Provide technical leadership for the data science team, guiding junior and mid-level data scientists through best practices in experimentation, modeling, analytics, and data storytelling.
Identify, analyze, and deliver high-impact insights for ESPN personalization—including user behavior trends, recommendation system performance, and content engagement patterns—to influence product decisions.
Design and analyze large-scale A/B and multivariate experiments using rigorous statistical methods, power analysis, variance reduction techniques, and causal inference frameworks.
Lead the design of automated dashboards, visualizations, and decision-support tools, while partnering with Data Engineering to build durable, production-ready data pipelines and science workflows.
Own end-to-end delivery of complex data science initiatives by collaborating with Product, Engineering, Content Programming, and Executive stakeholders, translating technical findings into actionable recommendations.

7+ years of experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, or a related field
Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, or a relevant field or equivalent industry experience
Proven track record of delivering high-quality experimentation analyses and actionable insights that influenced product strategy
Deep expertise in statistical testing, causal inference, and experiment design (A/B testing, power analysis, sequential testing, etc.)
Strong proficiency in Python, SQL, and modern ML/statistics libraries (pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch/TensorFlow optional)
Experience working with large-scale datasets in distributed computing environments (Spark, Databricks, Snowflake, etc.)
Strong familiarity with data engineering best practices and building durable data science assets on top of production-grade data
Demonstrated success with dashboarding tools (Tableau, Looker, Mode) and crafting data stories for a variety of stakeholders
Experience applying automation and AI-driven tools to streamline workflows, improve standardization, and optimize productivity
Exceptional communication skills, especially in translating technical analyses into compelling stories for product managers and executives
Ability to lead projects with high ambiguity and cross-functional complexity.

A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package
Full range of medical benefits
Financial benefits

Lead Data Scientist

Key skills