Machine Learning Engineer II - Smart Positioning ML (Marketplace)

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. Role Description: This role is based in Amsterdam. Booking.com's Marketplace Department turns travel goals into travel realities. Our purpose? To create frictionless experiences at each and every stage of the trip. From browsing to booking and beyond, our focus is on building the connected experiences which make journeys smoother, faster and more enjoyable. Think of us as travel matchmakers, ensuring seamless integration across our product verticals to effortlessly and intuitively connect traveler preferences and actions. The Smart Positioning ML team applies ML technology to personalize the Booking.com website and application by displaying the right content to the right travelers. Areas of active development are full control of the front pages of the website and apps, selecting UX elements and ordering them, selecting and sorting elements such as search filters and banners. The team develops and trains ML models, in both offline and online learning modes and integrates them to production code using the company’s frameworks. As a Machine Learning Engineer II, you will be responsible for developing production-grade Machine Learning systems, from models to features and pipelines. You will own the design and delivery of ML systems, from initial idea generation and collecting business requirements from product stakeholders to implementation. You will work closely together with the other Machine Learning Scientists and Machine Learning Engineers in the Intent Discovery track as well as with Data Engineers, Software Engineers and Product Managers. Key Job Responsibilities and Duties: Develop production-grade ML systems, from models to features and pipelines, accounting for reliability, scalability, real-time requirements, monitoring, and retraining. Build readable and reusable code, applying code quality best practices and using standard libraries. Choose the right technology or coding methodology and refactor and simplify code when necessary. Take full ownership of services end-to-end by actively monitoring system health, performance, and business impact. Ensure the relevant service level objectives (SLOs) are met. Combine innovation with reuse by abstracting ML/AI concepts from one application to a generalized framework, including leveraging published research, open-source technologies, and previously-developed products at Booking. Be responsible for business-related data governance processes, technical implementation, and maintenance of data processing services and storage systems, as well as ML governance processes. Evaluate possible architecture solutions considering business and technology requirements. Contribute to the internal ML/AI community by sharing knowledge and participating in internal ML programs. Continuously evolve your craft by keeping up to date with the latest developments in ML/AI and related technologies and upskilling as needed. Qualifications & Skills: Masters, PhD, or equivalent experience in a quantitative field (Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, etc.). Minimum of 3 years of experience as a Machine Learning Engineer or a similar role, preferably with products that impact a large customer base. Strong working experience in one or more general purpose programming languages, including but not limited to: Java, Python or Perl. Experience with big data processing frameworks such as , Pyspark, Apache Flink, Snowflake or similar frameworks. Experience with cloud frameworks like AWS sagemaker for training, evaluation and serving models using TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn. Deep understanding of machine learning algorithms, statistical models, and data structures. Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with diverse crafts such as engineering, UX, and product management. Experience with reinforcement learning and multi-armed bandit techniques is a strong plus. (Nice to have) Experience with experimental design, A/B testing, and evaluation metrics for ML models. Benefits & Perks - Global Impact, Personal Relevance: Booking.com’s Total Rewards Philosophy is not only about compensation but also about benefits. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, as well unique-to-Booking.com benefits which include: 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 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Booking.com: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion have been a core part of our company culture since day one. This ongoing journey starts with our very own employees, who represent over 140 nationalities and a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations. Take it from our Chief People Officer, Paulo Pisano: “At Booking.com, the diversity of our people doesn’t just build an outstanding workplace, it also creates a better and more inclusive travel experience for everyone. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. It’s a place where you can make your mark and have a real impact in travel and tech.” We ensure that colleagues with disabilities are provided the adjustments and tools they need to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Application Process Let’s go places together: How we Hire The interview process entails: an online coding challenge, a coding interview, a system design interview, and a final behavioral interview We provide relocation support for this opportunity Booking.com is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We strive to move well beyond traditional equal opportunity and work to create an environment that allows everyone to thrive. Pre-Employment Screening If your application is successful, your personal data may be used for a pre-employment screening check by a third party as permitted by applicable law. Depending on the vacancy and applicable law, a pre-employment screening may include employment history, education and other information (such as media information) that may be necessary for determining your qualifications and suitability for the position.