering or related fields.
  • Deep hands-on expertise in machine learning, NLP, LLMs, and generative AI, with a successful record of deploying production ML systems.
  • Strong experience with Python and major ML/NLP frameworks (such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face, or similar).
  • Demonstrated ability to build teams and functions from scratch, lead roadmap development, and drive execution in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
  • Experience working in a high-growth startup environment.
  • Excellent cross-functional communication and leadership skills, with a track record of partnering closely with Product and Engineering stakeholders.

Nice to have

  • PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, or other quantitative fields.
  • Passion for EvenUp's mission of driving fairness and accessibility in the legal domain.
  • Ability to work in a hybrid setting from one of our office hubs in Toronto or San Francisco.

What the JD emphasized

  • build and lead a new Machine Learning team
  • drive hiring, mentoring, vision, and culture from day one
  • Design and execute a clear roadmap
  • Provide hands-on technical leadership
  • set best practices and engineering standards
  • Deliver visible product impact fast
  • scale the team to a robust, autonomous ML function

Other signals

  • build and lead a new ML team
  • drive hiring, mentoring, vision, and culture
  • design and execute a clear roadmap
  • deliver rapid product wins early
  • set a vision for how ML will shape customer impact and company success