Sr. Lead Machine Learning Engineer

About the role

About The Company

Capital One is a leading diversified bank renowned for its innovative approach to financial services. Committed to leveraging technology and data-driven insights, Capital One strives to deliver exceptional customer experiences through digital transformation and cutting-edge solutions. With a strong focus on fostering an inclusive and dynamic work environment, the company aims to empower its employees to drive meaningful change in the financial industry. Capital One's dedication to responsible banking and community engagement underscores its commitment to creating value for customers, shareholders, and society at large.

About The Role

The Sr. Lead Machine Learning Engineer at Capital One plays a pivotal role in designing, developing, and deploying scalable machine learning solutions that address complex business challenges. This position requires a seasoned professional with extensive experience in building data-intensive systems, leading cross-functional teams, and implementing innovative ML architectures. The role involves collaborating closely with product managers, data scientists, and engineering teams to translate business requirements into robust ML models and applications. The engineer will oversee the entire lifecycle of machine learning systems—from initial research and development to production deployment and ongoing maintenance—ensuring high performance, reliability, and compliance with responsible AI practices. This leadership position offers an opportunity to influence strategic initiatives, mentor junior team members, and contribute to the advancement of AI capabilities within the organization.

Qualifications

To be successful in this role, candidates should possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, or a related field. A master’s or doctoral degree is preferred. Candidates must have at least 8 years of experience designing and building data-driven solutions using distributed computing frameworks, along with a minimum of 4 years programming experience in languages such as Python, Scala, or Java. Additionally, candidates should have at least 3 years of experience in scaling and optimizing ML systems, and 2 years leading teams developing machine learning solutions. Proven expertise in deploying ML models in cloud environments like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform is highly desirable. Strong understanding of ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, or Spark, along with experience in building resilient data pipelines, is essential. Excellent communication skills and the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences are also important.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and deliver scalable ML models and components that solve real-world business problems in collaboration with product and data science teams.

Make informed decisions regarding ML infrastructure, including model selection, feature engineering, hyperparameter tuning, and validation techniques.

Write, test, and optimize application code to automate ML workflows, deployment, and testing processes.

Collaborate within Agile teams to create and enhance software that supports advanced big data and ML applications.

Monitor, retrain, and maintain models in production to ensure continued accuracy and performance.

Leverage cloud-based architectures and platforms to deliver ML solutions at scale effectively.

Construct and manage data pipelines that efficiently feed ML models with high-quality data.

Implement CI/CD practices, including automated testing and model monitoring, to ensure smooth deployment cycles.

Maintain code quality, manage model governance, and ensure adherence to responsible AI standards, including explainability and fairness.

Utilize programming languages like Python, Scala, or Java to develop and refine ML applications.

Benefits

Capital One offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, financial stability, and overall well-being of its employees. Benefits include competitive health insurance plans, retirement savings options, paid time off, and wellness programs. The company also provides opportunities for professional development, continuous learning, and career advancement. Employees have access to flexible work arrangements and a collaborative work environment that fosters innovation. Additionally, Capital One offers performance-based incentives, including bonuses and long-term incentives, to recognize and reward contributions. The organization is committed to creating an inclusive culture that values diversity and promotes work-life balance.

Equal Opportunity

Capital One is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. The company adheres to all applicable federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment. Capital One values the unique perspectives and experiences of all applicants and employees and provides equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. The organization also supports reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and those requiring assistance during the application process. Capital One's commitment to diversity and inclusion is integral to its mission of delivering innovative financial solutions and creating a positive impact in the communities it serves.