Machine Learning Engineer, Relevance & Personalization

About The Company Airbnb, founded in 2007 in San Francisco, has revolutionized the way people travel and connect with communities worldwide. Starting with just a few hosts welcoming guests into their homes, Airbnb has grown exponentially to become a global platform with over 5 million hosts and more than 2 billion guest arrivals across nearly every country. The company's mission is to create a world where people can Belong Anywhere by offering unique stays and experiences that foster authentic connections. Airbnb continuously innovates to enhance its platform, ensuring both hosts and guests have seamless, personalized, and memorable experiences. The company's culture emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and a commitment to making travel accessible and enriching for everyone. About The Role We are seeking a highly skilled Machine Learning Engineer specializing in Relevance and Personalization to join our remote team in the United States. In this role, you will be at the forefront of developing and deploying advanced AI technologies that power Airbnb’s search and recommendation systems. Your work will directly impact how millions of users discover and connect with personalized experiences on our platform. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including software engineers, data scientists, product managers, and operations, to build scalable, high-performance machine learning models. Your expertise will help optimize search rankings, improve recommendation accuracy, and enhance overall marketplace health. This position offers a unique opportunity to work on impactful projects that drive business growth and improve user satisfaction through innovative AI solutions. Qualifications Ph.D. in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field with relevant research or industry experience, or alternatively 2+ years of industry experience in applied ML/AI.Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related discipline.Strong programming skills in Python, Scala, Java, C++, or equivalent languages.Solid understanding of machine learning best practices, including feature engineering, model selection, and evaluation.Experience with neural networks, deep learning, optimization algorithms, and related domains such as natural language processing, computer vision, personalization, search, and recommendation systems.Proficiency with ML frameworks and tools such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Kubernetes, Spark, Airflow, Kafka, and data warehouses like Hive.Knowledge of architectural patterns for large-scale software applications, including API design, data pipelines, and efficient algorithms.Ability to select appropriate ML methods to solve complex problems within operational constraints and to iterate effectively for continuous improvement.Excellent collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills, with a proven ability to lead multiple projects across teams. Responsibilities Design, develop, and deploy scalable machine learning models for search ranking, recommendations, and personalization.Work with large-scale structured and unstructured data to extract insights and improve model performance.Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for machine learning applications and translate business requirements into technical solutions.Implement and maintain data pipelines, feature stores, and model serving infrastructure to support real-time and batch processing needs.Optimize models for low latency, high throughput, and robustness in production environments.Conduct experiments, A/B testing, and performance evaluations to validate model improvements.Stay updated with the latest advancements in AI/ML research and incorporate innovative techniques into Airbnb’s platform.Document methodologies, share knowledge, and contribute to the team’s publications and internal knowledge base. Benefits Competitive salary package within the range of $157,000 - $185,000 annually.Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.Flexible work hours and remote work opportunities.Generous paid time off and holiday leave.Employee stock options and equity grants.Professional development programs, training, and conferences.Access to wellness programs, employee assistance programs, and work-life balance initiatives.Travel credits and other employee perks. Equal Opportunity Airbnb is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We believe that a variety of perspectives and experiences enrich our community and drive innovation. We encourage qualified individuals from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, to apply. We are dedicated to providing a fair and accessible application and interview process. If you require reasonable accommodations to participate in the recruitment process, please contact us at reasonableaccommodations@airbnb.com, including your full name, the role you are applying for, and the necessary accommodations. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or any other protected status.