Principal Data Scientist

Aristocrat Leisure; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Health and wellbeing benefits

Paid time off

Retirement plans

Insurance coverage

Job summary

Aristocrat Leisure is hiring a Principal Data Scientist in London. You will lead end-to-end data science initiatives, delivering ML and reinforcement learning solutions to boost player engagement, retention, monetization, and operational outcomes.

You will define evaluation frameworks and partner with game teams to translate analytics into product actions. You will set engineering standards for model validation, drive scalable experiments, and work with Data Engineering, MLOps, and Game Tech to

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Physics, Mathematics, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of professional data science experience with at least 3 ML products from problem definition to production.
• Proficient in clustering, predictive modeling, reinforcement learning, and Bayesian statistics.
• Hands-on software engineering, MLOps, and deploying ML models at scale.
• Proficient in SQL, Python; familiarity with Kafka, Spark and cloud platforms (GCP/AWS/Azure).
• Experience in gaming/digital entertainment is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end data science initiatives from framing to impact measurement.
• Build and deploy ML and RL solutions to improve engagement and monetization.
• Define modeling framework for complex systems with proper evaluation and monitoring.
• Partner with game teams to translate analytics into actionable product actions.
• Set engineering standards for model validation, reproducibility, and bias checks.
• Drive scalable experimentation with A/B tests and bandit methods.
• Collaborate with Data Engineering, MLOps, and Game Tech for robust data foundations.
• Develop internal data products like AB-test calculators and decision tools.
• Provide technical leadership through code reviews, mentoring, and coaching.
• Communicate insights to senior leadership to influence business decisions.

Skills

Clustering

Predictive modeling

Reinforcement learning

Bayesian statistics

Software engineering

MLOps

Model deployment at scale

SQL

Python

Education

PhD or MSc in Data Science/CS/Statistics/Physics/Mathematics or related field

Tools

Kafka

Spark

GCP

AWS

Azure

Job description

Principal Data Scientist# Careers at Aristocrat## Principal Data ScientistApply: Hybrid: London, United Kingdom: Full time: Posted Today: R0020855Are you ready to join a world-class team and make a significant impact on the gaming industry? At Aristocrat, we aim to bring happiness to life through the power of play. We seek a Principal Data Scientist to help us reach our ambitious goals. You will have a vital role in enhancing gameplay, boosting player engagement, and improving business outcomes with your advanced data expertise. This opportunity allows you to work on innovative projects, collaborate with diverse teams, and guide critical initiatives that will develop the future of our leading games.## What You'll Do* Lead high-impact data science initiatives end-to-end, including problem framing, methodology selection, experiment development, implementation partnership, and impact measurement.* Build and deliver machine learning and reinforcement learning solutions to improve player engagement, retention, monetization, and operational outcomes.* Lead the modeling framework for complex systems, guaranteeing comprehensive evaluation and monitoring of causal inference, uplift modeling, sequential decisioning, bandits/reinforcement learning, and forecasting.* Partner with game teams to define success metrics, guardrails, and decision frameworks, translating analytical results into actionable product and operational actions.* Define and uphold engineering standards and guidelines for model development, including validation, uncertainty, reproducibility, and bias/quality checks.* Drive scalable experimentation with A/B and Multi-armed bandit testing frameworks, power analysis, variance reduction, and online-offline alignment.* Work together with Data Engineering, MLOps, and Game Tech teams to guarantee dependable data foundations, feature accessibility, and model deployment pathways.* Build internal data products to improve the speed and quality of decision-making, such as AB-test calculators, decision tools, and automated insights.* Provide technical leadership through building and code reviews, mentoring, and coaching, improving the standard of data science craft across the organization.* Serve as a reliable collaborator throughout the organization, promoting data-informed decision-making and enabling business units to embrace data products.* Translate complex analytical insights into actionable recommendations, presenting them to senior leadership to inform critical business decisions and encourage collaborators.## What We Are Seeking* Education: PhD or MSc in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Physics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent experience in practice.* Experience: 5+ years of professional data science experience. You have delivered at least 3 data or ML products from problem definition to production deployment and monitoring.* Demonstrated proficiency in clustering, predictive modeling, reinforcement learning, and Bayesian statistics.* Hands-on experience in software engineering, MLOps, and deploying machine learning models at scale.* Proficiency in SQL, Python, and familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Kafka, Spark) and/or cloud platforms (e.g., GCP, AWS, or Azure).* Industry knowledge: Experience in gaming or digital entertainment is a strong plus.*This job description may have been reviewed and enhanced using AI-assisted tools to improve clarity, consistency, and inclusivity. All final content, role requirements and hiring decisions remain subject to human review and approval by Aristocrat.*# **Compensation Philosophy**We offer a comprehensive pay and benefits package designed to stay competitive in the market, support your wellbeing, and recognise your contribution to our success. Our approach is underpinned by a pay-for-performance belief in rewarding individual impact. Your specific compensation package will be determined by factors such as your skills, experience, qualifications, and location.Depending on your role and location, you may be eligible for annual bonuses and incentives, health and wellbeing benefits, paid time off, retirement plans, insurance coverage, and other local or statutory benefits.Specific details about compensation and benefits for this position will be discussed during the recruitment process.### About AristocratAristocrat Leisure Limited (Aristocrat) is a global entertainment and content creation company powered by technology to deliver world-leading casino and mobile games. Listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Aristocrat (ASX code: ALL) is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with over 7300 employees working in more than 20 locations across the globe. Aristocrat offers a diverse range of products and services including electronic gaming machines, casino management systems, mobile games and online real money games, including iLottery.Aristocrat has seven corporate functions and three reporting segments that span regulated land-based gaming (Aristocrat Gaming), social casino (Product Madness) and regulated online real money gaming (Aristocrat Interactive). Our game and product portfolios collectively entertain millions of players worldwide every day.Across our global enterprise, Aristocrat aims to create long-term sustainable value for all stakeholders by upholding our core values and producing the world’s best gaming content. Our people-first mindset prioritises the safety and wellbeing of our people. We have ambitions to be an industry leader in responsible gameplay and we invest in employees’ development and offer career pathways, so they have what they need to do their best work at Aristocrat.Our values of Talent Unleashed, All About the Player, Collective Brilliance and Good Business, Good Citizen guide and inspire us every day. We are excited about the future of Aristocrat and united by our mission and we invite everyone to join us as we *bring joy to life through the power of play*!### Employment Equality StatementAristocrat Leisure Limited or its affiliates worldwide provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to any protected characteristic, such as race, color, sex, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetic characteristic, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by local, state/provincial or federal law.If you need assistance or accommodation applying for a position, please reach out to [e-mail].