--- title: 'Principal, Machine Learning Engineer at Coupang' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-machine-learning-engineer-coupang-mountain-view-cs0y99dpt3wn' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-16' --- # Principal, Machine Learning Engineer at Coupang - **Company:** Coupang - **Location:** Mountain View, CA / Seattle, WA - **Posted:** 2026-04-23 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16 - **Apply:** https://www.coupang.jobs/en/jobs/?gh_jid=7816155 ## Job description Principal, Machine Learning Engineer - Search We exist to wow our customers. We know we’re doing the right thing when we hear our customers say, “How did we ever live without Coupang?” Born out of an obsession to make shopping, eating, and living easier than ever, we’re collectively disrupting the multi-billion-dollar e-commerce industry from the ground up. We are one of the fastest-growing e-commerce companies that established an unparalleled reputation for being a dominant and reliable force in South Korean commerce. We are proud to have the best of both worlds — a startup culture with the resources of a large global public company. This fuels us to continue our growth and launch new services at the speed we have been since our inception. We are all entrepreneurial surrounded by opportunities to drive new initiatives and innovations. At our core, we are bold and ambitious people that like to get our hands dirty and make a hands-on impact. At Coupang, you will see yourself, your colleagues, your team, and the company grow every day. Our mission to build the future of commerce is real. We push the boundaries of what’s possible to solve problems and break traditional tradeoffs. Join Coupang now to create an epic experience in this always-on, high-tech, and hyper-connected world. ## About the Role As a Principal Machine Learning Engineer in Search and Discovery, you will leverage the most advanced algorithms to improve Coupang’s product search and discovery quality. You are expected to be a leading expert in one or multiple areas including information retrieval, recommendation systems, machine learning, deep learning or natural language processing. The ideal candidates are pragmatic, resourceful, and embrace challenges that are seemingly impossible. The ideal candidates also have rich industry experience and a track record of delivering highly impactful projects. ## What You Will Do - Root causes the bottle neck of the current search and recommendation systems and quantifies the defects. - Propose solutions which address the search and discovery defects and leverage the state-of-the-art technologies, including ML, DL and large language model. - Implement the solutions and conduct AB tests. - Be a thought leader and able to gain consensus in the organization when needed. Some example projects include: - Personalization ranking model and its integration to Search ranking stack. - Personalized retrieval - Recommendation model for all Discovery interfaces. - User understanding and modeling ## What We’re Looking For Required Qualifications - 10+ years of experience in related fields including Search, Information Retrieval, RecSys, ML, DL or NLP. - Proficient coding skills in Java, C++ or Python - Problem solver, Pragmatic and Open-minded - Master Degree in Computer Science or related fields. - Experience with handling large data volumes in a distributed environment ## Preferred Qualifications - Love to explore new territory of technology and go deep on domain knowledge. - Ability to think outside-the-box and challenge conventional wisdom. - A passion to explore, improve, automate and optimize distributed systems and tools. - PhD in Computer Science or related Engineering majors - Bonus points for experience at ecommerce or social network or search companies Pay & Benefits: Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. At Coupang, your base pay is one part of your total compensation. The base pay for this position ranges from $209,000/year in our lowest geographic market to $360,000/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on several factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. General Description of All Benefits: - Medical/Dental/Vision/Life, AD&D insurance - Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Health Savings Account (HSA) - Long-term/Short-term Disability - Employee Assistance Program (EAP) program - 401K Plan with Company Match - 18-21 days of the Paid Time Off (PTO) a year based on the tenure - 12 Public Holidays - Paid Parental leave - Pre-tax commuter benefits - MTV - [Free] Electric Car Charging Station General Description of Other Compensation: “Other Compensation” includes, but is not limited to, bonuses, equity, or other forms of compensation that would be offered to the hired applicant in addition to their established salary range or wage scale. ## Equal Opportunities for All Coupang is an equal opportunity employer. Our unprecedented success could not be possible without the valuable inputs of our globally diverse team. Coupang is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hair styles), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ,ancestry, national origin (including language use restrictions), age (40 and over), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis C status, family status (including but not limited to marital or domestic partnership status), military or veteran status, use of a trained dog guide or service animal, political activities or affiliations, ancestry, citizenship, family and medical leave status, status as a victim of any violent crime, or any other characteristic or class protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Coupang is also committed to providing a safe work environment for its employees and its consumers.    If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation in the application of recruiting process due to a disability, please contact us at usrecruiting@coupang.com. ## About Coupang ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Coupang is a global technology and Fortune 150 company that reimagines commerce by integrating e-commerce, logistics, last-mile delivery, restaurant delivery, video streaming, and fintech services to wow customers. - **Entity Type**: Public (NYSE: CPNG) - **Headquarters**: Seattle, Washington, USA (global HQ); operates major hubs in Seoul, South Korea, and other locations. - **Founded**: 2010 - **Founders**: Bom Kim (Bong-Seok Kim) ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: E-commerce, Logistics & Fulfillment, Retail, Food Delivery, Fintech, Content Streaming, AI-driven Commerce. - **Target customers**: B2C (primarily consumers in South Korea, with growing global operations including Taiwan, Singapore, and the U.S.). - **Mission or purpose statement**: "We exist to wow our customers. We know we’re doing the right thing when we hear our customers say, 'How did I ever live without Coupang?'" ## Products & Services - **[Coupang (Rocket Delivery)](#)**: Core e-commerce platform offering millions of products with over 99% of orders delivered same or next day via a proprietary logistics network. Includes Rocket Fresh (groceries) and Rocket Now (ultra-fast delivery). - **[Coupang Eats](#)**: Restaurant food delivery service. - **[Coupang Play](#)**: Video streaming service (original content, sports, and licensed shows). - **[Farfetch](#)**: Global luxury fashion platform acquired by Coupang. - **[Coupang Fintech](#)**: Payment and financial services (e.g., Coupang Pay, credit card partnerships). - **[Coupang Logistics & Fulfillment Services](#)**: End-to-end logistics for third-party sellers and brands. - **[Rocket Growth](#)**: SaaS-like tools and services for sellers/suppliers to manage inventory, analytics, and advertising. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: ~$25.8 billion (as of mid-2026) [LinkedIn]. - **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue of **$34.5 billion** (most recent fiscal year) [LinkedIn]. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Publicly traded on NYSE (institutional investors include SoftBank, BlackRock, Fidelity, and others). Key partners include major global brands and local Korean suppliers. - **Growth Signals**: - Ranked **#132 on the 2026 Fortune 500**, jumping significantly [investor relations]. - Rapid AI-driven global commerce expansion (e.g., Taiwan, Singapore, and U.S. tech hubs). - 5,940 employees (linkedIn data, with monthly headcount growth of +1.1% and quarterly job posting growth of +154.2%). ## Competitive Advantages - **Fully Integrated Infrastructure**: Coupang owns and operates over 100 fulfillment and logistics centers (covering tens of millions of square feet) combined with proprietary software, AI, and machine learning to