AI Backend Software Engineer II - AI Application Platform

As a Software Engineer working on the AI Application Platform at Booking.com, you will work at the intersection of scalable backend systems and cutting-edge AI. You will have the opportunity to design and build the core platform that enables product teams to rapidly develop and deploy AI-powered experiences for millions of people.

• Design and evaluate architecture solutions for AI infrastructure, rapidly prototyping to validate key assumptions and guide decision-making.
• Explore, benchmark, and integrate new AI/ML tools and technologies to drive innovative engineering solutions that meet evolving business needs.
• Build and maintain scalable, reusable backend services that support real-time AI/ML inference, model deployment, and data pipelines.
• Collaborate closely with ML engineers, data engineers, and data scientists to bring AI/ML 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.

• Experience in feature engineering, integrating AI/ML models into production systems, and understanding model behavior, performance and constraints.
• Experience building AI agents and components such as memory, context engineering, retrieval, and orchestration.
• Experience working in cross-functional teams alongside ML engineers, data scientists, and product stakeholders to bring AI/ML products to production.
• 3+ years of professional experience in software engineering, with a focus on backend or platform development.
• Experience building distributed systems at scale, with a focus on performance tuning, observability, and reliability best practices.
• Experience with scalable data storage systems (e.g. MySQL, Redis) and optimizing data access and caching for high-throughput applications.
• 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.
• 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.

• Annual paid time off and generous paid leave scheme including parental, grandparent, bereavement, and care leave.
• Hybrid working including flexible working arrangements, working from home furniture and ergonomic support, and up to 20 days per year working from abroad (home country).
• A sustainable HQ campus in Amsterdam that offers on-site meals, coffee, and snacks, multi-faith and breastfeeding rooms at the office.
• Commuting allowance and bike reimbursement scheme.
• Discounts and wallet credits to spend on products, upgrade to Booking.com Genius Level 3, and friends and family Booking.com discount vouchers.
• Free access to online learning platforms, development and mentorship programs.
• Global Employee Assistance Program, free Headspace membership.