Michael Sachs

Summary

Accomplished data and technology leader with deep experience in machine learning, analytics, and data science. Proven track record of accelerating research velocity, building high-impact infrastructure, and leading enterprise-scale cross-functional initiatives. Expert in deploying ML systems to optimize performance and cost, enhance developer and researcher productivity, and inform high-stakes decision-making.

Highlights
  • Led development of ML and experimentation platforms accelerating research for infrastructure and research teams.
  • Scaled cross-functional teams and mentored ICs and managers across ML, engineering, research, and analytics.
  • Built cost and performance optimization tools managing hundreds of millions in infrastructure spend.
  • Proven success in ambiguous, high-impact environments with a blend of technical, product, and leadership skills.

Experience

Netflix

Senior Data Science Manager, Infrastructure Jan 2022 - Sept 2024

  • Founded and led Netflix’s first ML-for-Systems team to deploy machine learning models optimizing AWS traffic, workload placement, and infrastructure utilization—directly improving cloud performance and cost.
  • Deployed LLM-based models to map customer service contacts to infrastructure issues, improving detection latency and enabling automated remediation.
  • Built experimentation and causal inference platforms and tools enabling teams to simulate and test infrastructure changes against production workloads, reducing risk and accelerating iteration cycles.
  • Developed ML tooling to guide capacity planning, particularly for live streaming events—improving forecast accuracy and system reliability.
  • Collaborated with Finance and Engineering to develop cloud cost efficiency platforms, resulting in optimized usage of over $800M in annual AWS spend.
  • Co-led development of organization-wide Data and Insights Day and authored job families for Machine Learning Engineers, reinforcing hiring standards and role clarity across the 500+ person data org.

Data Science Manager, Content Distribution Infrastructure Sept 2020 - Jan 2022

  • Led the ML, data, and research team focused on improving the performance and efficiency of Netflix’s global content distribution network: Open Connect.
  • Led the cross-functional effort to build data capabilities from the ground up for the new Netflix Cloud Games product.
  • Designed ML systems to improve global VPN detection, streaming traffic forecasting, and proactive content distribution.
  • Delivered experimentation frameworks and ultra-high-resolution TCP logging pipelines to speed advanced network performance research.

FLYR

Head of Product Mar 2019 - Apr 2020

  • Led a 22-person cross-functional team – including research, program and product management – across three continents to drive AI-first product development.
  • Helped expand the customer base and enhanced pricing models for global airline partners using data-driven techniques and LSTM neural networks.

Head of ML Platform Nov 2018 - Mar 2019

  • Founded and scaled the ML infrastructure team, building tools on GCP to manage model and data versioning (via DVC), reducing model iteration cycle time by 80%.
  • Designed and deployed end-to-end inference systems for production pricing models, cutting latency by 50% and reducing system failures by 96%.
  • Collaborated closely with product, design, and customer-facing teams to ensure tools met iterative experimentation needs, accelerating ML R&D delivery.

Radius Intelligence

Data Science Manager Mar 2017 - Oct 2018

  • Led research team working to improve B2B marketing data quality through entity resolution, clustering, and machine learning.
  • Defined the charter for measuring research impact, developed a job ladder for data scientists, and fostered strong cross-functional relationships to ensure team success.

Discovery Digital Networks

Director of Data Science and Technology Sept 2014 - Mar 2017

  • Migrated all DDN web and data infrastructure to AWS, enhancing stability and reducing development time by over 50%.
    • .
  • Built a real-time video performance analytics platform supporting 500M+ daily data rows.

Data Scientist Mar 2014 - Sept 2014

  • Founded the Data Science function, delivering forecasting and performance models for content planning.

University of California, Davis and Columbia University

Graduate Student, Researcher, Associate Instructor Jan 2005 - Mar 2014

  • PhD in Physics, focused on computational modeling of complex systems.
  • NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship recipient.

Weill Cornell Medical College and New York Presbyterian Hospital

Product Manager, Senior Web Designer Jun 2002 - Jan 2005

  • Led redesign and architecture of hospital websites, introducing consistent visual standards and CMS strategy.

Xperts Inc.

Creative Director, Designer Mar 1997 - Jun 2002

  • Managed web application UX design across multiple clients during the dot-com boom.

