Airbnb

Senior Staff Software Engineer, Host Pricing & Settings

Airbnb$150K — $200K *
US-AnywhereRemote in United States
Information Technology
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 12+ years in backend or platform engineering
  • Strong programming skills in Java, Kotlin, Scala, and/or Python
  • Deep understanding of ML systems design
  • Experience with high-scale data pipelines like Spark, Airflow, Kafka
  • Expertise in architectural patterns of large applications
  • Proven ability to lead cross-team technical initiatives

Responsibilities

  • Define architecture for model transitions from development to production
  • Lead the buildout of a unified ML serving stack
  • Architect backfill and evaluation infrastructure
  • Establish domain contracts between Modeling and Serving
  • Review and evolve ML serving architecture
  • Write and review code for feature engineering jobs
  • Drive milestone planning across the organization

Benefits

  • Remote work eligibility in specific states
  • Opportunity for occasional office interaction or attendance at offsites
  • Access to a collaborative and innovative team environment
  • Mentorship opportunities within the engineering department
Full Job Description
The Community You Will Join:

The Host Pricing & Settings team builds the platform and tools that help hosts run their business - with pricing strategies informed by market intelligence, comparable listings, and demand signals. We partner with Search, Listings, Tax, and Payments to ensure our guidance is accurate, timely, and trusted.

Behind every pricing recommendation is a sophisticated ML system undergoing a fundamental rearchitecture. Our north star: a serving infrastructure where training, inference, and evaluation are consistent by design - features from a centralized store, model composition in one place, and backfills available on demand so data scientists and MLEs can evaluate candidates in days, not weeks.
The Difference You Will Make:

As a senior technical individual contributor, you will own the technical strategy for the full Modeling  ML Serving  API interface across the Host Pricing org. Although you will be at one of our highest levels of seniority, all individual contributors at Airbnb are Software Engineers - you are expected to be hands-on and contribute code.
  • Define the architecture and contracts governing how models move from development to production - feature store design, model schema management, online/offline inference consistency, and multi-version support.
  • Lead the buildout of a unified serving stack that eliminates per-model one-off implementations and gives data scientists a turnkey path from training to production.
  • Architect backfill and evaluation infrastructure so the modeling team can simulate production inference over historical data in days, not weeks.
  • Establish domain contracts between Modeling and Serving so each team can move independently with clear, enforced interfaces.
A Typical Day:
  • Review and evolve the ML serving architecture - making tradeoff calls on feature pipeline design, model composition, and API interfaces.
  • Write and review code for feature engineering jobs, feature store configurations, and serving service endpoints.
  • Partner with Data Science, MLE, MLI and core Pricing & Availability systems BE teams to define artifact handoffs and integration contracts.
  • Drive milestone planning across the Host Pricing & Settings org, sequencing work to deliver value incrementally.
  • Mentor engineers through design reviews and hands-on pairing on the hardest infrastructure problems.
Your Expertise:
  • 12+ years in backend or platform engineering, with substantial experience building production ML systems or data-intensive infrastructure.
  • Strong programming skills in Java, Kotlin, Scala, and/or Python.
  • Deep understanding of ML systems design: feature stores, training/serving consistency, model versioning, and online/offline inference pipelines.
  • Experience with high-scale batch and real-time data pipelines (Spark, Airflow, Kafka, or equivalent), including point-in-time correctness for backfills.
  • Expertise with architectural patterns of large, high-scale applications - well-designed APIs, efficient data contracts, multi-tenant serving infrastructure.
  • Proven ability to lead cross-team technical initiatives spanning ML and platform engineering.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Feature Store Depth: Production experience with Chronon, Tecton, Feast, or equivalent - including online/offline consistency and backfill automation.
  • Model Serving Infrastructure: Experience with model schema management, multi-version support, and model composition frameworks.
  • Domain Contract Design: Track record defining and enforcing technical contracts between ML modeling, MLI, serving teams and/or product surfaces.
  • Evaluation Velocity: Measurable impact improving the speed at which ML teams evaluate candidate models and ship to production.
Your Location:

This position is US - Remote Eligible. The role may include occasional work at an Airbnb office or attendance at offsites, as agreed to with your manager. While the position is Remote Eligible, you must live in a state where Airbnb, Inc. has a registered entity. If your position is employed by another Airbnb entity, your recruiter will inform you what states you are eligible to work from.

About Airbnb

Airbnb is an online community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book accommodations through mobile phones or the Internet. The company connects travelers seeking authentic experiences with hosts offering unique, inspiring spaces. Whether the available space is a castle for a night, a sailboat for a week, or an apartment for a month, Airbnb is the easiest way for people to showcase these distinctive spaces to an audience of millions. By facilitating bookings and financial transactions, Airbnb makes the process of listing or booking a space effortless and efficient. With 4,500,000 listings in over 65,000 cities in 191 countries, the company offers the widest variety of unique spaces for everyone at any price point around the globe.

Airbnb Careers

Join the vibrant team at Airbnb, the world’s leading community-driven hospitality company, where innovation, leadership, and diversity training are at the heart of our professional ethos. At Airbnb, we offer more than just job opportunities; we provide a platform for growth, learning, and meaningful connections. Work You’ll Do Become a part of Airbnb’s dynamic team and contribute to reshaping the travel and hospitality landscape globally. Our commitment to innovation and cultural understanding sets us apart, allowing us to enhance the travel experience for millions of users worldwide. Lead with Innovation and Diversity At Airbnb, we believe in leading with innovation and embracing diversity. Our leadership is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every team member can thrive. Diversity training is integral to our operations, ensuring that we continue to be a leader in creating inclusive travel experiences. Explore Professional Growth and Development Airbnb offers a wealth of career advancement opportunities, supported by robust training programs and professional development courses. Whether you’re looking for a full-time position or an internship, Airbnb empowers you to excel and grow your career to new heights. Join Our Global Team Work alongside a global team of passionate, creative, and solution-driven professionals. At Airbnb, we value the skills and perspectives of our diverse team members, and we continuously strive to leverage this collective power to innovate and lead in the industry. Benefits and Culture Airbnb is dedicated to providing its employees with a supportive and empowering work environment. Our benefits package is designed to enhance your life both inside and outside of work. Enjoy comprehensive health benefits, flexible working conditions, and unique perks that encourage a balance of work and life. Networking and Career Opportunities Expand your professional network within Airbnb through various networking events, mentorship programs, and collaborative projects. Our vibrant culture of connectivity opens doors to enriching career paths and professional relationships. Apply Now Ready to take the next step in your career? Explore the exciting job opportunities and internships available at Airbnb. We are actively hiring talented individuals who are passionate about making a difference in the world of travel. Visit our Careers Page Stay updated with the latest from Airbnb Careers by visiting our dedicated careers page. Discover new job openings, read about our company culture, and find tips for your resume and interview preparation. Join Airbnb and be part of a team that’s committed to redefining the future of travel through innovation, leadership, and a deep respect for diverse cultures and communities. Your journey to a fulfilling career starts here.
Learn more about Airbnb
Size
5,000 employees
Market Cap
$52.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$4.5 billion
Founded
2008
5 Year Trend
+29.3%
Revenue
$3.3 billion
NASDAQ

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