We are seeking a Principal Data Scientist to join our R&D organization and lead our work on Pricing and Revenue Optimization. This senior individual contributor role reports to the VP of Data Science and is critical for our company's success. The ideal candidate will have extensive expertise in data science, machine learning, systems design, and architecture, with a passion for the travel industry. This key leadership position offers the opportunity to influence product and business direction, requiring a highly motivated, self-starting individual with a strong track record in data science and a focus on rigorous work and action. 

If you are passionate about travel, about working on both strategic project and hands-on implementation, and relate to our vision and DNA, please apply.  

Here’s what you’ll do:   

• Collaborate with Product, Engineering, and Finance leaders to refine our pricing and revenue optimization strategy, derive requirements, and architect relevant services 
• Lead the end-to-end process, including conception, development, production, deployment, and monitoring of data and machine learning models for pricing and revenue optimization 
• Drive innovation by researching and implementing cutting-edge machine learning techniques, algorithms, and tools to improve and optimize existing models and systems 
• Partner with the platform services engineering team to iterate on our pricing and revenue optimization services, ensuring seamless integration with existing infrastructure and systems
• Design, execute, and evaluate pricing experiments, using statistical analysis and hypothesis testing to draw conclusions and inform decision-making
• Monitor success using KPIs and customer behavior data to inform iterations and drive performance, while proactively identifying opportunities for improvement
• Provide technical leadership to data scientists and analysts working on pricing and personalization, mentoring and guiding them in their career development
• Collaborate with data and platform engineers to scale our data infrastructure in line with the needs of these services (data acquisition, ETL pipelines, reporting infrastructure, feature stores, etc.) 
• Work with the VP, Data Science to build and coach a world-class team of data scientists, data engineers, and machine learning engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders at various levels of the organization, presenting complex data insights and recommendations in a clear and actionable manner
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in data science and machine learning, ensuring that our team remains at the forefront of innovation

Here’s what we’re looking for:  

• 8+ years of industry experience as a data scientist or ML engineer in high-growth environments, with a track record of successfully leading complex projects and delivering impactful results
• Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Economics, Statistics, or another quantitative discipline
• Proven experience applying machine learning, including deep learning techniques, to real-world data problems (such as pricing, recommendation, personalization, image recognition, and natural language processing) and deploying and scaling models in a production environment
• Solid fundamentals in algorithms, statistics, predictive modeling, and optimization, with a deep understanding of various machine learning techniques and their appropriate application
• Proficiency in Python and experience with ML libraries or platforms 
• Demonstrable experience in system/software architecture and development, with a focus on scalable, efficient, and reliable systems
• Familiarity with cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, or Azure) and experience with big data technologies such as Hadoop, Spark, or NoSQL databases
• Ability to solve complex analytical problems using quantitative approaches, blending analytical, mathematical, and technical skills
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate goals, architecture, methodologies, and insights to a diverse group of stakeholders, both in technical and non-technical terms
• Highly detail-oriented, with exceptional organizational and follow-through skills, and the ability to manage multiple competing priorities simultaneously 
• A proactive mindset and the ability to work independently, taking ownership of projects and driving them to completion

Cash Compensation:    

• In addition to a compelling equity package, a reasonable expectation for total cash compensation for this role is between $175,000 - $200,000/year (made up of base plus bonus). Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including prior experience, expertise, and may vary from the amount above.