Technologies

Languages

Python, SQL, JavaScript, C, C++, HTML, CSS

Frameworks and Tools

PySpark, Databricks, DVC, Numpy, Scikit-learn, PyTorch, Pandas, SQLAlchemy, Flask, Django, Redshift, BigQuery, D3.js, Celery, HDF5

Cloud and Infra

AWS, GCP, Cassandra, Hadoop, MPI, Airflow, Docker, Experimentation Platforms

Education

University of California, Davis

PhD in Physics, 2013 (GPA: 3.87)

Columbia University

Completed undergraduate physics curriculum (GPA: 3.99)

Virginia Commonwealth University

BFA, Graphic Design, 1995 (GPA: 3.24)

Publications

Parametrizing Physics-Based Earthquake Simulations
K. W. Schultz, M. R. Yoder, J. M. Wilson, E. M. Heien, M. K. Sachs, J. B. Rundle, and D. L. Turcotte
Pure and Applied Geophysics  (2016)

Virtual Quake: Statistics, Co-Seismic Deformations and Gravity Changes for Driven Earthquake Fault Systems
K. W. Schultz, M. K. Sachs, E. M. Heien, M. R. Yoder, J. B. Rundle, D. L. Turcotte, and A. Donnellan
International Symposium on Geodesy for Earthquake and Natural Hazards (GENAH)  145  29-37  (2015)

Simulating Gravity Changes in Topologically Realistic Driven Earthquake Fault Systems: First Results
K. W. Schultz, M. K. Sachs, E. M. Heien, J. B. Rundle, D. L. Turcotte, and A. Donnellan
Pure and Applied Geophysics  Volume 17 827–838 (2014)

Self-Organizing Complex Earthquakes: Scaling in Data, Models, and Forecasting
M. K. Sachs, J. B. Rundle, J. R. Holliday, J. Gran, M. Yoder and W. Graves
"Self-Organized Criticality Systems"  Open Academic Press  (2013)

A Comparison among Observations and Earthquake Simulator Results for the allcal2 California Fault Model
T. E. Tullis, K. Richards-Dinger, M. Barall, J. H. Dieterich, E. H. Field, E. M. Heien, L. H. Kellogg, F. Pollitz, J. B. Rundle, M. K. Sachs, D. L. Turcotte, S. N. Ward and M. B. Yikilmaz
Seismological Research Letters  83  994-1006  (2012)

Generic Earthquake Simulator
T. E. Tullis, K. Richards-Dinger, M. Barall, J. H. Dieterich, E. H. Field, E. M. Heien, L. H. Kellogg, F. Pollitz, J. B. Rundle, M. K. Sachs, D. L. Turcotte, S. N. Ward and M. B. Yikilmaz
Seismological Research Letters  83  959-963  (2012)

Virtual California Earthquake Simulator
M. K. Sachs, E. M. Heien, D. L. Turcotte, M. B. Yikilmaz, J. B. Rundle and L. H. Kellogg
Seismological Research Letters  83  973-978  (2012)

Forecasting Earthquakes: The RELM Test
M. K. Sachs, D. L. Turcotte, J. R. Holliday and J. B. Rundle
Computing in Science and Engineering  14  43  (2012)

Understanding Long-Term Earthquake Behavior through Simulation
E. M. Heien and M. K. Sachs
Computing in Science and Engineering  14  10  (2012)

Black swans, power laws, and dragon-kings: Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, wildfires, floods, and SOC models
M. K. Sachs, M. R. Yoder, D. L. Turcotte, J. B. Rundle and B. D. Malamud
European Physical Journal Special Topics  205  167-182  (2012)

Implications of the RELM test of earthquake forecasts in California
M. K. Sachs, Y. T. Lee, D. L. Turcotte, J. R. Holliday and J. B. Rundle
Research in Geophysics  2  e10  (2012)

Evaluating the RELM test results
M. K. Sachs, Y. T. Lee, D. L. Turcotte, J. R. Holliday and J. B. Rundle
International Journal of Geophysics  2012  (2012)

