Senior Economist

Expedia Group brands power global travel for everyone, everywhere. We design cutting-edge tech to make travel smoother and more memorable, and we create groundbreaking solutions for our partners. Senior Economist Expedia Group's Economics and Experimentation Science team is looking for a Senior Economist to drive causal inference and marketplace optimization at scale—impacting billions of dollars in transaction value across one of the world's largest travel platforms. You will tackle high‑stakes problems, including measuring incrementality in two‑sided marketplaces, quantifying the long‑term value of customer behavior signals, and designing quasi‑experimental methods to evaluate product changes that cannot be measured using A/B testing techniques. Your work will directly shape how Expedia Group balances traveler experience, partner economics, and platform health. This is a senior individual contributor role with high autonomy. You will own end‑to‑end method development initiatives, influence product strategy at the executive level, and set technical standards for causal inference across the organization. You will collaborate closely with ML engineers, data scientists, analysts, and product leaders who value rigorous econometric thinking. Responsibilities Build scalable econometric models (panel data methods, DiD, RDD, IV) to measure elasticity, changes in supplier behavior, and customer lifetime value in the presence of endogeneity, simultaneity, and platform dynamics. Establish the technical roadmap for long‑term impact measurement, moving beyond short‑term experiment metrics to quantify sustained effects on customer retention, partner engagement, and marketplace equilibrium. Design and execute causal measurement frameworks for marketplace interventions, including geo experiments, difference‑in‑differences, synthetic controls, and instrumental variable approaches, to isolate the true causal effect of product changes. Partner with ML teams to integrate causal inference into production systems, informing ranking algorithms, pricing optimization, and recommendation engines with econometrically validated insights. Translate complex econometric findings into clear executive narratives that drive multi‑million‑dollar product decisions, presenting to executive stakeholders with clarity and conviction. Mentor data scientists and economists across the organization, elevating the rigor of causal reasoning and experimental design. Experience and Qualifications PhD in Economics, Applied Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, or a related quantitative field. 8+ years of relevant professional experience. Solid foundation in microeconomic theory and applied econometrics, with the ability to apply appropriate causal inference techniques. Demonstrated experience applying econometric methods to real‑world business problems in tech, e‑commerce, or marketplace environments. Deep expertise in the causal inference toolkit: IV, DiD, RDD, synthetic controls, panel data methods, experimental design, metalearners, doubleML, causal forests. Proficiency in Python or R with strong SQL skills to work with large‑scale, noisy, real‑world data, including the ability to query and process data. Track record of influencing product strategy or business decisions through rigorous quantitative analysis—ideally with examples of work that shipped to production. Exceptional communication skills: ability to explain econometric methodology, identify assumptions, and articulate business implications to non‑technical executives. Ability to work in a fast‑paced business environment. Preferred Qualifications Publications or working papers in applied economics, econometrics, or quantitative methods (academic or industry venues). Experience with marketplace or platform economics: two‑sided markets, network effects, dynamic pricing, or general equilibrium modeling. Experience integrating causal models into ML pipelines or production systems. Familiarity with modern AI/ML workflows and LLM‑assisted analysis tools. Background in travel, e‑commerce, or large‑scale consumer marketplaces. Benefits We provide a full benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, and an Employee Assistance Program. To fuel each employee’s passion for travel, we offer wellness & travel reimbursement, travel discounts, and an International Airlines Travel Agent (IATAN) membership. Accommodation Requests If you need assistance with any part of the application due to a disability or other health condition, contact our Recruiting Accommodations Team. Expedia is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This employer participates in E‑Verify. #J-18808-Ljbffr