Senior Machine Learning Engineering Manager
Likely
Sponsorship likelihood
This employer has issued visas recently
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£55,000
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role may qualify for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2132 is an eligible occupation, but we are only 29% sure that is the right code. Spotify is a licensed sponsor, so if the code fits, the role should qualify. Check the occupation eligibility rules against what the job actually involves.
We pick the code from the advert's text, so it is our best guess, not the employer's. Each code it could be has its own likelihood:
- Likely 2132 (IT managers) · 29% match
- Likely 2134 (Programmers and software development professionals) · 26% match
- Likely 2161 (Research and development (R&D) managers) · 23% match
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2132 IT managers Most likely code | £38,500 | £44,000 | £49,500 | £55,000 |
2134 Programmers and software development professionals Also possible | £38,300 | £43,700 | £49,200 | £54,700 |
2161 Research and development (R&D) managers Also possible | £38,100 | £43,500 | £48,900 | £54,400 |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
You'll lead a senior-heavy group of 10–12 machine learning engineers, including Staff engineers, who team up dynamically to solve high-priority business problems while staying deep in content understanding (audio, video and text). This is a player-coach role with a strong strategic remit: you'll shape where the group goes next, grow our audio understanding expertise over the long term, and help the team scale through thoughtful, practical use of AI in everyday engineering work.
What You'll Do
- Lead, coach and grow a group of 10+ senior and Staff machine learning engineers who team up dynamically around business problems while staying deep in their domain.
- Set technical and team strategy for multiple content understanding problems and turn it into clear, achievable plans.
- Own delivery of high-priority company initiatives, from shaping the problem through to measurable impact for listeners.
- Stay close to the technology as a player-coach. Lead technical strategy, reviewing designs, guiding modelling and retrieval choices, and contributing hands-on where it helps the team most.
- Define and champion a practical point of view on how ML engineers use AI tools in their day-to-day work, and help the team realise real productivity gains.
- Partner with product, design, research and other engineering leaders across Spotify to align priorities and share context.
- You have deep machine learning expertise and Staff-level technical judgement, and you're comfortable getting hands-on when it matters.
- You bring experience across NLP, audio / music content understanding and recommender systems.
- You have a track record of managing engineering teams while delivering complex, cross-functional initiatives.
- You enjoy coaching senior and Staff engineers, and you help experienced people grow their impact.
- You have a clear, informed point of view on using AI to improve how ML engineers work, and you can inspire a team to adopt it.
- You think strategically, communicate clearly, and can balance long-term bets with near-term delivery.
- This role is based in London or Stockholm.
- We offer the flexibility to work where you work best! There will be some in person meeetings, but still allows for flexibility to work from home.
Today, we are the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service.
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Spotify, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
IT managers (SOC 2132) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~224k in sample- Middle half £43,316–71,396
- Median £56,056
- Going rate £55,000
- Threshold £41,700
- New entrant £38,500–49,500
Similar sponsored roles
See all UK visa jobsNo close matches live right now.
Browse more sponsored jobs at SpotifyAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Spotify holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2132 going rate of £55,000. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.