Earthquake precursors: activation or quiescence?
J. B. Rundle, J. R. Holliday, M. Yoder, M. K. Sachs, A. Donnellan, D. L. Turcotte, K. F. Tiampo, W. Klein and L. H. Kellogg
Geophysical Journal International  187  225-236  (2011)

Results of the Regional Earthquake Likelihood Models (RELM) test of earthquake forecasts in California
Y. T. Lee, D. L. Turcotte, J. R. Holliday, M. K. Sachs, J. B. Rundle, C. C. Chen and K. F. Tiampo
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA)  108  16533-16538  (2011)

Testing Lattice Quantum Gravity in 2+1 Dimensions
M. K. Sachs
arXiv:1110.6880 [gr-qc]  (2011)

Awards

  • Three time Discovery D-Lighter award winner
  • 2014 and 2015 Discovery Digital Networks Hackathon winner
  • 2011 NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship
  • 2011 Santa Fe Institute Complex Systems Summer School
  • Member of the Golden Key International Honor Society
  • Interactive Best in Show, Richmond Ad Show 2004: AdCenter Website
  • 10 eHealthcare Leadership Awards including 2 Platinum Awards for work done on the Weill Cornell Medical College Environmental Geriatrics Continuing Medical Education Application 2002-2005
  • Artwork exhibited in the 2002 Paperveins Museum of Art Biennial at the Here Arts Center in New York City
  • Xperts Employee of the Month May 1999, June 2001, August 2001
  • Addy Award: Xperts Self Promotional Website 2000
  • Xperts Outstanding Engineering Sales Support December 1999
  • Xperts Excellence in Engineering Award August 1999
  • 9 Xperts customer service awards 1997-2002

Conferences

AGU 2013

Earthquake Simulations and Historical Patterns of Events: Forecasting the Next Great Earthquake in California
M. K. Sachs, J. B. Rundle, E. M. Heien, K. Schultz, D. L. Turcotte, M. B. Yikilmaz, and L. H. Kellogg (2013)
Abstract NG41A-1662 (Poster) presented at 2013 Fall Meeting AGU San Francisco, Calif. 7-13 Dec.

Monitoring Earthquake Fault Slip from Space: Model Implications for a High Precision, High Resolution Dedicated Gravity Mission (Invited)
J. B. Rundle, M. K. Sachs, K. F. Tiampo, J. Fernandez, D. L. Turcotte, A. Donnellan, E. M. Heien and L. H. Kellogg (2013)
Abstract G13C-08 presented at 2013 Fall Meeting AGU San Francisco, Calif. 7-13 Dec.

AGU 2012

Virtual California: studying earthquakes through simulation
M. K. Sachs, E. M. Heien, D. L. Turcotte, M. B. Yikilmaz, J. B. Rundle and L. H. Kellogg (2012)
Abstract NG43C-02 presented at 2012 Fall Meeting AGU San Francisco, Calif. 3-7 Dec.

Dynamics, Patterns, and Migration in Earthquake Fault Systems (Invited)
J. B. Rundle, M. K. Sachs, J. R. Holliday, E. M. Heien, D. L. Turcotte, A. Donnellan and Z. Meadows (2012)
Abstract S13A-2518 (Poster) presented at 2012 Fall Meeting AGU San Francisco, Calif. 3-7 Dec.

EcoSummit 2012

Using Insights from Statistical Physics to Model Common Pool Resource Management
M. K. Sachs, N. Kunz, Z. A. Hamstead, A. Fajardo (2012)
Abstract GS07.28 presented at 2012 Meeting EcoSummit Columbus, Ohio 30 Sept. - 5 Oct.

AOGS 2012

Delivery of Earthquake Forecasts on Web-Based Platforms: Estimating Reliability and Forecast Skill
J. B. Rundle, J. R. Holliday, M. K. Sachs, W. Graves, P. B. Rundle, S. N. Ward and A. Donnellan (2012)
Abstract SE61-75-A001 presented at 2012 Meeting AOGS Singapore 13-17 Aug.

Numerical Simulations for Space-time Seismic Pattern Analysis and Earthquake Forecasting
M. K. Sachs, E. M. Heien, D. L. Turcotte, M. B. Yikilmaz, J. B. Rundle and L. H. Kellogg (2012)
Abstract SE61-75-A002 presented at 2012 Meeting AOGS Singapore 13-17 Aug.

