Senior Machine Learning Engineering

Summary

Join Airbnb's Identity Defense team and play a critical role in safeguarding the platform by ensuring user authenticity. Prevent identity misuse, detect fraudulent accounts, and enforce policies against underage use. The team uses machine learning, computer vision, and backend engineering to build scalable defense systems. A typical day involves training and deploying machine learning models, developing and operating ML pipelines, integrating verification methods, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. You will contribute to foundational infrastructure and mentor other engineers. The role requires strong programming and machine learning expertise, experience building ML infrastructure, and collaboration skills.

Requirements

• 5+ years of industry experience in software engineering, with a focus on applied Machine learning
• BS/MS/PhD in Computer Science, a related field, or equivalent work experience
• Strong programming (Scala / Python / Java/ C++ or equivalent) skills
• Deep understanding of Machine Learning best practices (eg. training/serving skew minimization, A/B test, feature engineering, feature/model selection), algorithms (eg. gradient boosted trees, neural networks/deep learning, optimization) and domains (eg. natural language processing, computer vision, personalization and recommendation, anomaly detection)
• Industry experience building end-to-end Machine Learning infrastructure and/or building and productionizing Machine Learning models
• Strong collaboration skills and experience working with cross-functional teams
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving projects from concept to production
• Experience with test driven development, familiar with A/B testing, incremental delivery and deployment

Responsibilities

• Train and deploy machine learning models for identity misuse detection and risk scoring
• Hands-on develop, productionize, and operate Machine Learning models and pipelines at scale, including both batch and real-time use cases
• Integrate advanced verification methods, including biometrics and NFC-based flows
• Collaborate closely with ML, iOS/Android, and web engineers to deliver end-to-end solutions
• Work collaboratively with cross-functional partners including software engineers, product managers, operations and data scientists, identify opportunities for business impact, understand, refine, and prioritize requirements for machine learning models, drive engineering decisions, and quantify impact
• Contribute to foundational infrastructure including secure data handling, image processing, model serving, and feature engineering
• Shape technical direction and influence the team roadmap through long-term strategy and investment planning
• Mentor other engineers and promote best practices to strengthen Airbnb’s engineering culture and foundations

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with computer vision systems (e.g., face detection, liveness, tampering detection) is a plus
• Experience with the Trust and Risk domain is a plus

Benefits

• Bonus
• Equity
• Benefits
• Employee Travel Credits