Director, Machine Learning & Platform

Flex is a growth-stage, NYC headquartered FinTech company that is creating the best rent payment experience. It’s hard to believe that it’s 2026 and paying rent on time is expensive, inflexible, and difficult. We’re here to change that! Flex enables our users to pay rent throughout the month on a schedule that better fits their finances and budget. Our mission is to empower as many renters as possible with flexibility over their most significant recurring expense. After deliberately keeping a stealth profile as we built up unprecedented investor support and an enthusiastic user base, we are looking for motivated individuals to help us keep our mission growing. Will you be a part of the team?

The Role

Flex is seeking a Director of Machine Learning & Platform to lead the vision, strategy, and execution of our machine learning platform and applied ML initiatives. This role is responsible for building the foundational ML capabilities that power critical fintech use cases across compliance, customer success, and internal operations, enabling Flex to scale safely and efficiently.

You will lead a team of ML engineers and data scientists, partnering closely with Product, Compliance, Customer Support, Risk, and Engineering leaders. This role combines ML platform ownership, hands-on applied machine learning leadership, and deep cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced, regulated environment to deliver reliable, interpretable, and scalable ML systems with real customer and business impact.

What You’ll Do

• Own the end-to-end machine learning platform, including model development workflows, training, deployment, monitoring, retraining, and lifecycle management.
• Define and execute the roadmap for scalable ML infrastructure supporting both real-time and batch use cases.
• Lead applied machine learning initiatives supporting compliance and customer success, including areas such as:
• Compliance monitoring, alerting, and investigation support
• Customer success automation, prioritization, and insight generation
• Internal operational tooling and responsible AI adoption
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to translate complex business, customer, and regulatory problems into production ML solutions.
• Build, mentor, and scale a small team of ML engineers and applied scientists, operating as a player-coach when needed.

What We’re Looking For

• 10+ years of experience in machine learning, data science, or related engineering roles, with leadership experience.
• Excellent communication skills and experience influencing senior stakeholders.
• Proven experience building and operating production ML systems and platforms.
• Background in fintech, financial services, payments, lending, or other regulated industries.
• Strong technical judgment and ability to balance innovation with operational excellence.

Flex takes a market-based approach to pay, and compensation may vary depending on your primary work location. Work locations are categorized into one of three tiers based on a cost of labor index for that geographic area. The successful candidate’s starting pay will be commensurate with their experience, qualifications, and Flex’s internal leveling guidelines and benchmarks.

• Tier A (NYC/SF): $280,000—$350,000 USD
• Tier B: $252,000—$315,000 USD
• Tier C: $238,000—$297,500 USD

Life at Flex

We understand that it takes a diverse team of highly intelligent, curious, determined, empathetic, and self aware people to grow a successful company. Our HQ is located in New York City, but we have employees located throughout the US, Australia, Canada and South America. We are growing quickly, but deliberately, with a focus on building an inclusive culture. Our dynamic team has incredible perspectives to share, just as we know you do, and we take great pride in being an equal opportunity workplace.

Offices

Roles posted in New York, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City are hybrid positions with on-site expectations of 2-3 days per week in our local offices. For candidates outside of these areas, you may be eligible for our relocation assistance program.

Benefits

For full-time U.S. employees we offer:

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision
• Company equity
• 401(k) plan with company match 
• Unlimited paid time off + 13 company paid holidays
• Parental leave 
• Flex Cares Program: Non-profit company match + pet adoption coverage
• Free Flex subscription

 For full-time non-U.S. employees, we offer:

• Competitive compensation + company equity
• Unlimited PTO