Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Rewards Economy
Hybrid Los Angeles New YorkOakland +1 Full-time Senior Machine Learning Engineering
At a glance
Senior Machine Learning Engineering role at Mistplay. Los Angeles · full-time · $180,000–$220,000 base.
SalaryStated by Mistplay
$180,000 – $220,000
Base salary for this role, in USD per year, as published in the posting.
This role, from MistplayOur estimate for the market: $175,063–$257,266Median $221,250
Below the market median of $221,250 for senior machine learning engineering roles in Los Angeles.
Worked out from 6 postings that stated pay, median $221,250. Last updated Oct 17, 2026.
RoleMachine Learning Engineering
SenioritySenior
LocationLos Angeles
WorkplaceHybrid
EmploymentFull-time
Base pay$180,000–$220,000
PostedJan 14, 2026 · 9mo ago
Also hiring inNew York, Oakland, Toronto
Role brief
aimlroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Build machine-learning systems and core loops that set rewards, then tune them to improve engagement and business results
- Create contextual bandit and reinforcement-learning approaches that choose personalized rewards in real time
- Architect the rewards economy, balancing player incentives with sustainable unit economics
- Turn model results into decisions for executives and shape AI plans for loyalty and retention
- Work with product, analytics, engineering and finance to convert business goals into algorithmic rules and incentives
What you bring
- At least eight years across data science, machine learning, quantitative work or econometrics, or a relevant graduate degree
- You understand reinforcement learning, including DeepQ and contextual bandits
- You have built models with Python and PyTorch and can analyze data with SQL and Python
- You bring experience in quantitative or data science work and understand game economies or core-loop design
Who this fits
This staff-level role suits a machine-learning practitioner who can lead rewards-economy design and connect real-time models to player incentives and business outcomes. The position is hybrid in Los Angeles.
From the employer
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.
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.