Director, Machine Learning Engineering

Location: San Francisco, CA, USA About the role Chime's Data Science & Machine Learning team powers decisions across the company, from how we protect members to how we build products for them. We're looking for a Director to lead that team through its biggest shift yet: moving from traditional models to a modern, AI-driven approach built on transformers and foundation models. You'll lead managers and staff-level engineers, define what great ML looks like at Chime's scale, and rebuild the practice around it. If you want to shape the future of ML at a company where it directly affects members' financial lives, this is the role. In this role, you can expect to Lead and grow Chime's ML organization, managing managers and staff-level engineers across all of Chime's ML work. Set the vision and roadmap for moving Chime's models from traditional approaches to transformer- and foundation-model-based systems. Coach your managers to build strong, high-performing teams, and raise the technical bar across the practice. Shape the architecture of Chime's ML platform, including how we train, fine-tune, serve and scale models on a modern GPU-based stack. Define what good ML looks like at Chime: standards for model development, evaluation, deployment and monitoring. Partner with product, engineering, risk and business leaders to turn ML into measurable impact for members. Make the call on when to build, buy or fine-tune, and explain the trade-offs clearly to executives. To thrive in this role, you have Deep machine learning expertise, with a well-formed point of view on transformer and foundation models and where they do (and don't) beat traditional approaches. Familiarity with GPUs and the modern ML stack, from training and fine-tuning to serving models in production at scale. Experience managing managers and staff-level ICs, with the technical credibility to earn their trust. A track record of building or transforming an ML practice: hiring, setting standards and growing leaders. Experience setting a multi-year ML strategy and turning it into shipped results. Clear communication with executives and cross-functional partners; you can make complex ML trade-offs easy to follow. Bonus: experience applying ML in fintech or another regulated industry. #LI-Onsite #LI-DA1 Below is the base salary offered for this role and level of experience. Full-time employees may also be eligible for bonus(es), competitive equity, and benefits. For commissioned roles, the base salary listed in this job description does not include incentive/variable pay. The actual base salary offered may be higher, depending on your location, skills, qualifications, and experience. Wage Notice $269,000 — $373,000 USD A little about us At Chime, we believe that everyone can achieve financial progress. We created Chime—a financial technology company, not a bank*—on the premise that core banking services should be helpful, easy, and free. Through our user-friendly tools and intuitive platforms, we empower our members to take control of their finances and work towards their goals. Whether it's starting a savings account, purchasing a first car or home, launching a business, or pursuing higher education, we're proud to have helped millions unlock their financial potential. We're a team of problem solvers, dreamers, and builders with one shared obsession: our members. From day one, Chimers have worked tirelessly to out-hustle and out-execute competitors to bring our mission to life. Their grit and determination inspire us to work harder every day to deliver the very best experience possible. We each bring an owner's mindset to our work, refusing to be outdone and holding ourselves accountable to meet and exceed the highest bars for our teams, our company, and our members. We believe in being bold, dreaming big, and taking risks, while also working together, embracing our diverse perspectives, and giving each other honest feedback. Our culture remains deeply entrepreneurial, encouraging every Chimer to see themselves as stewards of our mission to help everyday Americans unlock their financial progress. We know that to achieve our mission, we must earn and keep people's trust—so we hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity in everything we do. These aren't just words on a wall—our values are embedded in every aspect of our business, serving as a north star that guides us as we work to help millions achieve their financial potential. Because if we don't—who will? *Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. What we offer for our full-time, regular employees 🏢 Our in-office work policy is designed to keep you connected - with four days a week in the office and Fridays from home for those near one of our offices, plus team and company-wide events depending on location. Whether you’re coming in regularly or are part of our fully remote program, you’ll stay engaged with your work and teammates. 💻 Benefits that support your work and life, including backup child, elder, and pet care and subsidized commuter benefits for eligible employees. ✨ Comprehensive health, financial, and wellbeing benefits designed to support you at every stage of life. 🏝 Generous vacation policy and company-wide paid days off 🫂 1% of your time off to support local community organizations of your choice 👟 Annual wellness stipend to use towards eligible wellness related expenses 👶 Up to 22 weeks of paid parental leave for birthing parents and 12 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birthing parents 👪 Access to family planning reimbursement 💚 A challenging and fulfilling opportunity to join one of the most experienced teams in FinTech and help millions unlock financial progress We know that great work can’t be done without a diverse team and inclusive environment. That’s why we specifically look for individuals of varying strengths, skills, backgrounds, and ideas to join our team. We believe this gives us a competitive advantage to better serve our members and helps us all grow as Chimers and individuals. Chime is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital or family status, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis under provincial, federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of state and local laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Cook County Ordinance, NYC Fair Chance Act, and the LA City Fair Chance Ordinance, and consistent with Canadian provincial and federal laws. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during any stage of the application process, please contact: accommodations@chime.com . To learn more about how Chime collects and uses your personal information during the application process, please see the Chime Applicant Privacy Notice .