Lead Data Scientist - Recommender Systems

NBCUniversal; Brentford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global media and entertainment company seeks a Lead Data Scientist to develop innovative recommendation and personalisation solutions for its streaming service. The ideal candidate will have extensive machine learning experience and collaboration skills. This role offers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies in a dynamic team environment. Join us to make impactful contributions to content delivery and enhance user experience across platforms.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in machine learning in industry or research.
• Experience with commercial recommender systems or leading research in a recommender system.
• Proficient in Python; knowledge of Java or Scala is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop recommendation models using machine learning methodologies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance personalisation models.
• Drive innovation in methodologies and tools used by the team.

Skills

Machine learning

Data processing

Statistical analysis

Collaboration

Innovation

Education

Degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, or related field

Tools

TensorFlow

Google Cloud Platform

SQL

PySpark

Kubeflow

Airflow

Job description

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

Job Description

As part of the Peacock Data Science team, the Lead Data Scientist will be responsible for creating recommendation and personalisation solutions for one or more verticals of Peacock Video Streaming Service.

Collaborate with a global, cross-functional team of engineers, architects, product managers, and analysts to shape and advance Peacock’s personalisation models. You’ll drive the full lifecycle, from feature creation to model evaluation and deployment, while gaining the opportunity to innovate with cutting-edge machine learning foundation models and reinforcement learning techniques.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Work with a group of data scientists in the development of recommendation and personalisation models using statistical, machine learning and data mining methodologies.
• Drive the collection and manipulation of new data and the refinement of existing data sources.
• Translate complex problems and solutions to all levels of the organisation.
• Collaborate with software and data architects in building real-time and automated batch implementations of data science solutions and integrating them into the streaming service architecture.
• Drive innovation of the statistical and machine learning methodologies and tools used by the team.

Qualifications

• Degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Operations Research or another quantitative field or equivalent.
• 5+ years of combined experience in machine learning in industry or research.
• Experience with commercial recommender systems or a lead role in an advanced research recommender system project.
• Working experience with deep learning and graph methodologies in machine learning. Strong experience with deep learning using TensorFlow.
• Experience implementing scalable, distributed, and highly available systems using Google Could Platform.
• Experience with Google AI Platform/Vertex AI, Kubeflow and Airflow.
• Proficient in Python. Java or Scala is a plus.
• Experience in data processing using SQL and PySpark.
• Experience working with foundation models and other GenAI technologies.

Desired Characteristics

• Experience in media analytics and application of data science to the content streaming and TV industry.
• Good understanding of reinforcement learning algorithms.
• Team oriented and collaborative approach with a demonstrated aptitude and willingness to learn new methods and tools.

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [e-mail].