Director, Data Science

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Design and implement end-to-end complex data science, machine learning, and agentic AI systems, starting from foundational capabilities to production deployment.

• Personally create, validate, and deploy sophisticated predictive models and machine learning solutions that address key business and customer challenges.

• Establish enterprise-level best practices for AI/ML systems, covering experimentation, governance, model lifecycle management, observability, and responsible AI.

• Provide technical leadership and ownership in navigating ambiguous challenges, assisting the team in defining what to develop, its significance, and how success will be assessed.

• Set practical limitations for AI capabilities to ensure user expectations align with what can be consistently and reliably delivered with excellence.

• Collaborate with Product, Engineering, UX, and senior leadership to integrate Data Science efforts into the overall product strategy and roadmap.

• Clarify the Data Science mission across research, modeling, productization, and execution, ensuring focus on the highest-value priorities.

• Convert business needs, customer challenges, and product objectives into a clear Data Science agenda.

• Develop shared AI capabilities, frameworks, and standards that other teams can confidently utilize.

• Enhance collaboration, documentation, handoffs, and end-to-end testing among Data Science, Product, and Engineering teams.

• Ensure that AI and ML solutions are crafted with the end user in mind, considering how users will perceive, trust, and act on the results.

• Collaborate with software engineering and DevOps teams to implement models and AI capabilities in production environments.

• Track model performance over time, recalibrating, optimizing, and refining systems as necessary.

• Design and execute A/B testing and experimentation frameworks to assess model effectiveness, user impact, and business value.

• Enhance production readiness practices, including testing, documentation, monitoring, explainability, and performance measurement.

• Lead, manage, and mentor a small team of data scientists, overseeing their growth, performance, prioritization, and career development.

• Provide close technical guidance and management presence to ensure the team receives clear direction, coaching, and decision support.

• Minimize unnecessary coordination demands on individual contributors by establishing clearer ownership, decision-making rights, and operational rhythms.

• Set both technical and cultural direction for the team while influencing broader organizational capabilities.

• Mentor senior technical talent, raising standards for rigor, collaboration, communication, and delivery.

• Expand the team through recruitment, defining roles, enhancing the talent pool, and scaling the function as demand grows.

⛳️ Requirements

• 10 to 15 years of experience in data science, machine learning, AI systems, or a related field, showcasing technical leadership across various teams or initiatives.

• 3 to 5+ years of experience in leading and developing a data science, machine learning, or AI team, with a proven record of mentoring and growing senior technical talent.

• Recognized expertise in machine learning, AI systems, advanced analytics, or applied data science, with the capability to act as a technical authority for the organization.

• Demonstrated success in architecting and deploying machine learning models, AI capabilities, and data science solutions at scale in production.

• Experience collaborating across functions with Product, Engineering, UX, and senior leadership to align technical efforts with product outcomes and business strategy.

• Strong background in statistical analysis, predictive modeling, experimentation, A/B testing, and model evaluation.

• Experience in defining AI/ML guardrails, operating standards, documentation practices, and production readiness criteria.

• Proficient in Python and/or R, along with machine learning libraries such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar tools.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related field.

• Exceptional communication skills, capable of translating complex technical work into strategic insights, recommendations, trade-offs, and business impacts for senior stakeholders.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.

• 401(k) plan with employer match.

• Flexible Paid Time Off (FTO) allowing you to take the necessary time to rejuvenate.

• Volunteer Time Off (VTO) - take two days off each calendar year to volunteer with your chosen charitable organization.

• 5-year Service Milestone Sabbatical.

• Paid parental leave.

• Generous employee referral bonus program.

• Pet insurance.

• HQ Office conveniently located in Reston Town Center featuring a well-stocked kitchen with rotating snacks and beverages, plus catered lunch on Thursdays.

• Regular virtual company-wide events, including cooking classes, yoga, meditation, and more.

• An opportunity to learn and grow alongside some of the most talented minds in the industry!