Data Science Manager

KAYAK•Concord, MA

23h•$165,000 - $200,000

About The Position

KAYAK is seeking a Data Science Manager to lead its Concord-based data science team. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role responsible for experienced Data Scientists and applied Data Science across AdTech, auctions, and the company-wide shared experimentation platform. The manager sets technical direction, makes architecture decisions, and contributes directly to challenging modeling and experimentation problems. The role works closely with Product, Engineering, and business partners to align priorities and build scalable, measurable solutions that improve decision-making across KAYAK.

Requirements

Strong technical foundations in statistics, machine learning, software engineering, and systems design, with a track record of solving complex, real-world problems.
Demonstrated experience delivering impactful ML solutions in production environments, including understanding technical decisions, trade-offs, and business outcomes.
Meaningful people leadership experience, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and developing experienced technical talent while maintaining a high technical bar and contributing hands-on where it matters.
Ability to lead across organizational boundaries, build alignment, navigate competing priorities, and drive outcomes through collaboration rather than authority.
Strong ownership, judgment, and systems thinking, including the ability to navigate technical, cost, reliability, and risk trade-offs and influence senior stakeholders.
Fluency with AI-assisted workflows, using modern tools to improve productivity and quality while critically evaluating their outputs and limitations.
Curiosity, humility, and a collaborative mindset, with a commitment to continuous improvement and the ability to inspire it in others.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with technologies relevant to KAYAK’s stack, such as PyTorch, Polars, CometML, Arize, Docker, Airflow, Trino, and Git/GitHub.
Familiarity with Agile ways of working, such as sprint planning and team ceremonies.

Responsibilities

Own the strategy and roadmaps for AdTech/Auction and KAYAK’s shared Experimentation Platform, aligning priorities with business objectives and long-term technical direction.
Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of experienced Data Scientists based in Concord, fostering technical excellence, autonomy, and accountability.
Drive technical direction across modeling, experimentation, and ML solutions, providing guidance and contributing hands-on where it creates the greatest impact.
Evolve and simplify the Experimentation Platform, ensuring scalable shared capabilities and clear ownership boundaries between platform infrastructure and use-case-specific logic.
Turn business challenges into measurable outcomes by guiding the development, evaluation, and productionization of ML solutions that improve user experience and business performance.
Champion rigorous experimentation and data-driven decision-making, ensuring reliable results, actionable insights, and continuous improvement.
Collaborate across Data Science, Product, Engineering, and Operations, aligning stakeholders, managing dependencies, and driving complex initiatives from concept to production.

Benefits

Work from (almost) anywhere for up to 20 days per year.
Company-paid therapy sessions through SpringHealth.
Company-paid HeadSpace subscription.
Company-wide week off each year.
No-meeting Fridays.
Paid parental leave.
Generous paid vacation and time off for your birthday.
Paid volunteer time.
Development Dollars.
Leadership development.
Access to thousands of on-demand e-learnings.
Travel discounts.
Employee Resource Groups.
Competitive retirement and health plans.
Free lunch two days per week.
Quarterly events, such as boat trips, arcades, ski trips, and happy hours.
Health benefits, flexible spending account, retirement benefits, life insurance, paid time off, and parental leave benefits.