Machine Learning Scientist II

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.

About the team: Supplier Integrity Product is part of Booking.com’s Supplier Fraud organisation. Our mission is to keep Booking.com’s accommodation supply trustworthy and economically healthy by detecting, preventing, and remediating partner-side integrity issues such as commission avoidance, fake reviews, bait-and-switch, collusion, and other abusive behaviours.

Role Description:

As a Machine Learning Scientist, your work will focus on building, training and deploying machine learning models (Classification, Deep Learning, Optimization, Natural Language Processing, Active Learning) using the most advanced technologies and models. You will be responsible for identifying and using the most appropriate data sources and modeling techniques to solve complex problems and drive measurable business value.

You will also help in building new products and solutions by driving a research agenda and development plan from ideation to prototyping to full productionisation in the team, and using opportunities to  contribute to a vibrant department’s ML community.

Key Job Responsibilities and Duties: 

• Translate business needs into ML/AI challenges, creating targeted research plans and innovative models for both immediate impact and long-term value.

• Develop and deploy state-of-the-art ML/AI solutions, including Deep Learning, to optimize and drive business value striking a right balance between friction and risks.

• Drive the end-to-end execution of the ML/AI development process on specific products, from understanding product requirements, data discovery, model development and evaluation, to implementation of a full production pipeline

• Conduct data analysis with detailed metrics to improve data quality, do feature exploration, evaluate model’s performance, etc.

• Build, support and maintain readable and reusable code for both data processing and model training pipelines, using the right technologies and coding methodologies applying knowledge of business area tools and product needs.

• Maintain a highly cross-disciplinary perspective, solving issues by applying approaches and methods from across a variety of ML/AI disciplines and related fields.

• Support others through evidence and clear communication, explaining advanced technical concepts in simpler terms

• 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.

Role Qualifications and Requirements:

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

• Advanced knowledge and experience in Classical Machine Learning, Statistics, Deep Learning, Optimization or similar.

• Ability to define a machine intelligence strategy on a specific product by identifying short-term development steps that create immediate business value and build upon each other to create longer-term differentiation

• Ability to drive and execute end-to-end research and development plans and generate impact through large-scale machine learning model development.

• Relevant work or academic experience (MSc + 3 years of working experience, or PhD), involved in the development and application of Machine Learning.

• Strong working knowledge of Python.

• Experience in big data technologies (MapReduce, Hadoop, AWS, SQL, Spark or similar technologies)

• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal.

• Successfully driving technical, business and people related initiatives that improve productivity, performance and quality while communicating with stakeholders at all levels

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

• This role does not come with relocation assistance.

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.