Director of Engineering - Machine Learning

Figma is expanding our team of dedicated individuals who are striving to make design accessible to all. Originated on the Web, Figma aids entire product teams in brainstorming, creating, testing, and launching superior designs collaboratively. We believe that nothing great is accomplished alone—from remarkable products to enduring companies— join us and create with us! Figma is seeking an intuitive Director of Engineering to lead our Machine Learning (ML) Platform Team. This role is crucial in guiding the technical strategy and execution of our AI initiatives for accelerating Figma's mission. The Director of Engineering will be in charge of spearheading a small, but high-impact team of engineers, focusing on product experience, applied research, and ML platform development. The main objective of this team is to employ AI to enhance design accessibility, revolutionizing how users create and cooperate on designs. Your responsibilities at Figma will include: Technical Leadership: Offer hands-on technical leadership, guiding the ML Platform Team in building and maintaining a robust and scalable machine learning platform that supports Figma's design ecosystem. Applied Research: Lead the team in investigating and conducting applied research in the area of Language Models (LLMs) and other related AI sectors. Convert research findings into practical solutions that enhance Figma's design capabilities. Strategic Vision: Develop and implement a clear technical roadmap for the ML platform, aligning with Figma's mission and business goals. Constantly innovate and encourage the adoption of AI technologies to enrich product experiences. Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, designers, and other engineering teams, to ensure seamless integration of AI capabilities into Figma's products. Team Building: Recruit, mentor, and retain a high-performing team of engineers. Cultivate a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning within the ML Platform Team. Technical Excellence: Set and uphold a high standard for technical excellence, ensuring the team adheres to best practices in software development, machine learning, and platform architecture. We'd love to hear from you if you have: 5+ years of experience hiring and leading teams as an engineering manager. Considerable experience in building and leading high-performing engineering teams, with a focus on AI/ML platform development and applied research. A strong understanding of Language Models (LLMs) and related technologies is highly desirable. A proven history of developing and executing technical strategies that drive product innovation and business growth. Deep domain knowledge and understanding of machine learning frameworks, data pipelines, and platform architecture. Experience with natural language processing and generation is a plus. Excellent collaboration and communication skills, able to work effectively across disciplines and levels of the organization. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment. Comfortable taking calculated risks and experimenting with new approaches. At Figma, one of our values is "Grow as you go." We believe in hiring intelligent, curious individuals who are excited to learn and develop their skills. If you’re enthusiastic about this role but your past experience doesn't perfectly align with the points outlined in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be the ideal candidate for this or other roles. Read more about our team: Config 2023 Recap AI: The next chapter in design A new collaboration with Adobe Investing in Figma: The Decade of Design Figma's next product is a multiplayer whiteboard called FigJam Pay Transparency Disclosure If you are based in Figma’s San Francisco or New York hub offices, this role has an annual base salary range as stated below. The job level and actual compensation will be decided based on factors such as individual qualifications objectively assessed during the interview process (including skills and prior relevant experience, potential impact, and scope of the role), market demands, and specific work location. The listed range is a guideline, and the range for this role may be modified. For roles available to be filled remotely, the pay range is localized according to the employee's work location, accounting for between 80% and 100% of the range. Please discuss your specific work location with your recruiter for more information. Figma offers equity to employees, as well as a competitive package of additional benefits, including health, dental & vision, retirement with company contribution, parental leave & reproductive or family planning support, mental health & wellness benefits, generous PTO, company recharge days, a learning & development stipend, a work from home stipend, and cell phone reimbursement. Figma also offers sales incentive pay for most sales roles. Figma’s compensation and benefits are subject to change and may be modified in the future. Annual Base Salary Range for SF/NY Hub: $280,000 — $381,000 USD.