Staff Software Engineer

About the role

You will design and build AI-driven chat interfaces for Agoda's AI Assistant, focusing on trip planning, discovery, customer support, and recommendation systems. This role involves collaborating with data scientists, product managers, and engineers to create personalized, intuitive travel experiences for a global user base. You will own the end-to-end technical strategy for the conversational UI layer, ensuring that AI features are performant, reliable, and aligned with user needs at scale. The position requires a balance of hands-on implementation and architectural oversight as you translate complex requirements into robust, production-ready solutions. You will set the technical direction for front-end platforms, guiding how AI capabilities are integrated into the user journey. This role demands comfort with ambiguity and the ability to lead through design and technical excellence. You will mentor engineers across the stack, elevating the standard for code quality and system thinking. Success in this role will be measured by the scalability, usability, and reliability of the AI features you help deliver.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead the architecture and system design for next-generation front-end platforms, defining patterns that balance innovation with operational stability.
• Improve core web vitals, accessibility, and overall system performance to ensure AI features load quickly and remain usable across devices and network conditions.
• Act as a technical mentor and subject matter expert for the front-end engineering team, elevating the capabilities of peers through code reviews, design discussions, and knowledge sharing.
• Influence product and business stakeholders through technical strategy, translating complex system constraints into clear trade-offs and actionable recommendations.
• Establish standards for scalability, privacy, and responsible AI implementation, ensuring that chat features comply with best practices and regulatory expectations.
• Design and implement reusable UI components that enable rapid experimentation while maintaining consistency across the Agoda product suite.
• Collaborate closely with data scientists to optimize AI model outputs for the front-end, focusing on response quality, latency, and user trust.
• Build integration layers that connect conversational interfaces with booking systems, inventory APIs, and personalization services.
• Drive the adoption of modern development workflows, including automated testing, CI/CD, and observability, to reduce risk and accelerate delivery.
• Champion accessibility and internationalization, ensuring that AI-driven travel assistance works for users across languages, devices, and regions.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in building and leading large-scale web applications, with multiple products shipped over several years.
• Mastery of JavaScript and TypeScript, including deep understanding of language features, tooling, and runtime behavior.
• Deep expertise in modern frameworks such as React, Next, or Vue, with a strong grasp of component design and state management.
• Proven track record of developing high-performance SPA and SSR front-end systems that meet real-world traffic and business demands.
• Demonstrated ability in team leadership, system architecture, and stakeholder management, with experience guiding decisions through technical reasoning.
• Experience shipping production AI features or complex client-side applications that integrate with backend services.
• Strong understanding of web performance, security, and privacy principles, including how they apply to AI-powered user interactions.
• Comfort working in fast-paced, cross-functional environments where requirements evolve based on user feedback and business needs.

Nice to have

• Experience with A/B experimentation frameworks, enabling data-driven decisions for AI feature improvements.
• Background in travel or e-commerce industries, with familiarity with booking flows, search, and itinerary management concepts.
• Experience working in international, cross-cultural environments, collaborating effectively with globally distributed teams.

Practical notes

• Work is conducted in English; no Thai language skills are required for the role.
• Relocation package provided including flights, moving assistance, and temporary housing for you and your family.
• Visa support and spousal/partner adaptation assistance included as part of the onboarding process.
• Benefits include international healthcare, learning and development budget, and access to internal tech communities.
• Review the Agoda hiring process guidelines at careersatagoda.com/interview/ prior to applying to ensure a smooth application experience.
• The role follows a hybrid work model, balancing remote flexibility with in-person collaboration at our Bangkok office.
• Candidates are expected to be available for interviews during standard business hours, with scheduling support provided where possible.
• This position reports to the engineering organization in Bangkok and participates in global engineering practices to ensure alignment with company-wide goals.

Agoda.com is an online travel agency that facilitates reservations for lodging, flights, ground transportation, and activities. It is a subsidiary of Booking Holdings.