Job Description

What You'll Do:

Shape the Future of AI in Commerce

Criteo is looking for an exceptional AI leader to head the Criteo AI Lab (CAIL) and define the next generation of AI innovation for one of the world's largest commerce media platforms.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a world-class organization of over 70 AI researchers and engineers, while providing strategic leadership across a broader AI ecosystem spanning Performance Media, Retail Media, and Platform. Together, these teams advance scientific discovery, build foundational AI technologies, and drive AI-first product innovation at global scale.

As Head of CAIL, you will define Criteo's long-term AI vision, accelerate the adoption of state-of-the-art deep learning across our products, and help establish Criteo as a recognized leader in AI innovation worldwide.

Your Mission

CAIL is the engine of AI innovation at Criteo.

Its mission spans scientific research, technological innovation, and product influence, transforming cutting-edge AI into scalable capabilities that power the future of commerce.

As VP of CAIL, you will:

• Define and execute Criteo's AI vision for the next three years.
• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team of over 70 AI researchers and engineers, while aligning and influencing AI teams across Performance Media, Retail Media, and Platform to deliver Criteo's long-term AI vision.
• Accelerate the adoption of state-of-the-art deep learning and modern AI techniques throughout Criteo's products and platforms.
• Close the gap between breakthrough research and production by transforming scientific advances into scalable AI capabilities.
• Partner closely with Product, Engineering and Executive Leadership to shape AI-first products and influence the company roadmap.
• Drive innovation across deep learning, generative AI, machine learning, online decision making, recommendation systems, trustworthy AI, and AI infrastructure.
• Represent Criteo externally through conferences, publications, customer engagements, industry forums and interactions with regulators.
• Foster a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, collaboration and continuous learning.

What You'll Help Build

Under your leadership, CAIL will continue to:

• Advance the scientific frontier in AI through original research and publications.
• Develop the foundational AI technologies powering Criteo's products.
• Influence the next generation of AI-native commerce experiences.
• Build production-ready deep learning models and shared AI platforms.
• Position Criteo as a global reference for AI-driven commerce and Smart Markets.

The Challenges

This role offers an opportunity to tackle some of the industry's most exciting AI challenges:

• Accelerate Criteo's ambition to reach state-of-the-art performance in deep learning deployed at production scale.
• Bring focus and strategic direction to the many opportunities AI creates across the business.
• Strengthen the connection between research excellence and engineering execution.
• Build AI capabilities that shape the future of commerce while delivering measurable business impact.

Who You Are:

We're looking for a visionary leader who combines scientific excellence with proven execution.

You will bring:

• Extensive experience leading large AI research and engineering organizations (50+ people, including multiple management layers).
• At least 10 years of leadership experience managing senior engineering and research leaders.
• A proven track record of turning breakthrough AI research into production-grade products and platforms.
• Deep expertise in modern AI, including deep learning, machine learning, generative AI and large-scale AI systems.
• Strong understanding of experimentation, A/B testing and statistical rigor.
• A unique combination of research credibility (publications, conferences, scientific contributions) and engineering leadership.
• Experience collaborating with Product, Engineering and Executive teams to define long-term AI strategy.
• Outstanding communication skills and the ability to represent the company externally with customers, partners, regulators and the global AI community.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, AI, Data Science or a related field.
• Experience working in global technology companies and collaborating with US-based organizations.
• Experience in advertising technology, recommendation systems or commerce AI is a strong advantage.
• French is a plus, but not required.

We acknowledge that many candidates may not meet every single role requirement listed above. If your experience looks a little different from our requirements but you believe that you can still bring value to the role, we’d love to see your application!​

Who We Are:

We’re Criteo, the Commerce Intelligence Platform. Criteo helps businesses turn shopper signals into commerce outcomes while delivering more relevant experiences for shoppers. We use proprietary commerce intelligence and AI decisioning to drive relevance for shoppers and performance for businesses.

At Criteo, our culture is as unique as it is diverse. From our offices across the globe or from the comfort of home, our 3,600 Criteos collaborate together to build an open, impactful, and forward-thinking environment.

We foster a workplace where everyone is valued, and employment decisions are based solely on skills, qualifications, and business needs—never on non-job-related factors or legally protected characteristics.

What We Offer:

🏢 Ways of working – Our hybrid model blends home with in-office experiences, making space for both. 

📈 Grow with us – Learning, mentorship & career development programs. 

💪 Your wellbeing matters – Health benefits, wellness perks & mental health support. 

🤝 A team that cares – Diverse, inclusive, and globally connected. 

💸 Fair pay & perks – Attractive salary, with performance-based rewards and family-friendly policies, plus the potential for equity depending on role and level. 

Additional benefits may vary depending on the country where you work and the nature of your employment with Criteo.