Software Engineer II, Advertiser Optimization

Overview

The Advertiser Optimization team is the decision-making engine of Instacart's $1B+ ads business. We own the systems responsible for Bidding, Pacing, Budgeting, Targeting and advertiser-facing recommendations - converting stated advertiser goals into real-time auction actions. Our mission is to maximize realized Advertiser Value by deciding when to participate, how much to bid, and how fast to spend, all while carefully balancing User Experience and Platform Revenue.

We are looking for a Software Engineer II with a strong quantitative background to join our Toronto-based team. In this role, you will apply your expertise in mathematics, statistics, economics, or a related field to help build and refine the algorithmic systems that power how Instacart's advertising marketplace operates. You'll work alongside a talented team of scientists and engineers, contributing to production systems that have real, measurable impact on a scaled ads platform. If you're excited by the intersection of rigorous quantitative thinking and large-scale engineering, this is the role for you.

About the Job

• Develop and evaluate models and algorithms for ads bidding, pacing, and budgeting, applying your training in mathematics, statistics, economics, or a related quantitative discipline to solve complex marketplace problems at scale.
• Collaborate closely with senior scientists, engineers and product managers to translate well-defined marketplace questions into mathematical formulations, implement analyses and prototypes, design experiments, and interpret results using large-scale data.
• Contribute to production systems through algorithm implementation, validation, and monitoring, progressively taking ownership of well-scoped projects from initial hypothesis through measurable impact.
• Operate in a fast-paced, constantly evolving environment where the ads marketplace shifts quickly — you'll need to balance rigor with speed, and thrive when priorities change and new challenges emerge.
• Communicate assumptions, findings, and limitations clearly to both technical and cross-functional partners, helping the team make better decisions through transparency and analytical clarity.

About You

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in mathematics, statistics, economics, operations research, or a related quantitative discipline, with a strong foundation in at least one of the following areas: optimization, probability, statistical modeling, econometrics, or control theory.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL, with demonstrated ability to translate quantitative concepts into analyses, algorithm implementations, and experiments.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, including the ability to explain assumptions, methodologies, results, and limitations to both technical and cross-functional audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of software engineering experience, particularly in applying quantitative methods to production systems.
• Familiarity with ads systems, auction theory, or related marketplace optimization problems.
• Experience working with large-scale data pipelines and real-time decision systems.
• Familiarity with machine learning techniques and applying machine learning in production systems.

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