Staff Machine Learning Engineer at Zendesk

This role is designed for a high-level technical leader with at least 8 years of experience in distributed systems and ML infrastructure. The ideal candidate has moved beyond just building models and is now focused on the foundational "plumbing" of AI—specifically building LLM proxies, benchmarking frameworks, and orchestration layers. You should have a deep command of Python, Kubernetes, and cloud-native architectures. Based in Pune, India, this position offers a hybrid work model for candidates currently in or moving to Maharashtra or Karnataka. As a "Staff" level hire, this is a strategic leadership role where you will influence the entire engineering organization's approach to AI safety, cost-control, and reliability. It is a prime opportunity to shape the GenAI strategy for a global SaaS leader. **You might be a good fit if you:** * Have successfully led large-scale, cross-functional engineering projects to production. * Possess deep technical knowledge of LLM inference patterns, vendor routing, and model evaluation. * Enjoy mentoring senior engineers and translating complex legal/product requirements into technical roadmaps. * Are comfortable navigating the trade-offs between AI performance, safety, and operational costs.