AI Reinforcement – supporting a learning system for an AdTech company from Los Angeles

Tsiala Jobava

Last updated on December 3, 2025 | 11 min read

• DevsData LLC placed two senior AI specialists who built a reinforcement learning system for real-time ad pricing and selection.
• The project transformed the client’s ad engine into a self-learning platform that adapts bids and improves ROI in real time.

Introduction

Every time an online ad is shown, thousands of bids compete in fractions of a second. To gain a competitive edge in this race, a Los Angeles-based AdTech company set out to build a reinforcement learning system that could predict the best ad price and placement in real time, maximizing revenue and user engagement. However, the company lacked in-house experts with deep experience in large-scale machine learning and data infrastructure to turn that vision into reality.

To close this talent gap, the company partnered with DevsData LLC, a boutique recruitment and technology consulting firm, to source and secure two key experts: a senior data scientist and a senior full stack developer with data engineering expertise. These professionals became integral members of the client’s engineering team, driving the design and optimization of a system that could make ad-pricing decisions in just a few milliseconds.

Project overview

The client’s main objective was to build a reinforcement learning-based engine that could:

• Dynamically optimize ad revenue through self-learning algorithms.
• Achieve prediction latency in the millisecond range.
• Scale seamlessly under traffic spikes.
• Improve ad relevance for end-users to boost engagement and retention.

This six-month initiative required not just advanced modeling skills, but also real-world engineering expertise to ensure smooth integration, scalability, and consistent system uptime – which is where DevsData LLC’s recruited specialists played a pivotal role.

Recruitment and team setup

This engagement was primarily a recruitment project with deep technical alignment. The client already had a capable internal team but lacked the rare combination of data science and system architecture expertise required for reinforcement learning at scale.

“Reinforcement learning AI roles require a rare mix of deep mathematical knowledge and strong engineering execution. For this project, we focused on professionals who had proven experience with large-scale systems operating under strict performance requirements.” – Nenad Hrisafovic, IT Recruitment Team Lead, DevsData LLC

The recruitment campaign lasted six weeks from project kickoff to final onboarding. Out of over 80 sourced candidates, only six were shortlisted, and two accepted offers, marking an offer-to-acceptance ratio of 100% – notably higher than the industry average for senior AI roles. Each shortlisted candidate completed DevsData LLC’s multi-stage evaluation process, which included technical interviews, coding tests, and communication assessments to verify readiness for remote, cross-functional collaboration.

Technical requirements and stack per position:

• Senior Data Scientist (Reinforcement Learning focus):

Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, NumPy, and Pandas; advanced understanding of Q-learning, policy gradients, and reward optimization; experience deploying models with AWS SageMaker, Kafka for data streaming, and Dockerized ML environments.

• Senior Full-Stack Developer with Data Engineering expertise:

Node.js, React, and TypeScript for front-end and back-end development; PostgreSQL, Redis, and Apache Spark for real-time data processing; hands-on experience with AWS Lambda, Kubernetes, and CI/CD automation via Jenkins and GitHub Actions.

These strict requirements ensured both hires possessed not only the algorithmic depth needed for reinforcement learning but also the production-level engineering expertise to build and maintain low-latency, scalable systems.

Challenges

Filling highly specialized reinforcement learning roles proved to be one of the toughest recruitment challenges in the AdTech industry. The client needed experts who could seamlessly combine advanced mathematical knowledge with hands-on engineering skills – professionals capable of integrating into a high-performance team and contributing to a real-time bidding platform.

Key recruitment challenges included:

• Niche expertise:

Reinforcement learning specialists with production-level experience are exceptionally rare, particularly those who understand the fast, data-intensive world of AdTech.

• Technical depth:

Candidates needed a strong command of both data science (reward modeling, algorithmic tuning) and large-scale engineering (distributed systems, cloud architecture).

• Market competition:

The search took place amid fierce competition from global tech giants such as Google, Meta, and Amazon, all aggressively hiring reinforcement learning specialists for their AI and recommendation systems. This made it difficult for mid-sized AdTech companies to attract and retain senior engineers with comparable experience.

