[Remote] Head of Ads Quality Engineering at WhatNot

New York, New York, United States

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$230,000 – $350,000Compensation

Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

E-commerce, Advertising, MarketplaceIndustries

Requirements

M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Economics, Statistics, or equivalent professional experience
10+ years of industry experience building and shipping production machine learning systems at scale
5+ years of leadership experience managing engineering or analytics teams
Strong expertise in ML fundamentals: ads systems, marketplace incentives systems, ranking systems, recommendation algorithms, retrieval, personalization from ground up
Experience with large-scale data pipelines, feature engineering, and model serving infrastructure
Strong communication and collaboration skills; ability to work effectively across product, data, and business teams
Demonstrated ability to balance innovation with shipping and reliability
A collaborative mindset — especially with product, data science, and ML counterparts — to drive measurable business outcomes
Strategic and technical leadership that raises the bar for engineering excellence
Low ego, growth mindset, and high-impact drive aligning with Whatnot’s cultural values
Must live within commuting distance of Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, or Seattle hubs

Responsibilities

Build and lead a world-class team of machine learning and backend engineers
Own the technical strategy for ads quality systems
Develop advanced ML models to surface the most engaging and relevant promoted content
Define the technical direction for ads quality systems, including retrieval and ranking stages in the ads delivery funnel
Mentor exceptional engineers
Work cross-functionally to build the next generation of ads products
Ensure the most relevant, high-performing ads and promotions reach users across all ad formats and discovery experiences, balancing relevance for users and ROI for advertisers

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Machine LearningBackend EngineeringRetrieval SystemsRanking AlgorithmsAds DeliveryML ModelsTechnical StrategyTeam Leadership

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for the Head of Ads Quality Engineering role?

The salary range is $230K - $350K.

Is this position remote, and are there any location requirements?

The role is remote with flexibility to work from home or global office hubs, but team members must live within commuting distance of our Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, or Seattle hubs. The team is described as a remote co-located team that values in-person time for planning and connection.

What are the key qualifications and skills required for this position?

Candidates need an M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Economics, Statistics, or equivalent experience, 10+ years building production ML systems at scale, 5+ years leading engineering or analytics teams, and strong expertise in ML fundamentals including ads systems and marketplaces.

What is the company culture like at Whatnot?

Whatnot embodies a culture of low ego, growth mindset, high-impact drive, and strong alignment with cultural values, as a remote co-located team inspired by innovation.

What makes a strong candidate for the Head of Ads Quality Engineering role?

Strong candidates embody a low ego, growth mindset, high-impact drive, align with Whatnot’s values, and bring advanced technical expertise in ML for ads systems along with proven leadership experience.

WhatNot

Online marketplace for authentic collectibles

About WhatNot

Whatnot.com operates as an online marketplace dedicated to collectibles, particularly focusing on items like Funkos and FiGPiNs. The platform ensures that every collectible listed is 100% authentic through a rigorous verification process that includes hand authentication, providing trust and security for both buyers and sellers. It caters to collectors and enthusiasts who seek a reliable space to buy and sell rare and exclusive items from popular franchises such as Marvel Comics and Star Wars. Whatnot.com distinguishes itself from competitors by charging low fees on sales and offering seller protection, which guarantees prompt and secure payments. The company's goal is to create a trusted environment for the growing community of collectible enthusiasts, facilitating safe and easy transactions for unique items.

Marina del Rey, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2019Year Founded

$728.7MTotal Funding

SERIES_ECompany Stage

Consumer Software, Consumer GoodsIndustries

501-1,000Employees

Benefits

Competitive base salary and stock options

Unlimited Vacation Policy and No Meeting Holidays

Health Insurance options including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short term disability & Long term Disability

Work From Home Support

Up to $500 monthly to spend within Whatnot App

Care benefits

Risks

Increased competition from TikTok Shop may impact Whatnot's market share.

The collectibles market's volatility could affect Whatnot's sales and inventory.

Expansion into new categories may dilute Whatnot's specialized brand identity.

Differentiation

Whatnot offers a unique marketplace for 100% authenticated collectible items.

The platform integrates live shopping with entertainment, enhancing user engagement.

Whatnot's partnerships with major franchises like Marvel boost its market appeal.

Upsides

Whatnot's $265M funding round supports expansion and new product categories.

The platform's collaboration with PSA enhances trust through integrated authentication services.

Rising interest in live shopping among younger demographics drives Whatnot's growth.

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