Senior Data Scientist, Hockey Operations

The Florida Panthers offer a role for a Senior Data Scientist on the Hockey Operations – Research & Development team in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on site. You will build and deploy models, metrics, and tools to inform decision-making and communicate insights to stakeholders at all levels. This position reports to the Director of Research and Development and contributes to data-driven competitive decision-making.

Benefits

• Onsite opportunity in Fort Lauderdale with a data‑driven, collaborative hockey operations culture
• Chance to build, deploy, and refine analytical tools, metrics, and models that directly inform decision‑making
• Develop and present visualizations and reports that convey key ideas to both technical and non‑technical audiences
• Engage with coaches, scouts, and Hockey Operations leadership to discuss projects, priorities, and deliverables
• Mentor and support the professional development of junior analysts through feedback and guidance
• Collaborate with analysts and engineers to deliver production‑ready data products in a timely manner
• Join a learning culture that emphasizes curiosity and ongoing advancement in hockey analytics research

Responsibilities

• Build, maintain, and enhance analytical tools, metrics, and models to support Hockey Operations initiatives and decision‑making
• Create data visualizations and reports that communicate key findings and recommendations in an accessible way for both technical and non‑technical audiences
• Represent R&D in discussions about new projects, priorities, and analytical deliverables with coaches, scouts, and Hockey Operations decision‑makers
• Mentor junior analysts, provide feedback, conduct code reviews, and offer guidance as needed
• Collaborate with analysts and engineers to ensure production‑ready data products are available to decision‑makers in a timely manner
• Continuously evolve the organization’s analytical capabilities and practices to stay at the cutting edge of hockey analytics research

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related technical field required; advanced degree preferred
• Minimum 3–5 years of professional experience in an analytical role, ideally within sports or a data‑intensive industry
• Prior experience in hockey analytics, sports R&D, or with NHL data sources preferred
• Expertise in production‑grade predictive modeling, machine learning, and statistical methods
• Working knowledge of cloud computing, storage, and data warehousing platforms
• Strong proficiency in SQL and Python for analytical modeling, data manipulation, and pipeline development
• Knowledge of hockey analytics, NHL data sources, and modern hockey evaluation concepts; familiarity with multipoint skeletal tracking or spatiotemporal sports data is a plus
• Strong communication skills able to deliver findings clearly to Hockey Operations staff
• Creative mindset, intellectual curiosity, and a desire to operate in a learning culture

Technologies

• SQL
• Python

Organization Overview

The Florida Panthers enter their 33rd season in 2026-27 as a premier NHL franchise. Following back‑to‑back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025, the team has a track record of postseason success. The Panthers operate four facilities in Broward County, Florida, and are led by President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Bill Zito and President of Business Operations Michael White. The organization emphasizes community engagement through programs like Heroes Among Us, which honors veterans at every game, and a Foundation focused on veterans’ affairs and children’s health and education, reflecting a culture of service and learning.