• Cultural fit:

The client required individuals who could join an established international team, adapt quickly to agile processes, and collaborate effectively across time zones.

DevsData LLC’s role was to identify, evaluate, and secure professionals who not only met the technical bar but also fit seamlessly into the client’s collaborative engineering culture.

Approach

To meet the client’s demanding requirements, DevsData LLC applied its proven multi-stage recruitment methodology designed for highly technical and niche roles.

1. Deep technical alignment with the client

The recruitment team began by conducting in-depth consultations with the client’s engineering leaders to fully understand the technical scope of the reinforcement learning initiative. This step ensured that the recruiters could precisely assess not only candidates’ machine learning backgrounds but also their ability to work with real-time, data-intensive systems.

2. Multi-stage technical evaluation

Candidates underwent a rigorous vetting process that went beyond traditional interviews. Each applicant completed:

• 90-minute technical interviews covering reinforcement learning principles, data infrastructure, and scalability design.
• Practical coding challenges simulating live ad-serving environments where latency was critical.
• Collaboration and communication assessments to verify adaptability to cross-functional teams.
3. Global talent sourcing

Leveraging DevsData LLC’s proprietary network of 65000+ vetted professionals, recruiters identified experts in multiple time zones, balancing both technical excellence and cultural fit.

4. Seamless integration support

Once hired, the specialists received onboarding assistance to integrate quickly into the client’s workflow, communication channels, and delivery culture – minimizing ramp-up time and maximizing early contribution.

“Our recruitment process went beyond standard interviews. We simulated real-world AdTech challenges and tested candidates under pressure to make sure they could deliver immediate value.” – Ketevan Khorava, IT Recruiter, DevsData LLC

Results

DevsData LLC successfully placed two senior specialists who became pivotal to the client’s reinforcement learning project:

• A senior data scientist, responsible for optimizing algorithms and guiding model evaluation strategies.
• A senior full stack developer with data engineering expertise, who architected and maintained real-time data pipelines.

Once onboarded, these professionals integrated seamlessly into the client’s internal team. Their contribution accelerated the system’s development and optimization phases, helping the company reach its target performance goals – including millisecond-level decision-making for real-time ad auctions.

Beyond technical outcomes, the recruitment itself became a success story. DevsData LLC’s structured process reduced hiring time by over half compared to typical industry averages for AI roles, while ensuring cultural and skill fit from day one.

Impact

The collaboration between DevsData LLC and the Los Angeles AdTech company proved how the right recruitment strategy can directly accelerate innovation. By identifying and securing highly specialized reinforcement learning professionals, DevsData LLC enabled the client to move from a talent bottleneck to a state of sustained technical progress.

The newly onboarded experts not only filled urgent skill gaps but also transferred critical knowledge to the client’s internal team, reinforcing its long-term capabilities in machine learning and data engineering. Their presence helped the organization establish more structured development practices, improve collaboration between departments, and maintain faster delivery cycles.

Ultimately, DevsData LLC’s recruitment support empowered the client to build a scalable, AI-driven platform and set a strong foundation for future innovation in programmatic advertising – demonstrating that targeted hiring can be as transformative as the technology itself.

Conclusion

The collaboration between DevsData LLC and the Los Angeles AdTech company showcased how specialized recruitment can directly shape the success of complex AI initiatives. By sourcing and securing two senior professionals with reinforcement learning and large-scale data engineering expertise, DevsData LLC bridged a critical talent gap that had been slowing the project’s progress.

The newly formed team quickly turned the client’s vision into reality, developing a high-performance, reinforcement learning-based system capable of making millisecond-level ad-pricing decisions and scalable real-time bidding. What began as a recruitment challenge evolved into a long-term capability boost for the company, strengthening its position in the competitive AdTech market.

Looking to build your own AI-driven systems or hire rare tech specialists?

DevsData LLC has helped Fortune 500 firms, high-growth startups, and innovative AdTech companies overcome hiring challenges. With a global vetted network of over 65000 professionals, we connect businesses with world-class talent in AI, data science, and software engineering. Contact us at general@devsdata.com or visit our website www.devsdata.com