Staff Software Engineer, Communication & Connectivity

Details

We connect Airbnb’s community with the right information, in the right place, at the right time. We tailor Messaging & Notifications so hosts on Airbnb can streamline their operations, and travelers get just the information they need to enjoy their stay worry-free. Additionally, we are building new connections within our community to help enrich the experience of hosting & traveling on Airbnb: easing the process of hosting, and adding meaning to our guest’s trips.

The data team utilizes industry-leading tools, builds scalable data systems and applies cutting-edge ML models to provide insights and empower all products in the Communication and Connectivity (CnC) organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead initiatives to design and build large-scale, distributed data systems (both batch and real-time).
• Design, develop, and maintain reliable, scalable data pipelines that collect, process, and serve data from diverse sources across Airbnb.
• Implement robust offline and online feature building processes to enable faster production of ML products.
• Architect and build ML infrastructure and optimize for performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Collaborate closely with backend, frontend/client, machine learning engineering, analytics, product, and business partners to deliver aligned outcomes.
• Mentor and develop engineers on the team and influence the broader data engineering community at Airbnb.

Requirements / Qualifications

• 9+ years of relevant industry experience with a Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in CS/EE, or equivalent experience; or 6+ years of experience with a PhD.
• Strong computer science fundamentals, knowledge of architecture and common design patterns.
• Experience running data processing pipelines in production using distributed data processing frameworks like Apache Spark or Flink.
• Experience with both batch and real-time data processing.
• Experience working on or with end-to-end machine learning products.
• Experience collaborating with client, backend, ML, analytics teams, product, and business partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Passion for product-focused environments and customer impact.

Technologies and Focus Areas

• Distributed data processing (batch and real-time).
• Apache Spark and Apache Flink (explicitly mentioned as examples).
• Machine learning products and ML infrastructure.
• Offline and online feature-building processes.
• GenAI and large language models (LLMs) applied to product surfaces such as Messaging.

Location

This position is US - Remote Eligible. The role may include occasional work at an Airbnb office or attendance at offsites, as agreed with your manager. Candidates must live in a U.S. state where Airbnb, Inc. has a registered entity (see Airbnb careers for up-to-date excluded states). If employed by another Airbnb entity, eligibility details will be provided by the recruiter.

Compensation

• Base pay range: $204,000—$255,000 USD.
• The role may also be eligible for bonus, equity, benefits, and Employee Travel Credits. Base pay depends on factors such as training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs, and market demands.

Inclusion & Accessibility

Airbnb is committed to inclusion and belonging and encourages diverse applicants. Candidates with disabilities who require reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process may contact [email protected] with their full name, the role, and the accommodation needed.