Applied Scientist

The Specialist II, Applied Science applies advanced statistical and machine learning techniques to solve moderately complex business problems, improve customer experiences, and strengthen Zillow’s data-driven products and services. In this role, you collaborate with cross-functional partners to design, build, and deploy scalable machine learning models and experiments in the domain of computer vision that translate data and research into measurable impact.

With guidance from your manager, lead the end-to-end development of computer vision and machine learning solutions, from problem framing and data exploration through modeling, evaluation, and iteration. Develop novel approaches using state-of-the-art 3D computer vision and generative AI techniques using both images and video. Partner with product, engineering, and business stakeholders to translate ambiguous business priorities into clear scientific requirements that align with team and company priorities.

Design, implement, and analyze experiments to measure the impact of model-driven features and guide data-informed decisions. Build, validate, and maintain production-quality data pipelines, features, and model artifacts that are reliable, reproducible, and aligned with established quality standards. Communicate technical findings, model performance, and trade-offs to both technical and non-technical audiences through clear narratives, visualizations, and recommendations. Monitor model and data quality in production, investigate performance issues, and propose improvements to maintain accuracy, fairness, and stability over time.

Share best practices, reusable components, and documentation to help elevate applied science capabilities across the team and mentor less-experienced colleagues informally where appropriate.

This role has been categorized as a Remote position. “Remote” employees do not have a permanent corporate office workplace and, instead, work from a physical location of their choice, which must be identified to the Company. U.S. employees may live in any of the 50 United States, with limited exceptions. In addition to a competitive base salary this position is also eligible for equity awards based on factors such as experience, performance and location.

Actual amounts will vary depending on experience, performance and location. Employees in this role will not be paid below the salary threshold for exempt employees in the state where they reside.

• Master’s degree in a quantitative field such as Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Data Science, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of relevant professional experience applying computer vision, statistical analysis, or machine learning to real-world data problems.
• Experience working with large or complex datasets using Python, including the common data/ML libraries or frameworks (PyTorch, Sci Py/Numpy, Transformers).
• Experience collaborating in cross-functional environments to deliver analytical or model-based solutions that influence product, platform, or operational outcomes.
• Expertise in 3D computer vision and generative methods are preferred. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

At Zillow, we’re reimagining how people move—through the real estate market and through their careers. As the most-visited real estate platform in the U.S., we help people navigate buying, selling, financing and renting with greater ease and confidence.

Whether you're working in tech, sales, operations, or design, you’ll be part of a company reshaping an industry and helping more people make home a reality.

Through Cloud HQ, our strategic approach to distributed work, most employees have the…