Software Engineer II – AI Applications Team Full Time

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.

Leadership/Team Quote:

Our vision is to make AI a natural, trusted co-creator in building the next generation of connected travel experiences. We are delivering trusted, scalable GenAI platforms and application flows that make travel-focused AI accessible and impactful across a diverse set of use cases. We’re looking for bold builders to help us scale this impact and redefine how the world travels.

Role Description:

As a Software Engineer II working in the AI Applications team, you will work at the intersection of scalable backend systems and cutting-edge AI. You will have the opportunity to build and deploy new AI-powered experiences for millions of people. You will tackle complex performance and scaling challenges and collaborate closely with ML engineers and data scientists to bring intelligent systems into production at scale.

Key Job Responsibilities and Duties:

• Design and evaluate AI workflows, rapidly prototyping to validate key assumptions and guide decision-making.
• Build and maintain scalable AI applications that use LLMs and agents.
• Collaborate closely with ML engineers and data scientists to bring models into production and optimize system performance.
• Take end-to-end ownership of system reliability and operational excellence, including performance tuning, observability and incident management.
• Continuously grow technical and interpersonal skills through hands-on experience, knowledge sharing sessions, and industry events.

Qualifications & Skills:

• 3+ years of professional experience in software engineering, with a focus on backend or platform development.
• Proficiency in one or more server-side programming languages such as Java, Scala, or Python.
• Experience with containerization tools like Docker and Kubernetes, and deploying applications in cloud environments such as AWS or GCP.
• Experience building distributed systems at scale, with a focus on performance tuning, observability, and reliability best practices.
• Experience building AI agents and related components (e.g. Long Term Memory) and integrating them into production systems. Advantage.
• Experience working in cross-functional teams alongside ML engineers, data scientists, and product stakeholders to bring AI/ML products to production. Advantage.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, take ownership of complex problems, and drive them to resolution.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent industry experience.

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: 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 – up to 1400 per year – for yourself, including automatic Genius Level 3 status and Booking.com wallet credit

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.

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.