Data Scientist

About The Company

Airbnb was founded in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home. Since then, the company has experienced exponential growth and now boasts over 5 million hosts worldwide, welcoming more than 2 billion guest arrivals across nearly every country on the planet. Airbnb's platform offers unique stays and experiences, enabling guests to connect with local communities in an authentic manner. The company's mission is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere, fostering a sense of community, belonging, and shared experiences through innovative technology and personalized hospitality.

About The Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Data Scientist to join our Listing Understanding Data Science team. In this role, you will be at the forefront of leveraging computer vision and multimodal data to enhance the understanding of listings, thereby improving the overall guest and host experience. You will work cross-functionally with product, engineering, and design teams to develop and execute a strategic roadmap for integrating advanced visual understanding into our platform. Your expertise will drive innovations in how photos are utilized to assess listing quality, influence search and booking behaviors, and deliver personalized experiences. This is a hands-on role requiring proficiency in prototyping, evaluating, and deploying machine learning models, along with a strong focus on causal impact measurement to ensure our technological solutions deliver measurable business value.

Qualifications

• 9+ years of industry experience in applied Machine Learning, with a focus on Computer Vision
• Experience with CLIP, ViT, and other state-of-the-art CV models
• Expertise in causal inference, preferably within marketplace or platform environments
• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Econometrics, or a related field
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R for data analysis
• Familiarity with SQL and developing proof-of-concept prototypes
• Deep understanding of machine learning best practices, including feature engineering, model selection, and A/B testing
• Strong communication skills, capable of collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams
• Passion for AI, continuous learning, and exploring emerging technologies like large language models and dynamic systems
• Proven ability to work independently and succeed in collaborative environments
• Engagement with the technical community is a plus
  
  

Responsibilities

• Develop and prioritize a strategic roadmap for investments in computer vision and multimodal listing understanding
• Leverage visual and structured data to build, refine, and deploy models that enhance listing comprehension
• Build causal models to analyze how photos influence guest search behavior, bookings, and trip quality
• Prototype, evaluate, and iterate machine learning features in collaboration with engineering, product, and design teams
• Design and implement assessment frameworks to ensure the safety, effectiveness, and fairness of CV and multimodal models
• Measure and communicate the business impact of technological solutions through experimentation and causal analysis
• Stay current with advancements in machine learning, computer vision, and related fields, integrating new ideas into product development
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to align technical solutions with business goals and user needs
  
  

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses
• Stock options and equity grants
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Flexible work hours and remote work opportunities
• Generous paid time off and holidays
• Learning and development programs, including training and conferences
• Employee wellness programs and resources
• Travel credits and other perks to support work-life balance
  
  

Equal Opportunity

Airbnb is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. We also provide reasonable accommodations during the application and interview process for candidates with disabilities.