Zillow Cuts 91 Washington Jobs, Senior Roles Hit Hardest 2026

Key Points

• Zillow Group is cutting 91 jobs in Washington state as part of a broader reduction of just over 500 employees, or about 7% of its global workforce.
• The Washington layoffs are concentrated in senior positions, including directors, senior directors, principal-level staff, senior managers, and senior individual contributors.
• Product and engineering roles account for the largest share of the Washington job cuts, with senior product managers, software engineers, and UX researchers among the most affected.
• The reductions also include artificial intelligence and machine learning roles, such as machine learning engineers, applied scientists, research managers, and an annotation lead.
• A WARN notice states that some layoffs may involve the relocation or contracting out of operations or employee positions.
• Employees were notified on August 4 and are scheduled to be terminated on October 5, with pay and benefits continuing until then.
• The layoffs affect workers at Zillow’s Seattle headquarters and remote employees across Washington, while the company’s headquarters will remain open.
• Zillow said artificial intelligence was not the reason for the layoffs, describing the move as part of a broader organizational restructuring.
• This marks Zillow’s second round of workforce reductions in 2026 following approximately 200 performance-related job cuts in January.

Seattle (Evening Washington News) August 5, 2026 — Zillow Group is eliminating 91 jobs in Washington state as part of a company-wide restructuring that will cut just over 500 positions globally, representing roughly 7% of its workforce.

The reductions were disclosed in a WARN notice filed with the Washington State Employment Security Department and affect employees at the company’s Seattle headquarters as well as remote workers throughout the state.

Which jobs are being cut in Washington state?

The Washington layoffs are concentrated among experienced employees rather than entry-level staff.

Affected positions include directors, senior directors, principal-level employees, senior managers, and senior individual contributors across multiple business units.

Product and engineering teams account for the largest share of the reductions. The most affected positions include Senior Product Managers, Senior Software Development Engineers, Software Development Engineers, and Senior UX Researchers.

What did the WARN filing reveal?

The WARN notice states that some of the terminations may result from the relocation or contracting out of operations or employee positions.

Employees received notice on August 4 and are expected to remain employed until October 5, satisfying the required 60-day notification period. During that time, affected workers will continue receiving salary and benefits.

Employees who successfully transfer into another role within Zillow before the effective termination date will not lose their jobs.

How much of Zillow’s workforce is affected?

The restructuring eliminates just over 500 jobs worldwide, representing approximately 7% of Zillow’s global workforce.

The 91 Washington positions account for roughly one-fifth of the total reductions, reflecting the company’s distributed workforce under its remote-first “Cloud HQ” operating model.

Although Zillow remains headquartered in Seattle, many employees now work remotely across the United States.

Why is Zillow making the cuts?

Zillow said the restructuring is intended to better position the company for future growth by aligning employees with strategic priorities and improving organizational efficiency.

The company emphasized that artificial intelligence did not drive the layoffs and said the changes are designed to create a more efficient organization capable of making decisions more quickly.

The restructuring also comes as the company continues operating in a challenging housing market while maintaining a disciplined approach to costs.

What roles beyond engineering were included?

The reductions extend beyond software development and product management.

The Washington filing includes several artificial intelligence and machine learning positions, including a Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Senior Manager of Machine Learning Engineering, Senior Applied Scientist, Senior Manager of Research Science, and an Annotation Lead.

These reductions indicate that the restructuring affects research and advanced technical teams in addition to traditional engineering roles.

How does this fit Zillow’s recent workforce reductions?

This is Zillow’s second round of layoffs in 2026.

In January, the company eliminated approximately 200 positions through performance-related terminations tied to its annual review process.

Unlike those earlier cuts, the latest reductions are part of a broader organizational restructuring focused on efficiency, cost management, and long-term business priorities.

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What happens next for affected employees?

Washington employees affected by the layoffs will continue receiving pay and benefits until October 5.

Those who obtain and accept another position within Zillow before that date will remain employed.

The WARN filing also confirms that Zillow’s downtown Seattle headquarters will remain open, indicating the company is reducing headcount rather than closing operations in Washington.

Background

The latest workforce reductions come as Zillow continues adapting to a slower housing market, elevated mortgage rates, and changing conditions across the real estate technology industry.

At the same time, the company has continued investing in rental services and artificial intelligence while maintaining its remote-first Cloud HQ operating model established in 2020.

What could this mean for Washington workers?

For Washington employees, the layoffs reduce the number of senior-level technology positions in the Seattle area and may increase competition for experienced product, engineering, and research professionals seeking new roles.

For Zillow, the restructuring is intended to streamline operations and lower costs while supporting future growth, though it also results in the loss of experienced employees during a period of continued transformation in the real estate technology sector.