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Machine Learning Engineer II - Ranking Team

Booking.com

Booking.com

Software Engineering
Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Posted on Jan 24, 2024

Job Description

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 make. The journeys you take. The sights you see. And the food you sample. Through our products, partners and people, we can empower everyone to experience the world.

About the team:

The Ranking team is powering the presentation of properties across various touchpoints on the Booking.com platform, with a primary focus on optimizing search results. The team manages billions of requests daily, each of which relies on cutting-edge Machine Learning (ML) solutions to allow Booking.com customers to experience the world.

As the Machine Learning Engineer, you take ownership of the end-to-end processes, from conceptualizing ML systems based on business requirements to executing independent implementation. Your responsibilities span the entire development lifecycle, ensuring seamless transition from idea generation to practical application.

In this role, you will grow your expertise by refining your craft in ML system design, emphasizing impact and aligning with customer needs. Your proficiency is not only demonstrated in technical prowess but also in your ability to collaborate with product stakeholders. You play a crucial role in deciphering business requirements and determining the most suitable technical solutions to deliver optimal customer value. Furthermore, you contribute to the growth of the team by actively mentoring and supporting less experienced members

Key Job Responsibilities and Duties:

  • Build ML Products and Systems
    • Develop production-grade ML systems, from models to features and pipelines, accounting for reliability, scalability, real-time requirements, monitoring and retraining.
  • Building Software Applications
    • Build readable and reusable code, applying code quality best practices and using standard libraries. Choose the right technology or coding methodology as well as refactor and simplify code (when necessary).
  • End to End System Ownership
    • Take full ownership of your services end to end by actively monitoring the systems health, performance and business impact.
    • Be responsible for business related data governance processes, the technical implementation and maintenance of data processing services and storage systems, and the implementation and maintenance of ML governance processes.
  • Software System Design
    • Evaluate possible architecture solutions taking into account the business and technology requirements.
  • ML Technical Incident Management
    • Set the relevant service level objectives SLOs and act accordingly when they are not met.
  • ML Tooling
    • Build readable and reusable code, using the right technologies and coding methodologies applying knowledge of business area tools and product needs.
  • Continuous Learning and external contributions
    • Continuously evolve your craft by keeping up to date with the latest developments in ML/AI and related technologies and upskilling on these, as needed.
    • Contribute to the internal ML/AI community by sharing your knowledge and participating in our internal ML programs
  • ML Community Contribution, Coaching and Mentoring
    • Coach others through evidence and clear communication, explaining advanced technical concepts in simpler terms.
  • Effective Communication
    • Maintain a highly cross-disciplinary perspective, solving issues by applying approaches and methods from across a variety of disciplines and related fields.
    • Achieve mutually agreeable solutions by staying adaptable, communicating ideas in clear coherent language and practicing active listening

Role Qualificatinos and Requirements:

We are looking for driven MLE’s who enjoy solving problems, who initiate solutions and discussions and who believe that any challenge can be scaled with the right mindset and tools.

We have found that people who match the following requirements are the ones who fit us best:

  • Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Engineering, Statistics, or a related field.
  • Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Machine Learning Engineer or a similar role, with a consistent record of successfully delivering ML solutions.
  • Strong programming skills in languages such as Python and Java.
  • Experience with cloud frameworks like AWS sagemaker and training models using TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.
  • Experience with data at scale using MySQL, Pyspark, Snowflake and similar frameworks.
  • Proficiency in data manipulation, analysis, and visualization using tools like NumPy, pandas, and matplotlib.
  • Deep understanding of machine learning algorithms, statistical models, and data structures.
  • Experience with experimental design, A/B testing, and evaluation metrics for ML models.
  • Experience of working on products that impact a large customer base is an advantage
  • Excellent communication in English; written and spoken

Benefits & Perks: Global Impact, Personal Relevance

Booking.com’s Total Rewards Philosophy is not only about compensation but also about benefits. Our Total Rewards strive to make it easier for you to experience all that life has to offer on your terms so that you can focus on what really matters. We offer competitive compensation as well as thoughtful, valuable, and even fun benefits which include:

  • Headquarters located in one of the most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities in Europe: Amsterdam.
  • Contribute to a high scale, sophisticated, world-class product and see the real time impact of your work on millions of travelers worldwide.
  • Be part of a truly international fast paced environment and performance driven culture.
  • Performance-based company that offers career advancement, and lucrative compensation, including bonuses and stock potential.
  • Discount on Booking.com accommodations with the “Booking Deal” including other perks and benefits.
  • Company-sponsored family and social activities to help our employees become integrated with each other and the company's culture.
  • Diverse and creative colleagues from every corner of the world.
  • Health, life, and disability insurance*
  • Annual paid time off and generous paid leave scheme including: parent, grandparent, bereavement, and care leave.
  • Hybrid working including flexible working arrangements, and up to 20 days per year working from abroad (home country).
  • Industry leading product discounts for yourself, friends, and family, including automatic Genius Level 3 status and quarterly Booking.com wallet credit.
  • Free access to online learning platforms, development and mentorship programs, and a complimentary Headspace membership
  • On-site meals, coffee, and snacks, including healthy and vegan options, daily*

#ThinkInclusion: Wellbeing & Inclusion at Booking.com:

Inclusion, Diversity, Belonging, Wellbeing and Volunteering (IDBWV) 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 create a unique 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 will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustment to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

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.