Staff Backend Engineer, Media Foundation

Airbnb, the global hospitality platform that has facilitated over 1 billion guest arrivals, is seeking a Staff Backend Engineer for their Media Foundation team. This role sits within the Client & Product Foundation organization, focusing on building and operating end-to-end media infrastructure that powers images, videos, and rich media across the platform.

As a Staff Backend Engineer, you'll be at the forefront of designing and implementing next-generation media infrastructure, processing billions of media assets efficiently. The role combines technical leadership with hands-on development, requiring expertise in media systems, distributed computing, and modern programming languages like Java and Kotlin.

The position offers an exciting opportunity to work on critical systems that enable Airbnb's core functionality, focusing on high-quality, performant, and cost-efficient media experiences. You'll drive innovation through AI-driven enhancements, interactive media formats, and improved accessibility.

The role demands 9+ years of software development experience, with at least 3 years in media systems. You'll lead architectural decisions, mentor team members, and collaborate across engineering, product, and infrastructure teams. The position offers competitive compensation ($204,000-$259,000), equity, bonuses, and benefits, with remote work flexibility.

Join a team that's essential to Airbnb's success, where your work will directly impact millions of users worldwide through enhanced media experiences and innovative solutions.