Senior Machine Learning Engineer

The Minnesota Star Tribune is an innovative modern media organization building on an extraordinary 157-year legacy. With seven Pulitzer Prizes and numerous other accolades, we stand as a beacon of journalistic excellence in Minnesota. Together, we are the heart and voice of the north.

Our mission is to build a better Minnesota by connecting us with the people, ideas, and stories that strengthen our communities. We’re seeking dynamic leaders who are passionate about journalism and democracy to help shape this future. If you are excited about reinventing one of our state’s most trusted institutions and leading us into a new era of growth and excellence, we want to hear from you.

Job Summary: 

The Minnesota Star Tribune is a leader in local journalism, committed to serving the community through innovative reporting and storytelling. As part of our forward-thinking approach, we are looking to expand our use of AI and related technologies to drive meaningful change across our organization. We are seeking a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to help lead this transformation and support the growth and success of our editorial, advertising, marketing, and consumer growth teams.

As the Senior Machine Learning Engineer, you will play a key role in leading efforts to harness AI and machine learning technologies to drive innovation at The Minnesota Star Tribune. You will collaborate across the organization with teams from editorial, advertising, marketing, and consumer growth, developing tools, features, and products that improve user experience, drive subscriptions, and empower our journalists.

Your primary responsibility will be to leverage AI, particularly generative AI, to enhance The Minnesota Star Tribune’s ability to gather, process, and disseminate news while preserving the integrity of local journalism. You will be part of a small, cross-functional team embedded within the product and engineering department.

You will work across the functional areas of the organization – editorial, advertising, marketing, consumer growth – to develop, prototype and build tools, features and products that drive our business forward. Our goal is to improve user experience, drive subscriptions, empower journalists and develop tools to make The Minnesota Star Tribune essential to the lives of Minnesotans.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, prototyping, and development of AI and machine learning tools that drive innovation across editorial, advertising, marketing, and consumer growth departments.


• Collaborate with teams across the organization to create features and products that enhance reporting capabilities and improve audience engagement.


• Prototype and develop AI-driven features that improve user experience and support the Star Tribune’s subscription and growth goals.


• Mentor and guide engineers and data scientists within the team, sharing best practices and knowledge.


• Share technological innovations and insights with the wider news community to support the local news ecosystem and promote best practices in AI and journalism.

Qualifications: 

• Extensive experience in AI and machine learning, with a proven track record of shipping production code and developing real-world applications.


• Deep understanding of generative AI technologies, natural language processing (NLP), and their practical applications in news and media.


• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or Java, and experience with AI/ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).


• Experience working with large datasets and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).


• Strong ability to work across teams and communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.


• A passion for journalism and a commitment to supporting the vital role of local news.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in media or journalism technology environments is a plus, but not a requirement.


• Experience with real-time data processing and personalization algorithms.


• Familiarity with ethical considerations and best practices for integrating AI in journalism.

More about The Minnesota Star Tribune:

At the Minnesota Star Tribune, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are committed to their happiness, growth, and well-being. Here’s a snapshot of the exceptional benefits we offer:

• Modern Downtown Office: Enjoy a state-of-the-art workspace with a free fitness center, collaborative center, golf simulator, and a rooftop patio.


• Comprehensive Benefits: Includes commuting subsidy, medical, dental, and vision insurance.


• Wellness & Work-Life Balance: Participate in our wellness program with financial incentives, generous paid time off, flexible holidays, one volunteer day, and two wellness days.


• Financial & Family Support: Benefit from a 401(k) with company match, paid parental and caregiving leave, hybrid work arrangements, and tuition reimbursement.


• Additional Perks: Access to an employee assistance program, pet insurance, flexible spending accounts, and health savings accounts.

Honored in 2023 with Diversity MBA's inaugural Top 25 Outstanding Leadership and Diversity Impact Awards, we are proud of our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Even if you don't meet every single requirement for this role, we encourage you to apply. At the Minnesota Star Tribune, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.