great company to work. lively and fun culture, lots of people to learn from - Software Engineer Airbnb Employee Review

5.0
Dec 29, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I've been working at airbnb for a year as a software engineer. Top two things I like is how helpful people are. Instead of wasting 2 hours trying to figure it out on my own, if I get stuck, I ask for help, and people spend the time to both answer the question, and explain a bit more so I actually understand what's going on. Within my first few weeks, I was amazed at how much I learned, and now a year into the job, I feel very knowledgeable in my area, and pass on the favor by helping new hires. The second favorite thing about Airbnb is the people. I'm a new grad, and I really like the fun culture, a mix of people who are chill, but also those who like to go out and party a bit more. Nothing that crazy, probably doesnt compare to facebook's epic parties, but I'm more than happy. And it's a great crowd. Also, our office is amazing, just google for "airbnb custom spaces" to see pics. I love bringing people to the office because they always like it. In terms of the job itself, it's very reasonable, flexible hours, only occasionally work late when I choose to, supportive and helpful team. All in all, there's nothing that I really dislike about Airbnb.

Cons

I would definitely say the company has more focus on product development and growth, than on engineering quality. That means that currently the code base is a little messy, and there are times where you'll have to ask a few people before you find someone who understands the code well. However, this is definitely being worked on as we expand, and different components are being refactored or rewritten. Also, I feel that designers get too much say in the things that are built, occasionally at the expense of functionality.

Explore other reviews about Airbnb

5.0
Jun 25, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good time working there lots of cool people

Cons

overly-design-led, constant changing priorities based on whims from global leads

5.0
Jun 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Airbnb's mission of creating a world where anyone can belong anywhere strongly resonates with me. I'm excited by the opportunity to build products that operate at global scale and directly impact millions of users. My background in full-stack engineering, distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and AI-powered applications aligns well with Airbnb's focus on innovation, reliability, and exceptional user experiences. I am particularly attracted to Airbnb's engineering culture, emphasis on ownership, and commitment to solving complex technical challenges while delivering meaningful value to hosts, guests, and communities worldwide.

Cons

One challenge of working at Airbnb is the complexity that comes with operating a global platform at scale. Engineering teams must balance reliability, performance, compliance, and user experience across many markets and stakeholders. While this can make development and decision-making more complex, it is also one of the aspects that makes the work technically interesting and professionally rewarding.

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