Software Engineer II

Software Engineer in Washington, DC

Booking.com (USA), Inc, one of the support companies in the United States, is seeking a full time Software Engineer in Washington, DC for the Data and Machine Learning department. Our teams build the technical foundation that enables secure, compliant, and scalable use of data across Booking.com. We develop platforms and services that help discover and classify data and ML/AI assets, enforce governance and access policies, and provide reliable controls, visibility, and automation across the company's data ecosystem. Depending on the team, this work may span data classification, privacy and governance automation, or identity and access management for data platforms. Across all areas, we partner closely with engineering, legal, privacy, compliance, and data stakeholders to solve complex platform problems with a strong focus on reliability, scalability, and developer experience.

This role is a strong opportunity for a software engineer who wants to work at the intersection of data platforms, governance, privacy, security, and compliance. You will design, build, and operate backend systems and platform capabilities that help Booking.com scale its data and ML/AI ecosystem safely and responsibly. You will contribute to the systems that govern how data and services are discovered, classified, protected, accessed, and monitored. This may include building automation for governance workflows, developing services and APIs, integrating with internal and external platforms, implementing policy enforcement mechanisms, improving auditability and compliance controls, and creating scalable foundations for responsible data use. In this role, you will work closely with engineers, data scientists, and business stakeholders to translate complex operational, legal, privacy, or compliance requirements into practical and scalable technical solutions. You will take ownership of production systems, make sound engineering decisions, and help build platforms that are secure, reliable, observable, and easy to use.

Key job responsibilities and duties include:

• Design, build, and operate scalable backend and platform systems that support Booking.com's data governance, privacy, security, and access management ecosystem.
• Develop automation that reduces manual operational work in areas such as data discovery, classification, policy enforcement, access provisioning, monitoring, and compliance controls.
• Build and maintain services, APIs, workflows, and integrations across internal platforms and external systems.
• Improve reliability, observability, performance, and fault tolerance of production systems that operate at scale.
• Implement and maintain enforceable controls that support secure and compliant handling of data, services, and ML/AI assets.
• Create technical solutions that provide clear visibility into risk, compliance posture, access activity, and governance state for engineering and business stakeholders.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners including Privacy, Legal, Risk, Security, Data, and Platform teams to translate requirements into scalable software solutions.
• Contribute to technical design, architecture decisions, and engineering best practices across the team.

Important aspects of the job include:

• Take initiative to address the larger technical needs of the product you work on and always keep the customer at the center of everything you do.
• Promote and drive impactful and innovative engineering solutions.
• Advocate for best engineering practices within the team.
• Act as an intermediary for problems, with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to the growth of Booking.com through interviewing, on-boarding, or other recruitment efforts.
• Represent Booking.com values, both within the company and in the external community.
• Technical, behavioral and interpersonal competence advancement via on-the-job opportunities, experimental projects, hackathons, conferences, and active community participation.

Role qualifications and requirements:

• 3+ years of experience in software development, with a strong focus on backend systems, platform engineering, or data-intensive systems.
• Strong programming skills in Java, NodeJS, Python, or similar languages.
• Experience designing and operating distributed systems that are observable, reliable, and scalable.
• Experience building services, APIs, workflows, or automation that solve operational problems and reduce manual effort.
• Ability to work across system boundaries and integrate multiple platforms, tools, or services into cohesive solutions.
• Familiarity with cloud or data platforms such as AWS, Snowflake, or similar technologies is a strong plus.
• Familiarity with data governance, privacy, compliance, identity and access management, or security concepts is a strong plus.
• Understanding of concepts such as data catalogs, lineage, classification, policy enforcement, access controls, auditability, GDPR/CCPA, or PII protection is a plus.
• Ability to translate complex business, legal, privacy, or compliance requirements into technical specifications and scalable software solutions.
• Comfortable owning production systems, improving operational excellence, and making technical decisions within a team.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Benefits & perks - global impact, personal relevance:

• Medical, life, and disability insurance*
• Annual paid time off and generous paid leave scheme including: parent, grandparent, bereavement, sick, and care leave.
• Industry leading product discounts for yourself, friends, and family, including automatic Genius Level 3 status.
• Free access to online learning platforms, mentorship programs, and a complimentary Headspace membership.
• Collaborative, friendly and diverse culture.
• Referral Program.
• This role does not come with relocation assistance.
• This role does not come with visa assistance.
• For Washington, DC this role will have a salary range of: $191,600 - $212,900
• Additional annual or quarterly bonus potential (role dependent).
• *Please note that while our philosophy is the same in every location, benefits may differ by office/country.

Should you require accommodation to meet the essential functions of this job, please let us know.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at Booking.com:

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion have been a core part of our company culture since day one. This ongoing journey starts with our very own employees, who represent over 140 nationalities and a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations.

Take it from our Chief People Officer, Paulo Pisano: "At Booking.com, the diversity of our people doesn't just build an outstanding workplace, it also creates a better and more inclusive travel experience for everyone. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. It's a place where you can make your mark and have a real impact in travel and tech."

We ensure that colleagues with disabilities are provided the adjustments and tools they need to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Application process:

• Let's go places together: How we hire.
• This role does come with relocation assistance.
• This role does not come with visa assistance.

Booking.com is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. 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, or veteran status. We strive to move well beyond traditional equal opportunity and work to create an environment that allows everyone to thrive.

Pre-employment screening

If your application is successful, your personal data may be used for a pre-employment screening check by a third party as permitted by applicable law. Depending on the vacancy and applicable law, a pre-employment screening may include employment history, education and other information (such as media information) that may be necessary for determining your qualifications and suitability for the position.