Principal Engineer, Machine Learning - Messaging & Notifications
Airbnb is seeking a Principal Engineer, Machine Learning for the Messaging & Notifications team. This role involves architecting and implementing advanced ML solutions, including recommendation engines and LLM integrations, to enhance guest and host experiences. The Principal Engineer will lead and mentor engineering teams, driving ML applications from concept to production.
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 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.
The Community You Will Join: We connect Airbnb’s community with the right information, in the right place, at the right time. We tailor Messaging & Notifications so hosts on Airbnb can streamline their operations, and travelers get just the information they need to enjoy their stay worry-free. Additionally, we are building new connections within our community to help enrich the experience of hosting & traveling on Airbnb: easing the process of hosting, and adding meaning to our guest’s trips.
The Difference You Will Make: We believe our current customer experiences in these domains are only scratching the surface of the innovations that are possible, and that science is at the heart of delivering a step-function change for our Guest and and Host on Airbnb. You will architect and implement advanced machine learning solutions—including recommendation engines, ranking systems, intent detection models, and the integration of intelligence into existing platforms. Additionally, you’ll lead efforts to harness the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) to create transformative AI experiences. Many of the initiatives you’ll tackle are in their early conceptual stages. You will have the opportunity to shape these ideas from inception to production, turning visionary concepts into impactful realities. You will be leading ML, Data and Product engineers to drive ML applications. A core focus of your work will be spearheading Machine Learning applications in Messaging and Notification—a high-impact area with significant potential to enhance guest and host experiences at Airbnb.
Posted June 9, 2026