Senior Manager, Applied Science

About the team

We’re a specialized, Munich-based team focused on applied generative modeling and 3D computer vision. While we began as an independent startup, we joined Zillow in October 2024—combining the agility and ownership of a startup environment with the stability, resources, and long-term vision of an established company. This blend gives our team the freedom to innovate with the confidence that comes from being part of a big and diverse organization.

Our diverse expertise combines academic excellence with real-world impact; the combination of access to internet-scale real estate data of diverse modalities, expertise in both generative and classical computer vision methods, unique access to consumers, and large-scale compute resources makes our position exceptionally unique. We’re excited to build upon this foundation—and we hope you’ll join us in pushing the boundaries of AI at Zillow!

As Senior Manager of Applied Science, you will lead the VSAI technical team in Germany, guiding the development and productionization of frontier generative media systems. You will manage a multidisciplinary team of applied scientists, machine learning engineers, and software engineers, balancing hands-on technical leadership with people management and strategic planning.

This role requires strong technical judgment to enable fast, high-quality decisions, as well as the ability to align cross-functional stakeholders around a shared vision. You will be responsible for translating ambiguous research goals into executable roadmaps and ensuring that innovation moves efficiently from prototype to production.

• Leading, mentoring, and scaling a team of applied scientists and engineers
• Setting technical and execution strategy for generative media systems
• Driving rapid iteration while maintaining production-quality standards
• Partnering with product, engineering, and AI leadership to align priorities
• Communicating progress, risks, and strategy to senior stakeholders
• Fostering a culture of speed, ownership, and collaboration across cultures

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.

You are a seasoned technical leader who thrives at the intersection of applied research, engineering execution, and people leadership. You bring both strategic perspective and hands-on technical fluency, enabling you to guide complex ML work while empowering your team to move quickly and independently.

• Proven experience managing applied science or ML teams in production environments
• Strong technical background in machine learning, with exposure to generative models, computer vision, or media AI
• The ability to plan and execute under ambiguity with a strong bias toward action
• Excellent communication skills across disciplines, cultures, and seniority levels
• Ownership and a focus on speed without sacrificing quality
• A collaborative mindset and comfort operating in fast-growing, evolving organizations

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 customers 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 that  reshaping an industry and helping more people make home a reality.

Zillow is honored to be recognized among the best workplaces in the country. Zillow was named one of FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2025, and included on the…