Data Scientist – CLV & Next Best Action

PlayStation; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A global entertainment leader is seeking a motivated Data Scientist to join their dynamic team in Greater London. This role focuses on developing models to understand player engagement and retention. Candidates should possess strong analytical skills and proficiency in Python and SQL, along with experience in predictive modelling. The position offers opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work on high-impact projects using modern machine learning techniques. This is a hybrid work position with competitive benefits.

Benefits

Discretionary bonus opportunity

Hybrid Working

Private Medical Insurance

Dental Scheme

25 days holiday per year

On Site Gym

Subsidised Café

Free soft drinks

On site bar

Access to cycle garage and showers

Qualifications

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Practical experience with predictive modelling.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL, with fluency in data science libraries.

Responsibilities

• Build and validate models for use cases such as churn prediction and engagement.
• Work with sequential and behavioral data applying machine learning approaches.
• Communicate findings to both technical and non-technical partners.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Predictive modelling

Python

SQL

Machine learning

Deep learning

Education

Master’s in a technical or mathematical field

Tools

Data science libraries

Airflow

Tableau

Job description

Why PlayStation?

PlayStation isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Today, we’re recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®VR, PlayStation®Plus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.

PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team.

The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation.

Role Overview

Our Data Science Analytics and Enablement (DSAE) team inspires PlayStation to make impactful, customer-centric decisions through seamless integration of data.

Currently there are over 100 people in the global DSAE team, including data science, data governance and analytics professionals. We work closely with engineering and product management teams to deliver data products, insight, predictive analytics, and data visualisation.

Data Scientists in the DSAE team apply sophisticated analytical methods and tools to drive value from the data through methods such as customer segmentation, predictive modelling, forecasting and other algorithms. Our work delivers an in-depth understanding of consumer behaviours and supports multi-channel targeting and personalisation.

We’re seeking a motivated and collaborative Data Scientist to join our CLV & Next Best Action / Personalisation team, which builds models that help PlayStation understand and influence the value, growth, and engagement of our global player base.

By connecting player behaviours to long-term outcomes, our work creates the intelligence that underpins Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) modelling and guides PlayStation’s Next Best Action and Personalisation strategies. You’ll help shape how PlayStation invests in, retains, and delights its players - and advance our use of modern machine learning at global scale.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop your skills in modern machine learning while contributing to high-impact projects that directly influence how PlayStation engages and retains its players.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Build and validate models for use cases such as churn prediction, purchase propensity, CLV modelling, and personalised engagement.
• Work with sequential and behavioural data, applying machine learning approaches (e.g., gradient boosting, embeddings, sequence models) to capture player behaviour and growth.
• Partner with commercial, finance, and lifecycle teams to translate business needs into modelling hypotheses that inform engagement strategies.
• Collaborate with analytics and engineering colleagues to ensure models are efficient, robust, and scalable.
• Communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical partners, ensuring insights drive measurable outcomes.
• Grow your expertise in modern ML approaches (transformers, representation learning, sequence-to-sequence modelling) through high-visibility projects.

What we’re looking for

You’re curious, analytical, and eager to grow your skills in a commercial data science environment. You bring strong fundamentals in modelling and data manipulation, and you’re motivated by the challenge of applying these to impactful business problems.

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with a passion for understanding customer behaviour and enabling data-driven growth.
• Practical experience with predictive modelling, such as churn, propensity, segmentation, or value modelling.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL, with fluency in common data science libraries.
• Ability to work with large datasets to uncover actionable insights that influence marketing, engagement, or retention strategies.
• Interest or early experience in deep learning approaches — such as transformers, embeddings, or sequence models — with motivation to learn and apply them.
• A collaborative attitude, with the ability to work in cross-functional teams.
• A strong academic background (typically with a Master’s in a technical or mathematical field) or equivalent professional experience.

Nice to Have

• Experience with A/B testing or experimentation frameworks.
• Familiarity with workflow orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow), feature stores, or visualisation platforms (e.g., Tableau, Domo).
• Exposure to gaming, e-commerce, or subscription-based business models.
• Proven experience of analysing and modelling with “big data” technologies.
• A personal interest in gaming and entertainment.

Benefits

• Discretionary bonus opportunity
• Hybrid Working (within Flexmodes)
• Private Medical Insurance
• Dental Scheme
• 25 days holiday per year
• On Site Gym
• Subsidised Café
• Free soft drinks
• On site bar
• Access to cycle garage and showers

Equal Opportunity Statement

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.

PlayStation is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.