AGU 2011

RELM Test Results: How Good Were the Forecasts?
M. K. Sachs, Y. T. Lee, D. L. Turcotte, J. R. Holliday and J. B. Rundle (2011)
Abstract NG44B-02 presented at 2011 Fall Meeting AGU San Francisco, Calif. 5-9 Dec.

Using Speculative Execution to Reduce Communication in a Parallel Large Scale Earthquake Simulation
E. M. Heien, M. B. Yikilmaz, M. K. Sachs, J. B. Rundle, D. L. Turcotte and L. H. Kellogg (2011)
Abstract NG51D-1672 (Poster) presented at 2011 Fall Meeting AGU San Francisco, Calif. 5-9 Dec.

E-DECIDER: Earthquake Disaster Decision Support and Response Tools - Development and Experiences
M. T. Glasscoe, R. G. Blom, G. W. Bawden, G. Fox, M. Pierce, J. B. Rundle, J. Wang, Y. Ma, M. R. Yoder, M. K. Sachs and J. W. Parker (2011)
Abstract IN11A-1269 (Poster) presented at 2011 Fall Meeting AGU San Francisco, Calif. 5-9 Dec.

SCEC Earthquake Simulator Comparison Results for California (Invited)
T. E. Tullis, K. Richards-Dinger, M. Barall, J. H. Dieterich, E. H. Field, E. M. Heien, L. H. Kellogg, F. Pollitz, J. B. Rundle, M. K. Sachs, D. L. Turcotte, S. N. Ward and O. Zielke (2011)
Abstract NG44B-01 presented at 2011 Fall Meeting AGU San Francisco, Calif. 5-9 Dec.

SCEC 2011

An Evaluation of the RELM Test Forecasts
M. K. Sachs, Y. T. Lee, D. L. Turcotte, J. R. Holliday and J. B. Rundle (2011)
Abstract B-120 (Poster) presented at 2011 Annual Meeting SCEC Palm Springs, Calif. 11-14 Sep.

Parallelization of the Virtual California Earthquake Simulator
E. M. Heien, M. B. Yikilmaz, M. K. Sachs, J. B. Rundle, L. H. Kellogg, and D. L. Turcotte (2011)
Abstract B-087 (Poster) presented at 2011 Annual Meeting SCEC Palm Springs, Calif. 11-14 Sep.

The Future of Virtual California Simulations
M. B. Yikilmaz, J. B. Rundle, D. L. Turcotte, E. M. Heien, M. K. Sachs, and L. H. Kellogg (2011)
Abstract B-110 (Poster) presented at 2011 Annual Meeting SCEC Palm Springs, Calif. 11-14 Sep.

Comparisons Among Earthquake Simulator Results for UCERF2 Fault Model of California and Observed Seismicity
T. E. Tullis, K. Richards-Dinger, M. Barall, J. H. Dieterich, E. H. Field, E. Heien, L. H. Kellogg, F. Pollitz, J. B. Rundle, M. K. Sachs, D. L. Turcotte, S. N. Ward, M. B. Yikilmaz, and O. Zielke (2011)
Abstract B-109 (Poster) presented at 2011 Annual Meeting SCEC Palm Springs, Calif. 11-14 Sep.

ACES 2011

Virtual California: Inner Workings, Recent Results and Future Development
M. K. Sachs, J. B. Rundle, D. L. Turcotte, A. Donnellan and J. W. Parker (2011)
Abstract 7400 presented at 2011 Meeting ACES Maui, Hawaii 1-5 May

Virtual California: A Guided Tour
M. K. Sachs, E. M. Heien, J. B. Rundle, D. L. Turcotte, M. B. Yikilmaz, L. H. Kellogg, K. F. Tiampo, A. Donnellan, W. Klein and J. W. Parker (2011)
Presented at 2011 Meeting ACES Maui, Hawaii 1-5 May

Press

Scientific American

Test Pits Earthquake Forecasts against Each Other

NBC News

Flagging quake hotspots an inexact science

UC Davis News

Assessing California earthquake forecasts

NASA

Managing the Deluge of 'Big Data' From Space

QuakeSim and NASA Mobile App Win NASA Software Award