Staff Data Engineer

Introduction to Airbnb and Our Mission

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way. As a leader in the travel and hospitality industry, we are committed to creating a world where anyone can belong anywhere. To achieve this mission, we need talented and passionate individuals to join our team, and we are currently looking for a Staff Data Engineer to help drive our success.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Staff Data Engineer to join our team in the heart of Remote. As a Staff Data Engineer, you will play a critical role in driving the success of our business by designing, building, and operating robust distributed data platforms, handling data at the petabyte scale, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to align on data requirements and develop scalable systems. You will be responsible for architecting and productionizing batch and real-time data systems, ensuring the quality, performance, and stability of data systems, and designing and optimizing data models for efficient storage and retrieval.

The Teams You Will Join

We are currently hiring for the following teams:

• Communication and Connectivity: This team builds systems and tools for stays, experiences, and beyond that support first-class rich communications and connections among all members of the Airbnb community. We create scalable and intelligent communication tools, including messaging and notifications. The data team utilizes industry-leading tools, builds scalable data systems, and applies AI models to provide insights and support all products in CnC.
• Users, Listings, and Marketplace Data and AI: This team is a group of passionate machine learning, data, and analytics engineers responsible for creating new data products for our Guests and Hosts, Sales, and Finance. You'll be part of the overall Guest and Host organization that is responsible for the Airbnb web and native apps used by hundreds of millions of our guests and Hosts.
• BizTech: This team is responsible for building scalable, high-quality data sets and solutions for Finance, Airbnb's Investor community, E-team, and the rest of the Airbnb Data Community. You will have an opportunity to interact with cross-functional stakeholders to collaborate and build solutions. You will join a world-class data engineering team with a design-first attitude, focus on building quality, scalable, and testable code with rigor on data engineering practices.

The Difference You Will Make

As a Staff Data Engineer, you will make a significant impact on our business by:

• Partnering with cross-functional teams to influence and build company-wide product releases
• Developing innovative data systems to empower partners in making critical business decisions
• Enabling product engineers to create scalable online systems with optimized user experiences
• Collaborating with machine learning engineers to build AI/ML systems
• Working with our global sales team to develop business tools that optimize their workflow

A Typical Day

As a Staff Data Engineer, a typical day may include:

• Architecting and productionizing batch and real-time data systems to support various products and business needs
• Ensuring the quality, performance, and stability of data systems through robust quality systems and monitoring practices
• Designing and optimizing data models for efficient storage and retrieval to meet critical product and business requirements
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to align on data requirements and develop scalable systems
• Tuning, productionizing, and optimizing data systems and machine learning models to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency

Your Expertise

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• 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
• Extensive experience designing, building, and operating robust distributed data platforms (e.g., Spark, Kafka, Flink, HBase) and handling data at the 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 their quality, performance, and stability
• Excellent ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, data scientists, and business partners, to align on requirements and drive data-driven decision-making
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on data quality, governance, and system reliability
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of influencing stakeholders and conveying complex technical concepts effectively

Skills and Competencies

In addition to the above expertise, you will need:

• Expertise in data modeling, warehousing, and working with relational (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and columnar databases (e.g., Redshift, BigQuery)
• 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, guiding teams on best practices and contributing to the development of data engineering strategies
• Flexibility and innovative thinking to evaluate and incorporate new technologies and methodologies to improve data processes and solutions

Career Growth Opportunities and Learning Benefits

At Airbnb, we are committed to the growth and development of our employees. As a Staff Data Engineer, you will have access to:

• Opportunities to work on complex and challenging projects that impact the business
• Collaboration with experienced engineers and data scientists to learn from their expertise
• Professional development opportunities, including training, mentorship, and conference attendance
• A culture of innovation and experimentation, where you can try new things and learn from your mistakes

Work Environment and Company Culture

At Airbnb, we pride ourselves on our unique and dynamic work environment. As a Staff Data Engineer, you will be part of a team that values:

• Collaboration and open communication
• Innovation and experimentation
• Diversity and inclusion
• Work-life balance and flexibility

Compensation, Perks, and Benefits

We offer a competitive salary package, commensurate with experience, as well as a range of perks and benefits, including:

• Employee Travel Credits
• Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options
• Comprehensive health insurance
• Retirement savings plan
• Access to a range of professional development opportunities

Conclusion

If you are a motivated and experienced data engineer looking for a new challenge, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. As a Staff Data Engineer at Airbnb, you will have the chance to work on complex and challenging projects, collaborate with experienced engineers and data scientists, and contribute to the growth and development of our business. Don't miss out on this opportunity to join our team and help shape the future of travel and hospitality.

Apply now to join our team and start your journey as a Staff Data Engineer at Airbnb!