Principal Data Scientist, Marketing Measurement
About The Position
Upstart is seeking a Principal Data Scientist, Marketing Measurement to join their Growth, Product, and Ops Analytics team. This role will partner with growth marketing to analyze and optimize marketing spend across various channels, including direct mail, paid search and social, video, mobile, email, brand campaigns, and lending partnerships. The primary responsibility is to determine the effectiveness of marketing dollars and guide future budget allocation based on data-driven insights. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in causal inference and marketing measurement, acting as a trusted advisor to marketing, finance, and product leaders. Upstart is a digital-first company with a flexible work environment, offering remote work options with occasional in-person team onsites.
Requirements
- 8+ years of experience in data science or a related quantitative role, with significant experience in measuring marketing or growth spend.
- Hands-on experience designing and analyzing incrementality tests.
- Solid grasp of causal inference beyond standard A/B testing.
- Working knowledge of marketing mix modeling and multi-touch attribution, including their limitations.
- Strong Python and SQL skills.
- A track record of measurement work that influenced marketing budget allocation.
- Clear communication with technical and non-technical audiences.
- Judgment to push back when evidence does not support a plan.
- Good judgment about when a result is solid enough to act on.
- Ability to work independently, scope projects, and drive them end-to-end in ambiguous situations.
Nice To Haves
- A PhD or master's degree in statistics, economics, computer science, or another quantitative field.
- Familiarity with AI tools that speed up analysis and reporting.
Responsibilities
- Guide incrementality measurement across marketing channels, working with analysts on test design and interpretation.
- Apply causal inference methods when clean tests are not feasible to ensure budget decisions are based on causal evidence.
- Build and maintain the attribution approach for various channels, including those where borrowers do not click.
- Translate measurement results into spend allocation recommendations for marketing and finance teams.
- Utilize marketing mix models alongside experiments and attribution, and reconcile discrepancies.
- Automate recurring measurement reporting to focus time on interpretation and recommendations.
- Mentor analysts and review their measurement work.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants.
- Retirement benefits (401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan) with a company match.
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options (US only).
- Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision).
- Health Savings Account contributions (US only).
- Income protection benefits (life insurance, disability coverage).
- Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays.
- Paid family and parental leave.
- Family-centered benefits for fertility, parenthood, and caregiving.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health support.
- Financial wellness resources (US only).
- Annual wellness allowance.
- Annual productivity allowance.
- Connection and community through team events and employee resource groups (ERGs).
- Onsite perks (catered lunches, stocked micro-kitchens) when working from an office.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
