Senior Manager, Machine Learning

Why Sony Interactive Entertainment?

Sony Interactive Entertainment isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is the company behind the PlayStation brand. As a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, we’re part of a proud legacy of innovation and excellence. SIE is a dynamic technology company, delivering cutting-edge hardware and network services to more than 100 million people and an entertainment leader, home to some of the most beloved and recognizable intellectual properties (IP) in the world. Our role at SIE is to create and nurture the experiences under the PlayStation brand, a name synonymous with entertainment excellence and creativity.

Role Description:

We are looking for an independent, dedicated Lead or Senior Lead: Machine Learning to join the Visual Computing Group (VCG). This role contributes to redefining game play and live streaming through advanced R&D. VCG’s mission is to design and deploy advanced neural networks and machine learning (ML) for game rendering and streaming systems of SIE that exceed the state-of-the-art in runtime efficiency, visual quality and latency.

Who Are You?

• You have a demonstrated ability in managing high performance research teams in the field of ML or Graphics
• You are a dynamic and visionary leader with a passion for building and leading high-performance teams.
• Your leadership style is grounded in clear communication, inspiration, and empathy.
• You possess the ability to motivate and empower your team, fostering an environment where creativity and collaboration thrive.
• A strong advocate for personal and professional growth, you ensure that every team member feels valued and heard.
• Your approach to leadership is proactive, adaptable, and driven by a deep commitment to the success of both your team and the organization.
• Experience in coaching and mentoring team members, fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment.
• You have the courage to speak up and take smart risks
• You have strong and well-formed technical ideas that are weakly held; you can discuss, listen and participate in a passionate debate.
• You are experienced in managing team communications in a large organization

What Do You Do?

• As a Manager / Senior Manager within the Visual Computing Group, you will lead a multidisciplinary team of machine learning engineers and researchers focused on neural-assisted game rendering.
• You will be responsible for coordinating the build, prototyping, development and integration of brand new visual computing technologies into our products.
• Your role also involves managing project timelines, ensuring high-quality work, and collaborating with multi-functional teams to drive innovation.
• You will also play a key role in aligning the team’s work with the overall strategic objectives of the company, balancing the demands of ongoing projects with the need for continuous improvement and technical debt management.
• You will meet with collaborators to build partnerships and establish positive and trustworthy relationships.

What Knowledge Do You Have?

Domain Expertise:

• Extensive technical experience and track record of accomplishments within various areas including intelligent systems, visual computing, real-time graphics processing within game engines, or graphics.
• Proven track record in managing and delivering sophisticated projects within these areas.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in programming languages and tools relevant to visual computing (e.g., C++, Python, OpenGL, DirectX).
• Familiarity with machine learning frameworks and their application in visual computing
• Knowledge in computer vision and machine learning: advanced neural network architectures applied to image analysis and video processing (diffusion models, transformers, distribution alignment, advanced loss functions for computer vision problems)
• Knowledge in game engine rendering: knowledge of the stages of the game rendering pipeline, examples in UE5 or similar, knowledge of ray tracing or path tracing, advanced machine learning methods for global illumination, path tracing, frame interpolation and super-resolution in game rendering

Educational Background:

• A degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience; advanced degrees are a plus.

Industry Knowledge:

• Up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in one or more of: machine learning, computer vision, game engine rendering.
• Experience in the interactive entertainment industry or a related field is highly desirable.

Benefits:

• Discretionary bonus opportunity
• Hybrid Working (within Flexmodes)
• Private Medical Insurance
• Dental Scheme
• 25 days holiday per year
• On Site Gym
• Subsidised Café
• Free soft drinks
• On site bar
• Access to cycle garage and showers

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.

Sony Interactive Entertainment is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

- Demonstrated ability in managing high performance research teams in ML or Graphics - Dynamic and visionary leader with passion for building and leading high-performance teams - Leadership style grounded in clear communication, inspiration, and empathy - Experience in coaching and mentoring team members, fostering an inclusive environment - Strong and well-formed technical ideas, open to passionate debate - Experience in managing team communications in a large organization - Lead a multidisciplinary team of machine learning engineers and researchers focused on neural-assisted game rendering - Coordinate the build, prototyping, development and integration of new visual computing technologies - Manage project timelines, ensure high-quality work, and collaborate with multi-functional teams - Align team’s work with overall strategic objectives, balancing projects with continuous improvement - Extensive technical experience in intelligent systems, visual computing, real-time graphics processing within game engines - Proven track record in managing and delivering sophisticated projects - Proficiency in C++, Python, OpenGL, DirectX - Familiarity with machine learning frameworks and their application in visual computing - Knowledge in advanced neural network architectures (diffusion models, transformers, advanced loss functions) - Knowledge in game engine rendering pipelines (UE5, ray tracing, path tracing, global illumination, frame interpolation, super-resolution) - Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience - Up-to-date with latest trends and technologies in ML, computer vision, game engine rendering - Experience in the interactive entertainment industry desirable