Sr. Applied Scientist
Data & Analytics
Excel
WFA Digital Insight
As the digital landscape evolves, the demand for applied scientists with expertise in machine learning and optimization continues to grow. With a 25% increase in remote job postings for data science roles in the past year, professionals with skills in Python, SQL, and decision systems are in high demand. Zillow, a pioneer in real estate technology, stands out for its commitment to innovation and customer experience. Before applying, candidates should be aware that a strong background in quantitative fields, such as economics or operations research, and experience with production machine learning systems are essential. With the US remote job market expected to reach
0 billion by 2027, this role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to Zillow's core marketplace decision systems.
Job Description
About the Role
The Senior Applied Scientist position at Zillow is a critical role that combines expertise in machine learning, optimization, and decision systems to drive the company's core For Sale marketplace. As a key member of the Conversion and Core Modeling team, you will be responsible for building and scaling routing and allocation decision systems that match Zillow consumers with trusted partners. Your work will have a direct impact on the customer experience and long-term business value, requiring a deep understanding of optimization frameworks, production machine learning, and system behavior.The ideal candidate will have a strong systems thinking approach, with experience in both optimization and production machine learning. You will work closely with partner teams, such as product, engineering, and operations, to clarify system behavior, communicate tradeoffs, and align on decision policies.
What You Will Do
- Develop and iterate on optimization frameworks in constraint-driven, multi-objective environments to balance customer experience and long-term business value
- Build and productionize ML-driven routing systems for large-scale marketplace decision systems, owning models across the full lifecycle from feature design through deployment and monitoring
- Work directly with partner teams to clarify system behavior, communicate tradeoffs, and align on decision policies
- Uphold high standards for production quality, including reliability, observability, and operational readiness for critical decision services
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and implement new features and systems
- Develop and maintain technical documentation and dashboards to support decision-making
- Participate in code reviews and contribute to the improvement of the codebase
- Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies in machine learning and optimization
- Develop and maintain a deep understanding of Zillow's business and market trends
- Communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
What We Are Looking For
- 5+ years of applied science experience, including work on optimization-driven or constraint-based decision systems
- 3+ years owning production machine learning systems end-to-end, across the full model lifecycle from feature design and training through validation, deployment, and monitoring
- Proficient in Python and SQL for building, evaluating, and deploying models in production environments
- Advanced degree in a quantitative field, such as economics, operations research, data analytics, statistics, or a related discipline
- Strong mathematical and algorithmic reasoning skills, including comfort working with multi-objective tradeoffs, constraints, and uncertainty
- Strong software engineering fundamentals, including development best practices, testing, and operational rigor in production environments
- Experience building transparent, explainable systems and clearly communicating decision logic to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize multiple tasks
Nice to Have
- Experience with cloud-based technologies, such as AWS or Azure
- Familiarity with agile development methodologies
- Knowledge of real estate industry trends and market dynamics
- Experience with data visualization tools, such as Tableau or Power BI
- Certification in machine learning or data science
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive base salary and equity package
- Opportunity to work on high-impact projects that drive business growth
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment
- Flexible working hours and remote work options
- Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools
- Professional development opportunities, including conferences and training
- Comprehensive health insurance and benefits package
- Paid time off and holiday perks
- Remote stipend and home office setup support
How to Stand Out
- Showcase your experience with machine learning and optimization, highlighting specific projects and results
- Develop a strong understanding of Zillow's business and market trends to demonstrate your value as a candidate
- Prepare to discuss your approach to building transparent and explainable systems, including how you communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
- Highlight your ability to work in a fast-paced environment, prioritizing multiple tasks and meeting deadlines
- Be prepared to walk through your code and design decisions, demonstrating your proficiency in Python and SQL
- Research the company culture and values, and be ready to discuss how you align with Zillow's mission and vision
- Consider creating a portfolio or GitHub repository to showcase your projects and code samples
This is a remote position listed on WFA Digital, the platform for professionals who work from anywhere. Browse more remote jobs across all categories.