Staff Data Scientist (all genders)

This is a brand-new role. As the most senior individual contributor on our Data Science team, you'll bring deep expertise and hands-on excellence to our hardest, most ambiguous ML problems — setting technical direction, raising the bar, and multiplying the impact of everyone around you, while staying hands-on in the code and the models. You might embed in a single domain like ranking or dynamic pricing, or work across the whole portfolio — churn, cancellations, marketing, forecasting and beyond — depending on your strengths and interests. You'll work with a large and rich dataset, fast paths from concept to production, and the autonomy to act on your own judgment.

Holidu is an AI-first company, and it shows in how we work: your modelling stays grounded in machine learning and statistics, but you'll have large-scale access to the best AI tools and the freedom to weave them into everything you do — from discovery to implementation to maintenance. Everyone here experiments and shares what works, and we'll count on you to lead the way.

This role is based in Munich with two office days/week.

Python • Airflow • dbt • AWS (SageMaker, Redshift, Athena) • MLflow

As Staff Data Scientist, you’ll build the most critical models, review and improve what the team ships, and steer our technical choices. You will:

• Own flagship ML initiatives end-to-end — architecting, building, and shipping the models our most important applications run on, and proving their impact.

• Set technical direction and standards for the Data Science team: modelling approaches, experimentation rigor, MLOps, and code quality.

• Act as a force multiplier — mentor data scientists, review designs and models, and level up the whole team's craft.

• Partner with leadership to shape the company-wide ML roadmap, spotting where data science can unlock the most value next.

• Champion AI across the team — continuously integrating it into our data science workflows and finding ways to make our processes and systems smarter and more efficient.

• Bring clarity to complexity — communicate trade-offs and recommendations to both deeply technical and non-technical audiences.

• Substantial experience as a Data Scientist / ML practitioner (typically 5+ years), with a clear track record of shipping high-impact models to production end-to-end (we care about what you've built, not your exact title).

• A quantitative degree in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field.

• Deep expertise across statistics, predictive modelling, and machine learning, with the judgment to pick the right approach — and the engineering skill to ship robust, production-quality systems, with or without AI writing the first draft.

• Deep, hands-on experience with tree-based and gradient-boosting models (XGBoost, LightGBM, CatBoost) on large-scale tabular data.

• A history of technical leadership — you set direction, mentor others, and leave every team you touch stronger.

• A proactive, ownership-driven mindset — you naturally take the hardest problem in the room and see it through.

• Clear communication — you make complex ideas simple for technical and non-technical audiences alike.

• Genuine enthusiasm for using AI in your daily work — you experiment, adopt what works, and set the example for others.

• Impact: Shape the future of travel with products used by millions of guests and thousands of hosts. At Holidu ideas become products, data drives decisions, and iteration fuels fast learning. Your work matters - and you’ll see the impact.
• Learning: Grow professionally in a culture that thrives on curiosity and feedback. You’ll learn from outstanding colleagues, collaborate across disciplines, and benefit from mentorship, and personal learning budgets - with a strong focus on AI.
• Great People: Join a team of smart, motivated and international colleagues who challenge and support each other. We celebrate wins and keep our culture fun, ambitious and human. Our customers are guests and hosts - people we can all relate to - making work meaningful and energizing.
• Technology: Work in a modern tech environment. You’ll experience the pace of a scale-up combined with the stability of a proven business model, enabling you to build, test, and improve continuously.
• Flexibility: Work a hybrid setup with 50% in-office time for collaboration, and spend up to 8 weeks a year from other inspiring locations. You’ll stay connected through regular events and meet-ups across our almost 30 offices.
• Perks on Top: Of course, we also offer travel benefits, gym discounts, and other perks to keep you energized - but what truly sets us apart is the chance to grow in a dynamic industry, alongside amazing people, while having fun along the way.