predict demand and route deliveries — a moat that competitors in Korea and emerging markets find hard to replicate. - **Speed & Reliability**: Over 99% of orders delivered same or next day (including dawn delivery) 365 days a year, setting a bar that most global e-commerce players cannot match. - **Customer Obsession Culture**: "Wow the Customer" is a core leadership principle, driving constant innovation to break traditional tradeoffs (speed, selection, price). - **Startup Culture with Fortune 150 Resources**: Offers the agility and risk-taking of an early-stage company combined with the stability, compensation, and scale of a large public corporation. ## Strategic Focus - **AI & Technology Leadership**: Heavy investment in AI/machine learning for demand forecasting, dynamic routing, and customer personalization. Actively hiring senior ML and data engineers [careers page]. - **Global Expansion**: Leveraging its Korean infrastructure playbook to enter new markets (Taiwan, Singapore) and grow its global footprint. - **Diversification into Fintech & Content**: Building out Coupang Pay, Coupang Play, and fintech products to create an ecosystem (similar to Amazon Prime's strategy). - **Farfetch Integration**: Turning the luxury fashion platform into a global growth driver. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: "Best of both worlds" — startup energy (fast decision-making, ownership, risk-taking) with the resources of a Fortune 150 company. Flat hierarchy, open culture, and a strong "bias for action" ethos [coupang.jobs]. - **Remote/Hybrid/Office Policy**: Flexible working hours and work-from-home options are available. Many roles are based in offices (Seattle, Mountain View, Seoul, etc.) with state-of-the-art amenities including cafeterias serving three meals a day, lounge spaces, and coffee/snack bars. - **Benefits**: - Medical insurance for employee and direct family. - Paid family leave (for celebration or bereavement). - Learning programs (foreign languages, soft skills). - Global project opportunities (collaborate with teams across continents). - Team and company events (games, food, bonding). - **Engineering Culture**: High-impact projects — building the commerce infrastructure of the future (large-scale AI, logistics optimization, mobile-first, search & discovery). Emphasizes "Hire and Develop the Best" and "Learn & Iterate" principles. - **Career Growth**: Opportunities for internal rotations, upskilling, and taking on entrepreneurial initiatives within a massive scale. ## Sources 1. [Coupang Careers](https://www.coupang.jobs/en/) 2. [Why Work at Coupang](https://www.coupang.jobs/en/why-coupang/) 3. [Coupang About Us](https://www.aboutcoupang.com/aboutus/) 4. [Coupang Investor Relations](https://ir.aboutcoupang.com/overview/) 5. [LinkedIn - Coupang](https://www.linkedin.com/company/coupang) ## Other roles at Coupang - [[쿠팡페이] 신사업 그로스 마케팅 담당자 채용(경력 7년 이상) (Rocket Pay)](https://feeny.ai/job/7-rocket-pay-coupang-seoul-tv6cf9c69vcv) — Seoul, South Korea - [Staff Back-end Engineer (Rocket Pay)](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-back-end-engineer-rocket-pay-coupang-seoul-eysbbt61n44c) — Seoul, South Korea - [Director, Public Relation](https://feeny.ai/job/director-public-relation-coupang-taipei-qsappz71gmh5) — Taipei, Taiwan - [Staff Network Engineer (Global Network Engineering)](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-network-engineer-global-network-engineering-coupang-taipei-2g169nm59qyx) — Taipei, Taiwan - [[쿠팡] 구매 시스템 운영 전문가(Global Systems & Ops Excellence)](https://feeny.ai/job/global-systems-ops-excellence-coupang-seoul-qbah7nzm6a3h) — Seoul, South Korea - [[쿠팡] 시니어 가격 운영 담당자 (CE Pricing)](https://feeny.ai/job/ce-pricing-coupang-seoul-p6qaj2qhg4d1) — Seoul, South Korea - [[쿠팡] Finance 재무관리 담당자 (신입 가능/계약직)](https://feeny.ai/job/finance-coupang-seoul-0q6af62afxj9) — Seoul, South Korea - [Senior Program Management Specialist, Cross-Border Business](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-program-management-specialist-cross-border-business-coupang-taipei-recs9ye025ck) — Taipei, Taiwan - [[쿠팡이츠서비스] Delivery Operation 전략 팀장 (Front Line Operation)](https://feeny.ai/job/delivery-operation-front-line-operation-coupang-seoul-ec7cyr10b9s4) — Seoul, South Korea - [[쿠팡] 구매 전문가 (Indirect Procurement)](https://feeny.ai/job/indirect-procurement-coupang-seoul-nmf0vvv310vf) — Seoul, South Korea