---
title: 'Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Rewards Economy at Mistplay'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/staff-machine-learning-engineer-rewards-economy-mistplay-los-angeles-1wvya3xdbjeb'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-18'
---

# Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Rewards Economy at Mistplay

- **Company:** Mistplay
- **Location:** Los Angeles, CA
- **Compensation:** $180k–$220k
- **Employment:** temporary
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-01-14
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-18
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/mistplay/e097bc46-7211-4b95-9e83-cb6b2c467d2b

## Job description

Mistplay is the #1 loyalty app for mobile gamers. Our community of millions of engaged mobile gamers come to Mistplay to discover new games to play and earn rewards. Gamers are rewarded for their time and money spent within the games and can redeem those rewards for gift cards. Mistplay is on a mission to be the best way to play mobile games for everyone everywhere! Download Mistplay on the Google Play Store here and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Overview:

Mistplay is seeking an innovative Staff Machine Learning Engineer to lead the design and optimization of our rewards economy. In this critical role, you will develop and balance reward systems to ensure they are enticing and add value for our users while maintaining cost-effectiveness for Mistplay. Collaborating with the Data and AI organization, you will lead initiatives in real-time predictive modeling and optimization within our machine learning-driven operations.

What You'll Do at Mistplay:

- You’ll be part of the cross functional group responsible for the overall rewarding and the loyalty economy strategy for Mistplay.
- Create and implement machine learning driven rewards economy systems and core loops.
- Continuously analyze and optimize the economy strategies and implementations to enhance engagement and drive business outcomes.
- Drive the strategy on how machine learning and AI can further advance the optimization for better user experience and business performance.
- Distill complex model outputs into actionable strategic insights for executive stakeholders, advocating for AI-first approaches to loyalty and retention.
- Design and productionize contextual bandits and RL frameworks to personalize reward distribution in real-time, ensuring the right user gets the right incentive at the right moment.
- Serve as the primary architect for Mistplay’s rewards economy, balancing complex variables to ensure a "win-win" scenario: maximum value for players and sustainable unit economics for the business.
- Partner with Product, Analytics, Engineering, and Finance to translate high-level business goals into algorithmic constraints and incentive structures.

What You'll Bring to Mistplay:

- A combination of 8+ years in Data Science, Machine Learning, Quant, Econometrics, and/or Master’s or Ph.D. in Data Science, Machine Learning, or a related quantitative field.
- Understanding of reinforcement learning (DeepQ, contextual bandits)
- Expertise in implementing machine learning models using Python and PyTorch, paired with strong data analysis skills using SQL and Python.
- Fast and agile approach to exploring and implementing solutions with a strategic focus on the core loop and economy design.
- Experience and background in Quant, Data Science, or related fields, with a foundational understanding of economy and core loop designs in gaming or similar contexts.
- A passion for innovative AI solutions, with demonstrated knowledge in real-time predictive modeling.
- Prior experience in the ad-tech or mobile gaming industry with a focus on the economics of player behavior and engagement strategies is a strong nice-to-have.

Why Mistplay? We strive to make our work environment as inviting and fun as possible! Working at Mistplay is coupled with a whole array of perks that we've adopted virtually and in-person: Team Lunches, game nights, company-wide events, and so much more. Our culture is deeply rooted in growth and upheld by a team of smart, dynamic, and enthusiastic people. We utilize data to constantly learn, improve, and adapt. We foster an environment where everyone is encouraged to share their ideas, push boundaries, take calculated risks, and witness their visions come to life.

## About Mistplay

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Mistplay is a mobile game advertising and loyalty platform that rewards gamers for playing and spending, while helping advertisers and publishers drive engagement and revenue through a play-and-earn model.
- **Entity Type**: Private (backed by GrowthCurve Capital in 2021)
- **Headquarters**: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- **Founded**: 2015
- **Founders**: Henri Machalani and Eugene Joannides

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: Mobile gaming, advertising technology, app loyalty
- **Target customers**: B2B (game advertisers, app publishers, brands) and B2C (mobile gamers)
- **Mission**: "To be the best way to play mobile games for everyone, everywhere!" [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/mistplay)

