Staff Product Manager, Machine Learning and Recommendations

Our Mission

Launched in 2012, Tinder® revolutionized how people meet, growing from 1 match to one billion matches in just two years. This rapid growth demonstrates its ability to fulfill a fundamental human need: real connection. Today, the app has been downloaded over 630 million times, leading to over 97 billion matches, serving approximately 50 million users per month in 190 countries and 45+ languages - a scale unmatched by any other app in the category. In 2024, Tinder won four Effie Awards for its first-ever global brand campaign, “It Starts with a Swipe”™

The Role

We are looking for a Staff Product Manager to lead the strategy and execution for Tinder's recommendations ML/AI team. In this critical role, you will drive the enhancement of our recommendation systems, leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms, cutting-edge AI technologies, and sophisticated user behavior modeling to deliver highly personalized experiences for our members. You will be responsible for setting the vision, defining key metrics, and overseeing the development of innovative features that push the boundaries of personalization and engagement.

The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in machine learning and AI, extensive experience in product management, and a track record of using data-driven insights to drive impactful product improvements. Your expertise in both strategic planning and hands-on execution will be essential in shaping the future of our recommendation systems and ensuring they meet the evolving needs of our global user base.

Where you’ll work:

This is a hybrid role and requires in-office collaboration two times per week. This position is located in San Francisco, and/or Palo Alto California. 

In this role, you will:

• Develop detailed specifications for large-scale ML/AI features critical to the business, setting benchmarks for quality.
• Decompose complex ML/AI visions into clear, strategic steps, guiding teams through the development process while considering the broader strategic implications of each feature.
• Oversee quality across multiple ML/AI initiatives, ensuring user focus and strong analytical grounding. Establish and enforce high standards of quality, monitor performance, and guide teams to enhance overall product quality.
• Lead the development of industry-standard solutions in terms of scalability and durability.
• Exhibit deep ownership of large-scale ML/AI features and their performance. 
• Communicate effectively with the broader product team, cross-functional partners, and senior leadership. Clearly articulate project requirements, deadlines, deliverables, and impact for critical initiatives, and achieve stakeholder buy-in.
• Surface and resolve issues, provide sincere and constructive feedback, encourage respectful opinion sharing, and use disagreements as opportunities for productive discussions.
• Mentor junior Product Managers and represent the company’s culture and values. 
• Utilize data insights to strategically drive product direction.
• Represent the voice of the customer in product decisions and advocate for their perspective in complex business issues.

You’ll need:

• Proven ability to create detailed specifications for large-scale ML/AI features, setting high benchmarks for quality and precision.
•  Skilled in deconstructing complex ML/AI visions into clear, actionable strategic steps, and crafting product roadmaps that align with company objectives.
• Demonstrated capability to provide insights into the broader strategic implications of features, influencing company-wide direction and decisions.
• Experience in overseeing quality across multiple ML/AI initiatives, ensuring user-centric outcomes and maintaining high standards of business impact.
• Ability to guide decisions on whether to optimize existing features or develop new solutions, with strong skills in risk identification and management across a broad product portfolio.
• Proficient in communicating project requirements, deadlines, and impacts to cross-functional teams and senior leadership, while securing stakeholder buy-in.
• Fosters a culture of teamwork and constructive feedback, encourages open discussion, and resolves multi-team issues collaboratively.
• Experience mentoring junior product managers, promoting a culture of excellence, continuous learning, and inclusivity, while embodying the company’s values.
• Utilizes data insights to drive strategic product direction, with a track record of managing impactful projects and applying industry best practices to develop effective solutions.

As a full-time employee, you’ll enjoy:

• Unlimited PTO (with no waiting period), 10 annual Wellness Days
• Time off to volunteer and charitable donations matched up to $15,000 annually
• Comprehensive health, vision, and dental coverage
• 100% 401(k) employer match up to 10%, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• 100% paid parental leave (including for non-birthing parents), family forming benefits, and Milk Stork, which provides access to breast milk shipping for business travel, surrogacy, and employee relocation
• Investment in your development: mentorship through our MentorMatch program, access to 6,000+ online courses through Udemy, and an annual $3,000 stipend for your professional development
• Investment in your wellness: access to mental health support via Modern Health, BetterHelp, and Insight Timer; paid concierge medical membership, pet insurance, fitness membership subsidy, and commuter subsidy
• $500 work-from-home stipend to set you up for remote work
• Free subscription to Tinder Gold

Commitment to Inclusion

At Tinder, we don’t just accept difference, we celebrate it. We strive to build a workplace that reflects the rich diversity of our members around the world, and we value unique perspectives and backgrounds. Even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications, we invite you to apply and show us how your skills could transfer. Tinder is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace where we welcome people of all sexes, gender identities, races, ethnicities, disabilities, and other lived experiences. Learn more here: https://www.lifeattinder.com/dei

If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, or a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please speak to your Talent Acquisition Partner directly.