Who are we?
Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company®, shortening the path to connectivity to enable the innovations that enrich our work, life and planet.
A place where tech thinkers and future builders turn bold ideas into breakthrough experiences, we welcome your unique perspective.Help us challenge assumptions, uncover bias, and remove barriers—because progress starts with fresh ideas. You’ll find belonging, purpose, and a team that welcomes you—because when you feel valued, you’re empowered to do your best work.
Job Summary
The Director of Machine Learning is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping, executing, and scaling the organization’s machine learning strategy. This leader oversees the development and deployment of advanced ML models, guides cross-functional teams, and ensures the organization leverages AI technologies to drive innovation, efficiency, and business impact. The ideal candidate has deep technical expertise, proven leadership experience, and the ability to translate complex ML concepts into meaningful business outcomes.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Develop and own the company-wide machine learning strategy aligned with business objectives
Identify high-impact opportunities for ML across products, operations, and customer experiences
Advocate for ethical, secure, and responsible AI development and usage
Team & Project Management
Lead, mentor, and grow high-performing teams of ML engineers, data scientists, and research scientists
Establish best practices in model development, experimentation, deployment, and monitoring
Allocate team resources and prioritize projects to balance innovation with ROI
Technical Leadership
Oversee the design, development, and deployment of production-grade machine learning models
Partner with engineering leadership to build scalable ML infrastructure, including MLOps, data pipelines, and cloud architecture
Review and guide technical work, ensuring scientific rigor, reproducibility, and quality
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Work closely with product, engineering, data, and executive teams to align ML initiatives with organizational goals
Communicate complex ML concepts—tradeoffs, risks, timelines—to non-technical stakeholders
Support product strategy by integrating ML capabilities into roadmaps
Governance & Performance
Implement processes for model governance, bias monitoring, versioning, and auditability
Track and report on key ML KPIs, model performance, and business impact
Ensure compliance with regulatory standards related to AI/ML as applicable
Qualifications
Required
Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Applied Mathematics, or related field
10+ years of experience in ML/AI engineering, data science, or applied research
5+ years leading technical teams, including people management responsibility
Expertise in modern ML techniques (deep learning, LLMs, reinforcement learning, generative models, etc.)
Proficiency with ML frameworks and tools (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Hugging Face)
Strong understanding of MLOps, cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP), and scalable data architectures
Proven track record deploying ML models into production environments
Preferred
Experience building ML platforms or ML-driven products at scale
Background working in regulated industries (finance, healthcare, etc.) if relevant
Demonstrated experience with LLM fine-tuning, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), or generative AI
Strong business acumen and ability to influence senior leaders
Key Competencies
Strategic thinking and vision‑setting
Excellent communication and stakeholder management
Technical depth paired with practical delivery
Leadership, coaching, and talent development
Innovation mindset with data‑driven decision-making
The targeted pay range for this position in the following location is / locations are:
United States - Redwood City Office GHQ : 240,000 - 360,000 USD / Annual
Our pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum target for new hire pay for the full-time position determined by role, level, and location.The pay range shown is based on our compensation structure in place at the time of posting and may be updated periodically based on business needs. Individual pay is based on additional factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and/or training.
The targeted pay range listed reflects the base pay only and does not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Employees are eligible for bonus, and equity may be offered depending on the position.
Equinix Benefits
As an employee, you become important to Equinix’s success. We ensure all your benefits are in line with our core values: competitive, inclusive, sustainable, connected and efficient. We keep them competitive within the current marketplace to ensure we’re providing you with the best package possible. So, wherever you are in your career and life, you’ll be able to enhance your experience and bring your whole self to work.
Employee Assistance Program: An Employee Assistance program is available to all employees.
US Benefits: - Insurance: You may enroll in health, life, disability and voluntary plans that are designed for you and your eligible family members. - Retirement: You and Equinix may contribute to a retirement plan to help you plan for your financial future. - Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays: You will receive an accrued amount of PTO each pay period along with various paid holidays for you to rest and recharge. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific plan or program terms.
Equinix is committed to ensuring that our employment process is open to all individuals, including those with a disability. If you are a qualified candidate and need assistance or an accommodation, please let us know by completing this form.
Equinix is an Equal Employment Opportunity and, in the U.S., an Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to unlawful consideration of race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy / childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, age, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, political / organizational affiliation, status as a victim or family member of a victim of crime or abuse, or any other status protected by applicable law.
We use artificial intelligence in our hiring process. Learn more here.
