Applied Researcher 1

eBay is a global commerce leader that connects millions of buyers and sellers around the world. They are seeking an Applied Researcher to build the next generation of query science products for eBay Search, tackling complex query processing challenges and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance the e-commerce search experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy end-to-end machine learning and NLP solutions that measurably improve query understanding, retrieval quality, and buyer experience on eBay
• Apply state-of-the-art techniques in NLP, Embedding Based Retrieval (EBR), semantic search, and LLMs to address core e-commerce search problems such as query rewriting, query annotation/classification, and query recovery
• Leverage large-scale user behavioral signals and eBay’s technical ecosystem to build practical, scalable models that drive improvements in search relevance and key business metrics
• Collaborate with partners across Search, Engineering, Product, and Analytics to define high-impact problems, validate scientific approaches through experimentation, and deliver robust features into production
• Champion standard scientific methodologies and best practices for experimentation, evaluation, and model governance, influencing how query understanding solutions are developed and measured across teams
• Share your work and learnings through internal tech talks, external publications, and participation in forums and conferences, helping to strengthen eBay’s reputation in applied research for e-commerce search

Skills

• PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Information Retrieval, or a related field (including recent graduates), or a Master's degree with 1–3 years of relevant industry experience focused on NLP or machine learning
• Hands-on experience applying one or more of the following to real-world, large-scale problems: classification, regression, NLP, clustering, deep learning/neural networks, reinforcement learning, or related machine learning techniques
• Strong background in machine learning, NLP, and search-related technologies, with a demonstrated ability to translate research ideas into effective, production-ready solutions
• Proficiency in Python and at least one of Java, Scala, or C/C++, along with experience using modern ML frameworks and tools
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a creative and experimental mindset for tackling complex, ambiguous challenges in query understanding
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences and to collaborate effectively across teams, locations, and time zones
• Familiarity with big data processing technologies (such as Hadoop, SQL, or Spark)

Benefits

• A target bonus
• Restricted stock units (as applicable)
• A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including RRSP eligibility, various paid time off benefits, such as PTO and parental leave)
• Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment
• If you have a need that requires accommodation, please contact us at [email protected]. We will make every effort to respond to your request for accommodation as soon as possible

Company Overview