Data Scientist - Economics & Policy

The Community You Will Join:

The Economics & Policy Data Science team at Airbnb conducts rigorous, data-driven research to understand the economic and social impact of Airbnb's platform. We inform public policy debates, guide product development, and help shape the future of travel. We are a multidisciplinary team composed of economists, data scientists, and policy experts.

The Difference You Will Make:

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Data Scientist (Contractor - 18 month assignment) to join our Economics & Policy team. Candidates should have a strong background in economic modeling and analytics. In this role, you will work closely with senior data scientists and economists, providing critical research and modeling support for the team’s strategic projects. 

This is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to gain hands-on experience with quasi-experimental inference methods and machine learning models in a dynamic and impactful environment. A teamwork mentality and “no task too big or too small” attitude is key. The scope of work includes quantitative analysis of high-visibility topics including regulation, tourism, and economic development/impact.

A Typical Day:

• Model and analyze regulatory impact, providing guidance to policy team members

• Support the development and implementation of statistical models and machine learning algorithms under guidance

• Assist in the collection and preparation of large datasets for economic analysis and research

• Write and maintain clear, well-documented code for data processing and analysis

• Generate amazing visualizations to convey key concepts

• Prepare summaries of research findings and contribute to internal presentations and reports

Your Expertise:

• Advanced degree in Economics, Data Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field. PhD preferred.

• 2+ years of experience in data modeling & analysis

• Knowledge of data tools including: R/Python, SQL, Data Visualization, GIS, Excel

• Strong understanding of statistical concepts and experience with data manipulation and analysis libraries (e.g., pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn in Python; dplyr, ggplot2 in R)

• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

• Causal inference techniques (e.g. econometric regressions & quasi-experimental techniques)

• Exposure to the policy and economics domain, or adjacent domains

Your Location:

This position is US - Remote Eligible. The role may include occasional work at an Airbnb office or attendance at offsites, as agreed to with your manager. While the position is Remote Eligible, you must live in a state where Airbnb, Inc. has a registered entity. Click here for the up-to-date list of excluded states. This list is continuously evolving, so please check back with us if the state you live in is on the exclusion list. If your position is employed by another Airbnb entity, your recruiter will inform you what states you are eligible to work from.

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.

We strive to also provide a disability inclusive application and interview process. If you are a candidate with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in order to submit an application, please contact us at: reasonableaccommodations@airbnb.com. Please include your full name, the role you’re applying for and the accommodation necessary to assist you with the recruiting process. 

We ask that you only reach out to us if you are a candidate whose disability prevents you from being able to complete our online application.