Etsy is looking for an Applied Scientist II to join our Search Retrieval team. Our mission is to build efficient, scalable, and intelligent retrieval systems that surface the most relevant listings from a catalog of over a hundred million unique and creative items. You’ll apply research in information retrieval and machine learning to solve real-world challenges.
What You'll Do
- Design and improve retrieval systems that power Etsy Search, incorporating techniques like dual-encoder models, vector similarity search, and query expansion.
- Build large-scale indexing and serving systems for lexical and semantic retrieval.
- Collaborate with applied scientists and engineers to bring retrieval models to production, optimize latency and throughput, and scale up across Etsy’s catalog.
- Conduct offline and online experiments to evaluate model quality, latency, and buyer impact.
- Work in a cross-functional team to prioritize projects which help achieve our product targets.
- Build and deploy scalable retrieval systems that balance relevance, recall, and performance.
- Drive innovation by bringing in state-of-the-art retrieval algorithms.
- Run various A/B experiments to improve search relevance.
- Analyze model performance, debug issues in retrieval behavior, and lead efforts to improve candidate recall and diversity in search results.
- Work closely with our product manager to help build roadmaps which range between a few weeks to 6-12 months.
What We're Looking For
- Experience developing impactful solutions to machine learning & NLP problems involving parts of the pipeline: data extraction, developing and training models, and integrating new models into production.
- Good engineering and coding skills, with the ability to write high quality production code.
- Proficiency in Python, Scala, Java and/or other equivalent languages.
- Experience working with machine learning frameworks & technologies such as Tensorflow/TFX, PyTorch, Kubeflow.
- You turn ideas into deeply reliable and well tested code that is easy to comprehend and modify.
- Continuous and recent experience of pushing production level Machine Learning code.
Nice to Have
- You are a mindful, empathetic, and communicative member of your team.
Technical Stack
- Python, Scala, Java
- Tensorflow/TFX, PyTorch, Kubeflow
Team & Environment
You’ll join a cross-functional team of engineers, applied scientists, and product managers, reporting to a Senior Engineering Manager.
Benefits & Compensation
- Equity package
- Annual performance bonus
- Competitive benefits that support you and your family
Work Mode
This role follows a hybrid work mode and is open to candidates based in the United States, specifically near our Brooklyn Office Hub or the San Francisco Bay Area.
Etsy is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.




