Staff Software Engineer, Data Engineering

Details

Airbnb is seeking experienced data engineering leaders to help ensure trustworthy data across the company and to scale data systems that power insights and ML. You will join teams such as Data Stewardship (data quality, governance, compliance, cataloging, and scaled data quality) or the Users and Contextualization Data & AI team (foundational user data for personalization and context-aware experiences). The role focuses on improving the data foundation for Users, Listings, and Marketplaces and expanding data engineering efforts to support product and ML needs.

Responsibilities

• Architect and productionize batch and real-time data systems to support products and business needs.
• Ensure quality, performance, and stability of data systems through robust quality systems and monitoring practices.
• Design and optimize data models for efficient storage and retrieval to meet product and business requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (product managers, backend engineers, data scientists, ML teams, business partners) to align on data requirements and build scalable systems.
• Tune, productionize, and optimize data systems and machine learning models for effectiveness and efficiency.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with partner engineering teams to ensure seamless integration and support.
• Contribute to long-term data strategies and roadmaps and influence technical direction of data engineering practices.
• Mentor and coach team members, providing technical leadership and guidance.

Requirements

• 9+ years of relevant industry experience with a Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in CS/EE (or equivalent), or 6+ years with a PhD.
• Extensive experience designing, building, and operating robust distributed data platforms (examples called out: Spark, Kafka, Flink, HBase) and handling data at petabyte scale.
• Strong knowledge of Java, Scala, or Python, and expertise with data processing technologies and query authoring (SQL).
• Proven ability to design, productionize, and optimize batch and real-time data pipelines and systems, ensuring quality, performance, and stability.
• Expertise in data modeling, warehousing, and working with relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and columnar systems (Redshift, BigQuery).
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with focus on data quality, governance, and system reliability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to influence stakeholders and convey complex technical concepts.
• Experience working with machine learning engineers to integrate ML models into data systems and products (preferred but optional).
• Ability to provide technical leadership and mentorship and to evaluate and incorporate new technologies and methodologies.

Location & Work Policy

• This position is US - Remote Eligible. Candidates must live in a state where Airbnb, Inc. has a registered entity. The role may include occasional work at an Airbnb office or attendance at offsites, as agreed with your manager.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base pay range: $191,000—$225,000 USD. This role may also be eligible for bonus, equity, benefits, and Employee Travel Credits. Actual base pay depends on factors such as training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs, and market demands.