Staff Software Engineer, Airbnb

Airbnb; San Francisco (CA); Remote; USD 204,000 - 255,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading tech company as a Staff Software Engineer, where you'll design scalable systems and lead technical initiatives. Collaborate with innovative teams to optimize performance and mentor junior engineers, shaping the future of travel technology. This remote-eligible role requires strong expertise in distributed systems and cloud technologies.

Benefits

Bonuses

Equity

Employee Travel Credits

Qualifications

• 9+ years of experience in a hands-on software engineering role.
• Strong understanding of distributed system concepts.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-team technical initiatives and drive architectural decisions.
• Mentor junior engineers through design reviews and knowledge-sharing.

Skills

Java

GO

Python

Scala

Technical Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science

Tools

AWS

Azure

Google Cloud

Kubernetes

Docker

Job description

Join to apply for the Staff Software Engineer, Airbnb role at Airbnb

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

Join our innovative team as a Distributed Systems Engineer, where you'll play a pivotal role in designing and building scalable, reliable systems that power our global platform. We value creativity and collaboration, and you'll have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies in cloud computing, data management, and distributed architectures. If you're passionate about solving complex problems, optimizing performance, and leading technical initiatives, we want to hear from you! Help us shape the future of travel by ensuring our systems are robust, efficient, and ready to meet the demands of users worldwide.

A Typical Day

• Provide thought leadership, define strategy, influence cross-functional collaboration, and drive architectural decisions.
• Lead multi-team technical initiatives, and work cross-functionally to identify opportunities for business impact, refine, and prioritize requirements for engineering systems.
• Architect and implement complex features, focusing on data-driven decision making and performance optimizations.
• Lead efforts with other engineering teams to advance Airbnb’s engineering processes and technical foundations.
• Drive systemic improvements by identifying patterns to streamline development, reduce toil, and increase technical quality and operational excellence over time.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers through design reviews, code walkthroughs, and knowledge-sharing sessions, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous learning.

Your Expertise

• 9+ years of experience in a hands-on software engineering role.
• Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree, preferably in CS, or equivalent experience.
• Considerable experience working in Java, GO, Python or Scala.
• Strong understanding of distributed system concepts, including consistency models, CAP theorem, and distributed algorithms.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and services related to distributed computing (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker).
• Knowledge of databases (SQL and NoSQL) and data storage solutions in a distributed context.
• Understanding of network protocols, data serialization (e.g., JSON, Protobuf), and API design for distributed systems.
• Ability to analyze and optimize system performance and scalability.
• Technical leadership: hands-on experience leading project teams, setting technical direction and strategy, and mentoring engineers.

Your Location

This position is US - Remote Eligible. The role may include occasional work at an Airbnb office or attendance at offsites, as agreed with your manager. You must live in a state where Airbnb, Inc. has a registered entity. Check the latest list of eligible states on our website. If employed by another Airbnb entity, your recruiter will inform you of eligible states.

Our Commitment To Inclusion & Belonging

Airbnb is committed to working with the broadest talent pool possible. We believe diverse ideas foster innovation and engagement, attracting creative individuals and developing the best products, services, and solutions. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. We also provide disability-inclusive application and interview processes. If you require reasonable accommodations, contact us at: [e-mail].

How We'll Take Care Of You

Our job titles may span multiple career levels. The actual base pay depends on various factors including experience, skills, business needs, and market demands. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified. The role may also include bonuses, equity, benefits, and Employee Travel Credits.

Pay Range: $204,000—$255,000 USD