Lead Data Scientist, Sports

bet365; Manchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

bet365 is looking for a Lead Data Scientist to drive probabilistic models powering real-time betting markets. You will design, develop, and maintain mathematical models to price sports bets and leverage large datasets for in-play decisions using Python/R and ML frameworks.

The role requires mentoring, cross-functional collaboration, and scalability in production. The team partners with trading and software teams to ensure robust, data-driven solutions in a hybrid work environment, with

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in Mathematics, Data Science, CS, or related field.
• Experience leading design, development, and deployment of predictive models.
• Ability to leverage sports and online gambling knowledge to build impactful models.
• Expertise in Python or R and ML frameworks (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong background in statistical analysis and probability theory.
• Experience deploying highly accurate, scalable models in production.
• Mentoring junior colleagues and leading technical projects.
• Experience with cloud computing environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop probabilistic models powering real-time betting markets.
• Design, develop, and maintain mathematical models for pricing sports bets.
• Work with large datasets to develop models for in-play decisions.
• Apply state-of-the-art machine learning techniques to sports data.
• Collaborate with trading teams and software architects to align solutions.
• Mentor junior team members and lead technical projects.
• Ensure models are accurate, fast, and scalable in production.
• Conduct rigorous statistical validation against historical and live data.

Skills

Probability theory

Mathematics

Python

R

Machine learning

Leadership

Cloud computing

Mentoring

Sports betting domain knowledge

Education

Master’s or PhD in Mathematics/Data Science/CS

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

AWS

Job description

We’re one of the world’s leading online gambling companies, revolutionising the industry since 2000. Founded by Denise Coates CBE, we now employ over 10,000 people and serve over 120 million customers in 26 languages.

We empower our employees to push boundaries and explore new ideas, cultivating a culture that celebrates and rewards creativity. This offers employees a wealth of growth opportunities, giving them the opportunity to make a real impact in the world of online gambling. As a forward-thinking company, we’re breaking new ground in software innovation too, redefining what’s possible for our global worldwide.

Our focus on In-Play betting has solidified our market-leading position, featuring more than 1.38 million In-Play sporting events a year. With over 750 concurrent sporting fixtures at peak and more live sports streamed than anyone else in Europe (750,000), we handle over 6 million HTTP requests daily and process more than 1.5 million bets per hour at peak.

Job Description

As a Lead Data Scientist, you will spearhead the development of advanced probabilistic models that power real-time betting markets.

The Quantitative Analysis department harnesses data-driven insights to enhance our betting products and services. The team is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining sophisticated mathematical models to provide accurate pricing across our sports betting products.

In this role, you will work with extensive datasets develop models that determine odds and power in-play betting decisions while leveraging state-of-the-art machine learning techniques to analyse and interpret complex sports data. Our fast-paced, delivery-focused environment offers significant opportunities for technical growth and innovation.

This role is eligible for inclusion in the Company's hybrid working policy.

Qualifications

• Ability to leverage in-depth knowledge of sports and online gambling to develop relevant, impactful models aligned with business objectives.
• Master’s degree or PhD in Mathematics, Data Science, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Proven success in leading the design, development, and deployment of sophisticated predictive models.
• Expertise in Python/R and ML frameworks, such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch,
• Proven ability to design and implement complex machine learning solutions and guiding best practice.
• Deep understanding of statistical analysis and probability theory.
• Demonstrable experience overseeing the implementation of highly accurate, computationally efficient, and scalable models for large-scale production environments.
• Track record of mentoring junior colleagues and successfully leading technical projects.
• Experience with cloud computing environments for scalable solutions.

Additional Information

• Leading the development and implementation of innovative data solutions for complex challenges, solving problems without prescriptive approaches.
• Overseeing advanced analysis of large datasets to derive actionable insights aligned with business objectives.
• Developing predictive models and algorithms using statistical techniques and machine learning.
• Conducting and supervising rigorous statistical validation of models against historical and live data.
• Collaborating with trading teams to incorporate domain expertise into mathematical models.
• Partnering with software architects and developers to ensure alignment with technical solutions.
• Optimising model performance for both accuracy and computational efficiency.
• Researching and implementing novel approaches from academic literature and industry advancements.
• Mentoring less experienced team members, providing guidance, and conducting quality assurance to enhance overall team performance and capabilities.
• Identifying and defining new opportunities for data-driven insights.

At bet365, we're committed to creating an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected and valued. Where all individuals can grow and develop, regardless of their background. We're Never Ordinary, and we're always striving to be better. If you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please don’t hesitate to reach out.