Senior Manager - Applied Research

At eBay, we're more than a global ecommerce leader — we’re changing the way the world shops and sells. Our platform empowers millions of buyers and sellers in more than 190 markets around the world. We’re committed to pushing boundaries and leaving our mark as we reinvent the future of ecommerce for enthusiasts. Our customers are our compass, authenticity thrives, bold ideas are welcome, and everyone can bring their unique selves to work — every day. We're in this together, sustaining the future of our customers, our company, and our planet. Join a team of passionate thinkers, innovators, and dreamers — and help us connect people and build communities to create economic opportunity for all. Senior Manager, Applied Research – Shipping AI   At eBay, we don’t just enable commerce—we shape how the world connects, trades, and thrives. If you’re driven by innovation, impact, and building at global scale, join us in redefining the future of e-commerce. About the Team Our Shipping team sits at the core of the end-to-end e-commerce experience. From influencing purchase decisions to ensuring a seamless post-purchase journey, we power trust and satisfaction for millions of buyers and sellers worldwide. We build and deploy advanced machine learning systems to tackle complex logistics challenges—accurate delivery predictions, cost optimization, carrier network modeling, and more. Operating at massive scale, we leverage modern MLOps to deliver high-performance, low-latency solutions across a global marketplace. The Opportunity We are building a next-generation Shipping Intelligence Platform powered by advanced AI technologies including deep learning, NLP, and large language models (LLMs) . We are seeking a Senior Manager, Applied Research to lead a high-impact team of researchers and engineers. This leader will drive innovation from ideation to production—delivering scalable AI systems that directly impact customer experience, operational efficiency, and business outcomes. This is an opportunity to: Lead & Grow Talent : Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of applied researchers and ML engineers. Drive AI Innovation : Define and execute the AI/ML roadmap for shipping intelligence, leveraging NLP, LLMs, recommender systems, and multimodal learning. Deliver at Scale : Own the end-to-end lifecycle—from research and prototyping to production deployment in a high-volume, low-latency environment. Influence Product & Strategy : Partner with Product, Engineering, Analytics, and Operations leaders to shape the future of shipping experiences on eBay. Advance Personalization & Recommendations : Drive strategies that improve discovery, engagement, and conversion across the marketplace. Leverage Big Data : Work with large-scale structured and unstructured datasets, including multimodal inventory and user behavior data. Optimize Marketplace Outcomes : Improve delivery speed, reduce shipping costs, and enhance accuracy in global logistics and classification systems. Champion Technical Excellence : Establish best practices in MLOps, experimentation, and scalable system design. What You Bring : MS/PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, AI, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience) 10+ years of experience in ML/AI or software engineering, with significant leadership experience :Proven track record of leading applied research or ML teams in fast-paced, production-driven environments Experience building and deploying production-grade ML systems at scale Strong background in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, NLP, and Large Language Models Hands-on experience with cloud platforms, big data pipelines, and distributed systems Proficiency in programming (e.g., Java, Scala, Python) and high-scale web applications Experience publishing research, patents, or technical thought leadership is a plus Ability to translate cutting-edge research into real-world impact Additional Details eBay is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, and disability, or other legally protected status. If you have a need that requires accommodation, please contact us at  talent@ebay.com . We will make every effort to respond to your request for accommodation as soon as possible. View our accessibility statement to learn more about eBay's commitment to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities.   We use cookies to enhance your experience and may use AI tools for administrative tasks in the hiring process. To learn how we handle your personal data and use AI responsibly, please visit our   Talent Privacy Notice , Privacy Center , and AI Hiring Guidelines .