Executive Director: Algorithm Research and Development (Ad-Tech) - ONSITE- Sunnyvale, CA (4 days X Week)

FreeWheel, a Comcast company, provides comprehensive ad platforms for publishers, advertisers, and media buyers. Powered by premium video content, robust data, and advanced technology, we're making it easier for buyers and sellers to transact across all screens, data types, and sales channels. As a global company, we have offices in nine countries and can insert advertisements around the world.
Job Summary
Responsible for identifying complex problems across Freewheel's business platforms and developing novel machine learning algorithms to solve them. Provides expertise across the company and is responsible for setting strategic roadmaps for the development and implementation of Machine Learning solutions. Actively engaged in creating intellectual property and filing patents for the company. May help in creating of industry standards and open source software frameworks. Evaluates accuracy and functionality of individual machine learning algorithms and the overall implications of entire machine learning frameworks. Responsible for overseeing design, implementation and evaluation of future machine learning based products and applications. Guides multiple engineering teams to successfully deploy and operate machine learning based products and applications. Provides guidance and leadership to other researchers and/or engineers in developing novel ways to solve problems and discover new products using machine learning. Acts as technical machine learning expert within the company. Integrates knowledge of business and functional priorities. Provides mentoring and guidance to other researchers and engineers in the company.
Job Description
Core Responsibilities
Core Technical & Scientific Skills

• Machine Learning & AI: Deep expertise in supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning with applications in recommendation systems, bidding optimization, and personalization.
• Statistics & Econometrics: Strong foundation in causal inference, experimental design (A/B, multivariate testing), and time series modeling.
• Data Science & Analytics: Proficiency in large-scale data analysis, predictive modeling, and signal extraction from noisy/high-dimensional data.
• Optimization & Algorithms: Expertise in real-time decisioning, auction theory, and constrained optimization problems.
• Computational Advertising: Deep understanding of programmatic advertising, RTB (real-time bidding), attribution modeling, and measurement.
• Natural Language Processing & Generative AI: Familiarity with contextual ad matching, content classification, and creative optimization.
  Domain Expertise
• Ad Tech Ecosystem: Knowledge of DSPs, SSPs, exchanges, identity resolution, and privacy-first advertising technologies.
• Digital Media & Measurement: Experience with metrics like reach, frequency, incrementality, lift studies, and cross-channel attribution.
• Privacy & Compliance: Understanding of GDPR, CCPA, and evolving privacy frameworks (e.g., cookie deprecation, clean rooms, differential privacy).
  Leadership & Strategic Skills
• Research Leadership: Proven ability to set a scientific vision, lead applied research teams, and translate cutting-edge research into product innovation.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to work closely with engineering, product, data, and commercial teams to deliver impact.
• Strategic Thinking: Skilled in aligning scientific research with long-term business objectives and market opportunities.
• Innovation & IP Development: Track record of publishing, filing patents, and driving differentiation through novel approaches.

• Advises and represents strategic roadmap for machine learning technologies to executive leadership.

• Potentially engages with other business units and partners on strategy in the area of machine learning.

• Guides the successful completion of revenue impacting programs that use machine learning as essential components.

• Serves as a leader across multiple teams for machine learning technologies and areas of research.

• Research and engineering leader for teams in the development of ML algorithms and frameworks utilized in products and applications.

• Acts as a subject matter expert in designing and prototyping machine learning models and/or machine learning frameworks of high complexity. Leads innovation in technical capability delivery.

• Creates patents, application programming interfaces (APIs) and other intellectual property. Presents papers at conferences, as well as displaying leadership in these areas. Participates in standards bodies. May guide contributions to open source efforts.

• Tests and evaluates solutions presented to the Company by various internal and external partners and vendors. Leads teams in completing case studies, testing and reporting.

• Represents the organization and possible the company as the prime technical contact for one or more technical areas that utilize machine learning.

• Provides guidance and leadership to team members across the organization and possibly company.

• Consistent exercise of independent judgment and discretion in matters of significance.

• Regular, consistent and punctual attendance. Must be able to work nights and weekends, variable schedule(s) and overtime as necessary.

• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Employees at all levels are expected to:

• Understand our Operating Principles; make them the guidelines for how you do your job.
• Own the customer experience - think and act in ways that put our customers first, give them seamless digital options at every touchpoint, and make them promoters of our products and services.
• Know your stuff - be enthusiastic learners, users and advocates of our game-changing technology, products and services, especially our digital tools and experiences.
• Win as a team - make big things happen by working together and being open to new ideas.
• Be an active part of the Net Promoter System - a way of working that brings more employee and customer feedback into the company - by joining huddles, making call backs and helping us elevate opportunities to do better for our customers.
• Drive results and growth.
• Support a culture of inclusion in how you work and lead.
• Do what's right for each other, our customers, investors and our communities.

Disclaimer:

• This information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications.

Comcast is an equal opportunity workplace. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
Skills:
Leadership; Research and Development; Business
Salary:
Primary Location Pay Range: $319,299.61 - $478,949.41
Comcast intends to offer the selected candidate base pay within this range, dependent on job-related, non-discriminatory factors such as experience. The application window is 30 days from the date job is posted, unless the number of applicants requires it to close sooner or later.
Base pay is one part of the Total Rewards that Comcast provides to compensate and recognize employees for their work. Most sales positions are eligible for a Commission under the terms of an applicable plan, while most non-sales positions are eligible for a Bonus. Additionally, Comcast provides best-in-class Benefits to eligible employees. We believe that benefits should connect you to the support you need when it matters most, and should help you care for those who matter most. That's why we provide an array of options, expert guidance and always-on tools, that are personalized to meet the needs of your reality - to help support you physically, financially and emotionally through the big milestones and in your everyday life. Please visit the compensation and benefits summary on our careers site for more details.
Education
Master's Degree
While possessing the stated degree is preferred, Comcast also may consider applicants who hold some combination of coursework and experience, or who have extensive related professional experience.
Relevant Work Experience
10 Years +