Principal Core Science Machine Learning Scientist

#WeAreParamount on a mission to unleash the power of content… you in?
We’ve got the brands, we’ve got the stars, we’ve got the power to achieve our mission to entertain the planet – now all we’re missing is… YOU! Becoming a part of Paramount means joining a team of passionate people who not only recognize the power of content but also enjoy a touch of fun and uniqueness. Together, we co-create moments that matter – both for our audiences and our employees – and aim to leave a positive mark on culture.

We are seeking a Principal Machine Learning Scientist to join the Core Science Group. This is a foundational leadership role designed for a visionary who wants to build the "atomic units" of our next-generation personalization ecosystem. Your mission is to define and develop Personalization Foundation Models and the ML Primitives that will power every surface across the Paramount streaming portfolio.

As a Principal Scientist, you operate at an organizational scale, solving the most complex and ambiguous challenges in model architecture and systems engineering. You will lead the design of agentic components for personalization products and push the boundaries of how we think about the "AI Kernel." This role requires a rare blend of deep scientific research and the low-level systems engineering (Rust, custom kernels) needed to make foundation models performant at a global scale.

Why This Role Matters

• Defining the Foundation: You create the core models that every Applied ML pod will use as their starting point, ensuring we don't reinvent the wheel for every surface.
• Architecting Agency: You lead the transition from passive recommendation to autonomous agentic components that can reason about content and user intent.
• Systems Innovation: By pushing into Helion kernels and Triton optimization, you define the efficiency and cost-profile of our entire ML infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive Long-term Strategy: Own the technical direction for Personalization Foundation Models, setting a 2–3 year horizon for research and implementation.
• Develop ML Primitives: Build the shared libraries and foundational components used by ranking and retrieval systems across the organization.
• High-Performance Engineering: Implement performance-critical components in Rust and optimize inference using Triton and custom Helion kernels.
• Agentic Research: Design the orchestration and reasoning logic for agentic personalization components.
• Influence & Mentorship: Shape the roadmap for both the Core Science and Applied ML groups, influencing senior leaders and mentoring the company's top technical talent.

Qualifications

• Minimum: 10+ years of experience in ML research and systems engineering; Mastery of PyTorch and Rust; Deep experience with inference optimization (Triton).
• Preferred: Published research in Foundation Models or Agentic Systems; Experience building or contributing to AI Kernels; PhD in Computer Science or related field.

What Success Looks Like

• 12 Months: Delivery of the first "Paramount Personalization Primitive" adopted by at least two major Applied ML pods, resulting in measurable improvements in training efficiency or model accuracy.

#LI-PG1

Paramount Streaming, a division within Paramount Global, is the home to the company's direct-to-consumer services spanning free and paid in the form of Pluto TV and Paramount+. Pluto TV is the global leader in free ad-supported TV, delivering more than 1,400 global channels and an extensive library of streaming content, including live and original channels. Paramount+, digital subscription video-on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news, and A Mountain of Entertainment™. Paramount+ features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including SHOWTIME®.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Hiring Salary Range: $234,000.00 - 250,000.00. 

The hiring salary range for this position applies to New York, California, Colorado, Washington state, and most other geographies. Starting pay for the successful applicant depends on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education.  The benefits available for this position include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) plan, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, tuition assistance program and PTO or, if applicable,  as otherwise dictated by the appropriate Collective Bargaining Agreement. This position is bonus eligible.  

• Attractive compensation and comprehensive benefits packages. Check out our full list of benefits here: https://www.paramount.com/careers/benefits
• Generous paid time off.
• An exciting and fulfilling opportunity to be part of one of Paramount’s most dynamic teams.
• Opportunities for both on-site and virtual engagement events.
• Unique opportunities to make meaningful connections and build a vibrant community, both inside and outside the workplace.
• Explore life at Paramount: https://www.paramount.com/careers/life-at-paramount

Paramount is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) including disability/vet.

At Paramount, the spirit of inclusion feeds into everything that we do, on-screen and off. From the programming and movies we create to employee benefits/programs and social impact outreach initiatives, we believe that opportunity, access, resources and rewards should be available to and for the benefit of all. Paramount is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, and Veteran status.

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