Data Scientist

Samba • San Francisco, CA

2d • $150,000 - $185,000

About The Position

We are looking for a hands-on Data Scientist to own and deliver complex measurement science and modeling work at the core of our measurement and audience sciences products. The role requires a deep, first-principles understanding of data science and machine learning — not just the ability to apply libraries, but the ability to reason clearly about model behavior, articulate trade-offs between approaches, and make defensible methodological decisions under ambiguity. This is emphatically a coding role — you will spend the majority of your time writing production-quality Python, building and evaluating models on large-scale viewership and web data, and delivering end-to-end ML solutions. You will work closely with Data Engineering, Product, and go-to-market teams.

Requirements

• 5-7 years of professional data science experience — hands-on, delivery-focused, and measurable in shipped models and production systems
• Expert-level Python — clean, modular, testable, production-ready code is your standard, not your aspiration
• Advanced PySpark and Databricks — comfortable building and optimizing data pipelines and ML workflows on billion-row datasets
• Deep, first-principles command of statistics and ML — you can explain from the ground up how these models work and you apply this understanding to make better modeling decisions
• Solid grasp of experimental design — A/B testing, randomization, power analysis, and the conditions under which observational causal inference is appropriate
• Fluent in the full ML lifecycle: feature engineering, model evaluation, deployment pipelines, drift monitoring, and iterative improvement in production
• Hands-on experience with uplift modeling, synthetic control, difference-in-differences, or propensity-based approaches applied to advertising or media outcomes
• Strong ownership mindset — you drive projects independently and are comfortable owning your models from data exploration through production delivery, with minimal hand-holding.
• Clear communicator — able to translate statistical reasoning and model behavior into language that drives decisions with product, engineering, and leadership
• Experience with multi-touch attribution (MTA) or multi-channel attribution modeling — understanding of the limitations of rule-based approaches and the methodological trade-offs of data-driven alternatives
• Hands-on experience with Causal ML methods — counterfactual modeling, meta-learners, and heterogeneous treatment effect estimation — applied to advertising or media measurement outcomes
• Direct exposure to TV or digital viewership data — ACR signals, STB data, viewership panels, or cross-platform measurement (linear + CTV/OTT)
• Familiarity with the measurement t vendor landscape (Nielsen, Comscore, VideoAmp, iSpot) and industry standards (MRC, GRP/TRP frameworks)
• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field — or equivalent depth demonstrated through work

Responsibilities

• Write and own production-quality Python code end-to-end — well-structured, tested, documented, and built to last; PySpark proficiency is essential for working with Samba's billion-row viewership datasets
• Design, build, and deploy measurement models and statistical frameworks that power Samba’s campaign measurement, reach/frequency estimation, and cross-platform attribution products
• Apply the right statistical and ML technique to the right problem — drawing from hierarchical models, Bayesian inference, gradient boosting, regularized regression, causal ML, and probabilistic record linkage — and clearly articulate the reasoning behind your choices
• Build and evaluate multi-touch and multi-channel attribution models; apply Causal ML methods — counterfactual modeling, meta-learners (S-learner, T-learner, X-learner), and heterogeneous treatment effect estimation — to advertising and viewership measurement problems
• Partner with Data Engineering to define data requirements, validate pipelines, and ensure model inputs are reliable, scalable, and production-ready
• Lead technical design reviews and contribute meaningfully to architecture decisions across the Data Science team
• Mentor junior Data Scientists through code review, pairing, and structured technical feedback — raising the team's technical floor
• Communicate measurement methodologies and findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leadership and external clients

Benefits

• Samba provides health insurance, wellness offerings, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and paid time off (PTO), and other employee benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees