At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop innovative backend solutions for Airbnb's guest and host experiences across Europe.
- Company: Join Airbnb, a global leader in unique travel experiences and community connections.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonuses, equity, and employee travel credits.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Tackle complex engineering challenges that impact millions of travellers and hosts.
- Qualifications: 4+ years of experience in software development and strong collaboration skills.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 88000 £ per year.
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.
The Community You Will Join
We're building the next generation of Airbnb experiences for guests and hosts across Europe and EMEA - and we're looking for a Backend Software Engineer to help us get there. Our team has a singular mission: make Airbnb the go-to platform across 40+ markets in the region. We're embedded within the Guest and Host organisation and work in close collaboration with engineering teams in San Francisco and across the globe. Our work spans the full app, and we're empowered to make changes wherever they're needed to win in the region. Right now, our focus is on the experiences that matter most - payments, search, pricing, and inventory discovery - but our charter goes far beyond that. If something needs to change to drive success in Europe, we're the team that makes it happen. You’ll be working on technically challenging, high-impact problems that shape how millions of Europeans travel and host. From enabling localised experiences that reflect how people in the region actually use the platform, to building the trust and reliability that keeps both guests and hosts coming back - this is work that matters at scale. If you’re excited by complex engineering problems, a broad mandate, and the chance to directly influence one of Airbnb’s most important strategic priorities, this is the role for you.
The Difference You Will Make
- Deliver useful, personalized new features for Airbnb’s hosting experience; enabling hosts around the world to connect with others to make hosting on Airbnb easier.
- Build systems that drive reliability, performance, and cost‑efficiency in our infrastructure.
- Contribute to technical direction in your area, partner across adjacent teams when needed, and help raise the bar for engineering quality within the team.
A Typical Day
- Write clear technical designs for projects of moderate-to-high complexity, balancing functional requirements and non‑functional qualities (resilience, testability, observability).
- Collaborate with engineers and cross‑functional partners in Hosting Services to clarify requirements, manage dependencies, and ensure robust integrations.
- Contribute to technical improvements that make the team’s products higher quality and increase the team’s velocity.
- Help define and improve coding standards, development processes, operational runbooks, and best practices.
Your Expertise
- 4+ years of industry experience with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. No prior industry experience required for candidates with a PhD.
- Experience in building and scaling high‑quality products (or systems) with a focus on operational excellence.
- Strong collaboration with colleagues across multiple timezones.
- Strong communication skills with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across teams and stakeholders.
Our Commitment To Inclusion & Belonging
Airbnb is committed to working with the broadest talent pool possible. We believe diverse ideas foster innovation and engagement, and allow us to attract creatively‑led people, and to develop the best products, services and solutions. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.
How We’ll Take Care of You
Our job titles may span more than one career level. The actual base pay is dependent upon many factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs and market demands. The base pay range shown below is annualized, is subject to change and may be modified in the future. This role may also be eligible for bonus, equity, benefits, and Employee Travel Credits. United Kingdom Annual Pay Range £75,000 — £88,000 GBP
Backend Software Engineer - Guest & Host in London employer: Traveltechessentialist
Contact Detail:
Traveltechessentialist Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Software Engineer - Guest & Host in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former Airbnb employees on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the technical interview by brushing up on your coding skills. Use platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to practice common backend problems. We want you to feel confident when tackling those complex engineering challenges!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for Airbnb! Research their latest features and think about how you could contribute to improving the guest and host experience. Bring these ideas to the interview to demonstrate your enthusiasm and initiative.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Airbnb.
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Software Engineer - Guest & Host in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how excited you are about solving complex engineering problems and making a real impact at Airbnb.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in backend development. We’re looking for folks who can build and scale high-quality products, so don’t be shy about showcasing your past projects that align with our mission.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that demonstrate your technical skills and collaboration abilities without unnecessary fluff. Remember, clarity is key!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Traveltechessentialist
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re familiar with the technologies mentioned in the job description. Brush up on your experience with backend systems, especially those that focus on reliability and performance. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've implemented these technologies.
✨Showcase Collaboration Skills
Since this role involves working across multiple time zones and teams, prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight any experiences where you managed dependencies or clarified requirements with cross-functional partners.
✨Prepare for Technical Challenges
Expect to face some technically challenging questions during the interview. Practice explaining your thought process when solving complex problems, and be ready to discuss how you balance functional requirements with non-functional qualities like resilience and testability.
✨Emphasise Your Impact
Airbnb is looking for someone who can make a difference. Prepare to talk about how your previous work has driven success in your projects. Use metrics or specific outcomes to illustrate how your contributions have improved product quality or team velocity.