## Products & Services
- **Mistplay App**: A loyalty platform for Android and iOS where users discover new games, earn rewards (gift cards) for time and in-app spending, and redeem them. Over 30M+ lifetime installs and 400+ games available.
- **Mistplay Audience Network**: A unified rewarded advertising network that connects advertisers to 40M+ high-intent, reward-motivated users across partner apps. [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/mistplay)
- **Helios AI Engine**: Advanced machine learning engine that powers rewarded advertising, optimizing engagement and loyalty beyond transactional rewards. [business.mistplay.com/about-us](https://business.mistplay.com/about-us)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue of $100M (as per LinkedIn estimate) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/mistplay)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: GrowthCurve Capital (lead investor in 2021); ranked #10 in Gaming (Global) on AppsFlyer’s 2025 Performance Index; top media source in multiple categories on Singular ROI Index 2023.
- **Growth Signals**: 187 employees (+10% YoY, +21 people); presence in 11 countries including Canada, US, South Korea, China, UK; doubled headcount in 2023; ranked #5 on Deloitte Technology Fast 50 (Canada) in 2022; ranked #31 on Deloitte North America Technology Fast 500 in 2022; named a Top Employer in Montreal and Canada. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/mistplay) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/mistplay)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Pioneer of play-and-earn**: First loyalty platform to reward mobile gamers, creating a deep, engaged user base.
- **High user intent**: 40M+ reward-motivated users drive higher IAP spend and retention for advertisers (up to 2.5x more frequent visits).
- **Proprietary AI**: Helios AI engine delivers personalized, scalable rewarded engagement.
- **Multi-platform reach**: Owned app + network of partner apps create a unified rewarded ecosystem.

## Strategic Focus
- Expand the Mistplay Audience Network globally (currently in 9 key markets, with dedicated teams in APAC and EMEA).
- Deepen AI-driven personalization to improve advertiser ROI and user loyalty.
- Continue scaling the play-and-earn model as a “digital habit” for brands and publishers.
- Hiring for senior roles in business development, engineering, data science, and account management across regions. [jobs.lever.co/mistplay](https://jobs.lever.co/mistplay)

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Collaborative, innovative, and passionate about gaming. Regular team events and in-office lunches.
- **Work model**: Flexibility with in-office presence in Montreal; global team with remote employees in other countries.
- **Notable perks** (vary by location):
  - Flexible vacation (no set accrual for North America)
  - Training & development stipend
  - Parental leave top-up (Canada)
  - RRSP contribution matching up to 5% of salary
  - Private healthcare (drug, dental, vision, mental health, STD/LTD)
  - Telehealth via Dialogue (Canada)
  - Lifestyle Spending Account for personalized perks
  - In-office snacks and weekly lunch on the house. [mistplay.com/careers](https://www.mistplay.com/careers)
- **Engineering culture**: Strong investment in ML and data platform (open roles for Staff Data Scientist, Principal Platform Engineer, ML).  [jobs.lever.co/mistplay](https://jobs.lever.co/mistplay)

## Sources
1. [Mistplay Careers Page](https://jobs.lever.co/mistplay)
2. [Mistplay Careers Site](https://www.mistplay.com/careers)
3. [LinkedIn Company Page](https://linkedin.com/company/mistplay)
4. [Mistplay About Us](https://business.mistplay.com/about-us)
5. [Built In Company Profile](https://builtin.com/company/mistplay)

## Other roles at Mistplay

- [Staff Product Manager, Mistplay Audience Network](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-product-manager-mistplay-audience-network-mistplay-montreal-e9kht96xnms3) — Montréal, Canada
- [GTM Lead, DACH](https://feeny.ai/job/gtm-lead-dach-mistplay-london-2nyg6tv2b4bn) — London, United Kingdom
- [Business Development Representative, LoyaltyPlay](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-representative-loyaltyplay-mistplay-montreal-zap6398ne828) — Montréal, Canada
- [Sales Development Representative, LoyaltyPlay](https://feeny.ai/job/sales-development-representative-loyaltyplay-mistplay-montreal-xwkcqav0fvxk) — Montréal, Canada
- [Senior Business Development Manager II, LoyaltyPlay](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-business-development-manager-ii-loyaltyplay-mistplay-montreal-9fwp599mjz0s) — Montréal, Canada
- [Ad Strategy Manager I (Contract)](https://feeny.ai/job/ad-strategy-manager-i-contract-mistplay-montreal-z2agy9wmxds9) — Montréal, Canada
- [Motion Designer](https://feeny.ai/job/motion-designer-mistplay-montreal-t1dn9ctktw59) — Montréal, Canada
- [Senior Manager, Organic Growth](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-organic-growth-mistplay-toronto-c1taarke1368) — Toronto, Canada
- [Gestionnaire fiscal // Tax Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/gestionnaire-fiscal-tax-manager-mistplay-montreal-vrat061d4xva) — Montréal, Canada
- [Business Development Manager, LoyaltyPlay](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-manager-loyaltyplay-mistplay-london-eq83abeh0ste) — London, United Kingdom