Principal AI/ML Researcher and Engineer (AI)

TL;DR

Principal AI/ML Researcher and Engineer (AI/ML): Designing and operationalizing intelligent decisioning substrates and cognitive AI systems with an accent on reasoning, planning, and multi-agent orchestration. Focus on integrating Large Reasoning Models (LRMs) with Knowledge Graphs and applying Reinforcement Learning for adaptive real-world decisioning.

Location: Remote Eligible (US). Must live in a US state where Airbnb, Inc. has a registered entity

Salary: $296,000 — $370,000 USD

Company

A global travel marketplace enabling guests to connect with communities through unique stays and experiences.

What you will do

• Drive foundational research in reasoning engines and planning architectures to incorporate GenAI into ranking and personalization stacks.
• Architect RPD systems integrating LLMs/LRMs, Knowledge Graphs, and RL-driven controllers.
• Develop stateful dynamic models combining supervised learning with online/offline RL and simulation.
• Set technical direction for planning/reasoning infrastructure and mentor teams in causal modeling and symbolic-connectionist integrations.
• Collaborate across product, infra, and design to translate ambiguous intent into multi-stage reasoning pipelines.
• Productionize real-time reasoning loops with low-latency inference, RAG, and streaming updates to symbolic memory.

Requirements

• 15+ years of experience in AI/ML, including post-training architectures and production-scale reasoning systems.
• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, AI, Cognitive Science, or related fields.
• Recent published work or patents in AI or Cognitive Science.
• Advanced proficiency in Python, Java, or C++, and experience with ML/RL frameworks like PyTorch, Ray, or JAX.
• Proven experience integrating LLMs/LRMs with Knowledge Graphs or structured world models.
• Deep understanding of Reinforcement Learning applied to decisioning and planning.

Nice to have

• Ph.D. in AI, Machine Learning, Robotics, or Cognitive Systems.
• Experience in neuro-symbolic systems or agent-based simulation environments.
• Prior work on distributed intelligence platforms with collective decision-making logic.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional research-to-production transitions.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive base pay, bonus, and equity eligibility.
• Employee Travel Credits for utilizing the platform.
• Strong commitment to inclusion, belonging, and diverse perspectives.
• Remote-eligible flexibility with occasional office or offsite attendance.