Senior Machine Learning Scientist I

About us:

At Booking.com, data drives our decisions. Technology is at our core. And innovation is everywhere. But our company is more than datasets, lines of code or A/B tests. We're the thrill of the first night in a new place. The excitement of the next morning. The friends you encounter. The journeys you take. The sights you see. And the memories you make. Through our products, partners and people, we make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

The Booking Ads ML team builds Machine Learning solutions that power Ads across Booking.com, enabling partners to reach the right travellers at the right moment while preserving customer experience and conversion. Based in Amsterdam, the team works cross-functionally with Data Science & Analytics and Data Engineering, and closely with Product and Engineering, to tackle large-scale, high-impact problems using advanced ML on complex data. As part of a fast-growing domain, the team plays a key role in scaling the Ads business and shaping how advertising integrates seamlessly into the Booking.com platform.

As a Senior ML Scientist I in the Booking Ads ML team, you will lead the development and improvement of Machine Learning models that power Sponsored Ads across Booking.com. You will own end-to-end ML solutions for key ads use cases, applying advanced and innovative modeling techniques to improve relevance, performance, and revenue while safeguarding customer experience. Working closely with Product, Engineering, DS&A, and Data Engineering, you will help shape modeling strategy, contribute to shared ML frameworks and tooling, and raise the overall ML craft within the team through technical leadership and mentorship.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate broad business problems into ML/AI challenges and develop a targeted research plan to identify the best approach within the constraints of the production environment.
• Develop the strategy for machine intelligence on a product family by designing innovative ML/AI models, algorithms, and approaches that deliver both short-term commercial impact and longer-term differentiated business value and customer experiences.
• Independently define and build proof-of-concepts to test new ideas and demonstrate their potential value to relevant stakeholders.
• Drive the end-tend execution of the ML/AI development process on products, from understanding product requirements, data discovery, model development and evaluation, to implementation of a full production pipeline for both batch- and stream-based deployment.
• Develop production-grade ML code for models, features, and pipelines, accounting for scalability, latency, realtime requirements, monitoring and retraining.
• Build readable and reusable code, using the right technologies and coding methodologies applying knowledge of business area tools and product needs.
• Create outsized impact for your work through carefully designed rapid prototyping coupled with strategic scale-up in production through the work of other teams.
• Promote platform-based development and reuse by coaching teams in abstracting individual business problems to generalized ML/AI products, rather than point solutions, and in identifying horizontal opportunities across multiple business domains.
• Maintain a highly cross-disciplinary perspective, solving issues by applying approaches and methods from across a variety of ML/AI disciplines and related fields.
• Coach others through evidence and clear communication, explaining advanced technical concepts in simpler terms.
• Continuously evolve their craft by keeping up to date with the latest developments in ML/AI and related technologies and upskilling on these, as needed.
• Responsible for data management related Data Governance processes as defined in the Data Governance Framework (E.g. monitoring of data quality, management of data lineage, and maintenance of logical data model).

• At least 4 years of relevant work experience. Experience in ranking, recommender systems, personalization, e-commerce, etc. is a plus.
• Masters, PhD, or equivalent experience in a quantitative field (Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, etc.).
• We prefer candidates with Deep Learning experience, especially when applied to large-scale datasets or sequential modelling. Experience with TensorFlow or PyTorch is a plus.
• Solid understanding of fundamental machine learning concepts, such as gradient boosting, neural networks, feature engineering, model evaluation, etc.
• Fluency in at least one programming language, with a strong preference for Python.
• Strong working knowledge of Spark and SQL.
• Experience with putting Machine Learning models in production is a plus.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal; the ability to convey your message to team members and other stakeholders.

• Annual paid time off and generous paid leave scheme including: parental (22-weeks paid leave), grandparent, bereavement, and care leave
• Hybrid working including flexible working arrangements, working from home furniture and ergonomic support, and up to 20 days per year working from abroad (home country)
• A beautiful sustainable HQ Campus in Amsterdam, that offers on-site meals, coffee, and snacks, multi-faith and breastfeeding rooms at the office*
• Commuting allowance and bike reimbursement scheme
• Discounts & Wallet credits to spend on our products, upgrade to Booking.com Genius Level 3, and friends & family Booking.com discount vouchers
• Free access to online learning platforms, development and mentorship programs
• Global Employee Assistance Program, free Headspace membership

• Let's go places together: How we Hire
• The interview process entails an initial screen by one of our Recruiters, and a total of 3 Business interviews (including a take home business case).
• This role does not come with relocation assistance.