Director of Machine Learning, Rocket Growth

Director of Machine Learning, Rocket Growth

Company Introduction

We exist to wow our customers. We know we’re doing the right thing when we hear our customers say, “How did we ever live without Coupang?” Born out of an obsession to make shopping, eating, and living easier than ever, we’re collectively disrupting the multi-billion-dollar e-commerce industry from the ground up. We are one of the fastest-growing e-commerce companies that established an unparalleled reputation for being a dominant and reliable force in South Korean commerce.

We are proud to have the best of both worlds — a startup culture with the resources of a large global public company. This fuels us to continue our growth and launch new services at the speed we have been since our inception. We are all entrepreneurs surrounded by opportunities to drive new initiatives and innovations. At our core, we are bold and ambitious people that like to get our hands dirty and make a hands-on impact. At Coupang, you will see yourself, your colleagues, your team, and the company grow every day.

Our mission to build the future of commerce is real. We push the boundaries of what’s possible to solve problems and break traditional tradeoffs. Join Coupang now to create an epic experience in this always-on, high-tech, and hyper-connected world.

Role Overview 

Rocket Growth business enables small and medium suppliers to offer Rocket Delivery (Dawn and Next Day Delivery) to millions of Coupang customers by allowing our suppliers the use of Coupang’s Fulfillment and Delivery Network. With thousands of new suppliers signing up for Rocket on Demand each quarter, it is one of the fastest growing businesses in Coupang. As we get ready to scale this business multifold over the next few years, we are increasing our Data Science, Data Engineering and Analytics capabilities.  

We are seeking a visionary and hands-on Director of Machine Learning to lead our talented team of Data Scientists and ML Engineers. This leader will drive innovation and business success by harnessing the power of big data, machine learning, and generative AI. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of building high-performing teams, solving complex business problems using ML, and delivering scalable ML solutions in production. The scale of our data, the complexity of variables at play, and the speed at which we operate make this role both intellectually demanding and uniquely positioned to drive significant, high-visibility impact. 

What You Will Do

• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of Data Scientists and ML Engineers. Provide strong technical leadership by staying close to the work—reviewing designs, guiding implementation, and jumping in to solve complex problems. Be a hands-on mentor who helps team members grow and coach them to build smarter, more effective solutions. 
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders (Product, Engineering, Operations, Business) to identify high-impact opportunities for data science intervention. Act as a strategic thought partner to Product and Business teams, proactively identifying opportunities to embed relevant data science-powered initiatives into their roadmaps. Actively manage and prioritize high-impact opportunities for growth, efficiency, and innovation. 
• Drive the development and deployment of ML models and Gen AI applications that solve real-world business problems, especially in the domains of supply chain optimization, seller performance, seller / selection acquisition, item success and customer experience. 
• Champion Data Science excellence by establishing best practices across all stages of DS project lifecycle; foster a culture of rigor, innovation, and continuous learning across the team to ensure high-quality, scalable solutions that deliver measurable business impact. 
• Help build a data-driven culture and foster innovation across the org through rapid prototyping and iterative development. 
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in ML, Gen AI, and big data technologies, esp. in eCommerce space, and apply them to Coupang’s unique challenges. 
• Collaborate closely with other Data Science and Machine Learning teams across Coupang to share knowledge, align on strategic initiatives, and drive synergies that amplify impact across the organization 
• Lead by example, earn trust & respect of your colleagues, and help build a team culture that reflects Coupang’s values & principles.  

Basic Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in ML or Data Science
• Advanced degree (MS) in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or related field

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven experience building and leading high-performing DS/ML teams.  
• Proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments while helping the team balance delivering ongoing impact while creating space for deep, impactful work. 
• Strong hands-on experience in applying ML to solve business problems, esp. In the domain on NLP, Information Retrieval and Computer Vision. 
• Deep understanding of technologies for building and deploying big data and ML systems (e.g., Spark, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Kubernetes, Airflow). 
• Experience building Gen AI-powered applications using LLMs and related technologies. 
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills; ability to influence across Tech and non-Tech teams. 
• Demonstrated ability to craft and execute a Data Science roadmap that aligns with organizational goals—balancing long-term innovation with short-term impact and ensuring that team efforts are tightly integrated with business and product priorities. 
  • Bias for action and a track record of delivering measurable business impact. 
  • Experience in eCommerce or supply chain domains will be a strong plus. 
  • Experience working in international environments with globally distributed teams. 

Pay & Benefits:

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. At Coupang, your base pay is one part of your total compensation.  

The base pay for this position ranges from $171,000/year in our lowest geographic market to $351,000/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on several factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

 General Description of All Benefits:   

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life, AD&D insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) program
• 401K Plan with Company Match
• 18-21 days of the Paid Time Off (PTO) a year based on the tenure
• 12 Public Holidays
• Paid Parental leave
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• MTV - [Free] Electric Car Charging Station

General Description of Other Compensation: 

“Other Compensation” includes, but is not limited to, bonuses, equity, or other forms of compensation that would be offered to the hired applicant in addition to their established salary range or wage scale.  

Details to Consider

• This job posting may be closed prior to the stated end date for application if all openings are filled.
• Coupang has the right to rescind an offer of employment if a candidate is found to have submitted false information as part of the application process.
• Coupang does not discriminate against disabled applicants or those with veteran status. We are proud to offer equal opportunities for all applicants.

Privacy Notice

• Your personal information will be collected and managed by Coupang as stated in the Application Privacy Notice located below: https://www.coupang.jobs/privacy-policy/

Coupang is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or gender (including pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, transgender status), national origin, age, disability, medical condition, HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis C status, marital status, military or veteran status, use of a trained dog guide or service animal, political activities, or affiliations, citizenship, or any other characteristic or class protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation in the recruiting process due to a disability, please contact us at [email protected].

Equal Opportunities for All

• Coupang is an equal opportunity employer. Our unprecedented success could not be possible without the valuable inputs of our globally diverse team.