Director, Software Engineering, Machine Learning -Data Curation & Annotation

Company Description

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network, built to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce. Our products help people make powerful connections, discover exciting opportunities, build necessary skills, and gain valuable insights every day. We’re also committed to providing transformational opportunities for our own employees by investing in their growth. We aspire to create a culture that’s built on trust, care, inclusion, and fun – where everyone can succeed.

Join us to transform the way the world works.

Job Description

This role will be based in Sunnyvale, CA.

At LinkedIn, our approach to flexible work is centered on trust and optimized for culture, connection, clarity, and the evolving needs of our business. The work location of this role is hybrid, meaning it will be performed both from home and from a LinkedIn office on select days, as determined by the business needs of the team.

Do you thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment where you can leverage the latest technologies and methodologies to improve efficiency and quality in data curation, annotation and operations? We’re seeking an exceptional Director of Data Curation and Annotation to lead our talented team of data professionals.

At LinkedIn, our Core AI organization stands as the innovation epicenter, addressing the fundamental AI challenges and the force behind LinkedIn's next-generation AI-driven member experiences. Our mission spans across the entire marketplace, leveraging our expertise in data curation, algorithm development, and robust infrastructure to spearhead AI innovations. We are dedicated to creating a transformative impact on all LinkedIn products, establishing the platform as a leader in the AI realm.

In this role, you will be a core member of LinkedIn’s Core AI team and will partner closely with other verticals in Data and AI organization and other Product teams. You’ll be driving and managing all data curation and annotation efforts across LinkedIn. You’ll be at the forefront of transforming how we curate and annotate data, leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies to enhance our processes. You will oversee the development and improvement of the tools and platforms that support these activities. Success in this role hinges on building strong partnerships. You’ll work closely with teams across the company, ensuring their data requirements are met swiftly and effectively. Your vision, leadership, and strategic mindset will be critical as we push the boundaries of what’s possible.

As the Director, you’ll oversee a diverse group of nearly 40 individuals across various functions, including AI linguists, program managers, software engineers, AI engineers, engineering managers, and linguist managers in addition to tens of contractors. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, understanding their unique data needs and priorities. Beyond managing existing data operations, you’ll spearhead our transformation journey. We’re committed to making data annotation more efficient using AI techniques. Your expertise will be instrumental in streamlining processes, optimizing workflows, and implementing best practices. Get ready to challenge the status quo and elevate our capabilities.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage multiple managers across functions, overseeing data annotation projects in diverse domains.

• Develop and align data annotation strategy, best practices, and roadmaps with internal and external stakeholders.

• Innovate by adopting new tools, platforms, and techniques (e.g., automation, crowdsourcing, active learning).

• Ensure data sets’ quality, consistency, accuracy, and compliance with security and privacy standards.

• Establish KPIs, track metrics, and provide regular reports to senior management and relevant parties.

• Identify and resolve issues, implementing corrective actions for successful project delivery.

• Build and motivate a high-performing, diverse team through coaching, mentorship, and development.

• Attract, hire, and retain top talent, ensuring resource allocation for organizational needs.

• Foster collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement across the organization.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s or PhD degree in information science, library science, linguistics, cognitive science, computer science, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.

• 5+ years of experience in leading and managing teams and projects.

Preferred Qualifications:

• ML expertise (build and serve models), building GAI products, RL is a plus

• Platform expertise, da