Principal Applied Scientist | Principal Applied Scientist

Job Summary

This senior role requires a Principal Applied Scientist to drive the scientific vision and execution for the high-stakes Bidding and Allocation engines within Zalando Marketing Services (ZMS). The core responsibility involves leading optimization efforts at the intersection of high-load low-latency Engineering, Auction Theory, and Mechanism Design. You will be instrumental in advancing real-time bidding algorithms, utilizing techniques such as Large Scale Bayesian Inference, Reinforcement Learning, and Multi-Objective Optimization to balance advertiser ROI with premium customer experience. Key requirements include at least 7 years of relevant experience in Ad Tech or Marketplaces, a proven research track record (evidenced by publications), and expert knowledge in productionalizing complex ML models under ultra-low latency constraints. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of a massive-scale ad tech system, processing tens of thousands of requests per second, while mentoring senior scientific talent and fostering technical excellence.