Sr Staff Software Engineer – Machine Learning

PayPal, a global leader in digital payments and financial technology serving approximately 200 markets, is seeking a Senior Staff Software Engineer to join their Consumer Product Catalog and Search team. This role presents an exciting opportunity to shape the future of product discovery for millions of global shoppers.

The position involves leading the development of next-generation search and recommendation systems at PayPal, focusing on core components of the product search stack. As a technical leader, you'll be responsible for designing and implementing indexing pipelines and query-time services that deliver fast and relevant search results at global scale. The role requires expertise in machine learning, distributed systems, and search infrastructure.

The ideal candidate will have at least 12 years of relevant experience and a proven track record in building large-scale distributed systems. Specific expertise in semantic vector-based retrieval, document enrichment, entity resolution, or knowledge graph technologies is highly valued. The position demands strong technical leadership skills, as you'll be making decisions that affect multiple teams and establishing technical conventions across organizational boundaries.

PayPal offers a competitive compensation package ranging from $169,500 to $291,500 annually, plus performance bonuses and equity. The company provides comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plans, and a flexible hybrid work model with 3 days in office and 2 days flexible. Career development is supported through educational benefits and training programs.

The role is based in either San Jose, California or Chicago, Illinois, working in a collaborative environment with ML engineers, backend developers, and catalog data teams. This position offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on PayPal's product discovery capabilities while working for a company that's been revolutionizing global commerce for over 25 years.

PayPal maintains a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging, fostering a workplace where all employees can thrive and contribute to the company's mission of democratizing financial services. The company's culture emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and wellness, making it an ideal environment for talented engineers looking to make a meaningful impact on global commerce.