Data Scientist

The Los Angeles Lakers, Inc • El Segundo, CA

10d • $100,000 - $115,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Data Scientist, Analytics Strategy is a member of the Analytics Strategy team in Basketball Operations. The role develops, tests, and maintains predictive models and metrics for player evaluation, roster construction, player development, and in-game strategy. The Data Scientist collaborates with Software Development to create visualizations and applications that make results accessible, and with Data Engineering on data onboarding and updates to models and metrics. The role also works with other Analytics Strategy Data Scientists to deliver predictive insights that support decision-making across Basketball Operations.

The position combines short-term, ad-hoc analysis with longer-term research and sustainable solutions. It involves working with internal stakeholders, evaluating new data sources, and translating analytical findings into basketball decisions and recommendations. Duties may change based on organizational needs and management direction.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent academic or professional experience.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in a data science or machine learning role.
• Proficiency in Python or an equivalent language for end-to-end model development.
• Experience with modern machine learning and deep learning techniques, such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyMC, to build robust models.
• Expertise analyzing and using large datasets, such as with PySpark or SQL.
• Willingness to work with geolocation tracking data and biomechanical data.
• Familiarity with distributed computing and cloud-first principles.
• Ability to write clean, efficient code; proficiency with version control and code modularization.
• Strong communication skills.
• Experience with version control, such as Git.
• Good judgment about appropriate roles and use cases for AI to augment data science workflows.
• Adaptability and eagerness to learn new technical skills.
• Knowledge of and passion for NBA basketball.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with time series or probabilistic forecasting.
• Experience with MLOps.
• Experience with GPU computing.

Responsibilities

• Use statistical analysis, machine learning, and predictive modeling to develop solutions for Basketball Operations.
• Develop production-level models from exploratory data analysis and problem framing through validation and deployment.
• Integrate research, basketball metrics, and models into new and existing applications; onboard and evaluate data vendors.
• Develop innovative ways to analyze and summarize data for internal stakeholders, including G League, Player Health, and NBA Draft stakeholders.
• Conduct ad-hoc work and long-term research, creating sustainable solutions in collaboration with Basketball Operations.
• Manipulate large datasets for analysis and modeling; source, process, and understand new datasets that may support evaluations.
• Translate data-driven results into actionable basketball decisions and recommendations.
• Collaborate with Software Development on data visualizations and applications, and with Data Engineering on data onboarding and model and metric updates.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level