Lead Data Scientist, Ad Research

Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to guide ML and analytics initiatives within the Ad Platform team. This onsite role in Seattle focuses on ad decisioning, forecasting, experimentation, and generative AI enabled ad creation and enhancement, with leadership responsibilities across the data science function. The position carries a salary range of USD 155,700 to 208,700 per year and requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science or statistics with at least seven years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead innovation and apply data science and statistical analysis to improve all aspects of ad serving, including inventory forecasting, ad experience, pacing, pricing, targeting, ad creation and enhancement, and delivery efficiency.
• Translate business questions into data science frameworks; develop analyses and models for complex ad challenges with rapid turnaround.
• Create rigorous evaluation pipelines for generative AI technologies, covering image and video generation as well as LLM-based agentic generations.
• Define and evaluate core metrics across multiple product areas.
• Collaborate with generative AI specialists to support dataset creation for AI modeling applications.
• Develop standard operating procedures for human-driven evaluations and labeling.
• Deliver data insights and data-driven recommendations to cross-team stakeholders.
• Design and analyze A/B tests to iterate machine learning algorithms.
• Foster strong partnerships with product managers, engineers, and program managers in a collaborative environment.
• Mentor team members and support their technical growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, statistics, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum seven years of relevant industry data science experience at leading internet or creative technology companies; ad domain experience is a strong bonus.
• Experience building ML datasets and implementing rigorous labeling or evaluation workflows.
• Strong interest in generative media, including mixed media, video, and diffusion-based technologies.
• Solid knowledge of data science and statistics; strong communication skills and business acumen.
• Proficiency in SQL and one of Python, Java, or R; familiarity with Tableau or other visualization tools.
• Experience designing and deploying machine learning models.
• Passion for understanding the ad business and applying data science to drive innovation and effectiveness.
• Interest in rapid prototyping, generative AI, and creative technologies with applications to ad creation and enhancement.
• Experience delivering production-grade data-driven services and applications.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, data-driven, and collaborative environment.

Technologies

• SQL
• Python
• Java
• R
• Tableau
• Airflow
• Databricks
• Sagemaker

Benefits

• Medical, financial, and other benefits
• Bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package

NICE-TO-HAVES

• MS or PhD in computer science, statistics or equivalent experience
• Experience in digital video advertising or digital marketing domain
• Experience in production-grade development, rapid prototyping, or generative AI related research using LLMs, generative imagery or video, or agentic flows; otherwise a strong interest to learn
• Experience with Airflow, data warehouse, Databricks or Sagemaker