Principal Data Scientist

TN United Kingdom; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 69,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Principal Data Scientist to join their innovative Content Discovery team. This role is pivotal in shaping personalized content experiences for millions of users. You will lead technical efforts to develop advanced recommender systems, collaborating across teams to influence technical direction and best practices. With a focus on data science and machine learning, you will have the opportunity to mentor others and contribute to a culture of excellence. If you're passionate about data-driven solutions and thrive in a collaborative environment, this role offers a unique chance to make a significant impact.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

25 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Discounts on dental and health care

Gym memberships

Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on experience in data science and machine learning.
• Strong Python skills and experience with recommender systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop data science products at scale and lead architecture design.
• Influence technical direction and share knowledge with teams.

Skills

Data Science

Machine Learning

Python

Communication Skills

Cross-team Collaboration

Education

Degree in Data Science or related field

Tools

MLOps

AWS

Job description

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Principal Data Scientist, Newcastle upon Tyne

Client: BBC

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Job Category: Other

EU work permit required: Yes

Job Reference: 08f917f8b40d

Job Views: 4

Posted: 02.05.2025

Expiry Date: 16.06.2025

Job Description

Package Description

Job Reference: 21742
Band: D
Salary: £69,000 - £79,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Salford, Glasgow, Newcastle, London. This is a hybrid role, and the successful candidate will balance office working with home working.

We’re happy to discuss flexible working. Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

Career Opportunities: The BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.

Training and Development: Our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.

Benefits: We offer a negotiable salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with options to buy extra days, a pension scheme, and discounts on dental, health care, and gym memberships. More info about working at the BBC can be found via our link.

If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, please contact the provided contact points. For general queries, please contact the specified contacts.

Job Introduction

The BBC has been serving audiences online for over 20 years, with products like BBC iPlayer, News, Sport, Weather, and Sounds, entertaining, educating, and informing millions daily.

We are shifting from traditional broadcasting to a user-centered service, creating personalized content and experiences. Data science is central to this transformation, powering recommendations and personalized experiences for our audiences.

We are seeking a Principal Data Scientist to join the Content Discovery (Recommendations) team. This role involves leading technical efforts in a cross-functional team to develop recommender systems that deliver relevant content at the right time and place, shaping the future of personalization at the BBC.

Interview Process

Two-stage process: a hiring manager introductory call, followed by a 1.5-hour panel interview with a technical presentation and competency questions.

Main Responsibilities

Develop data science products at scale, contribute hands-on coding, lead architecture design, implement research ideas, review code, and set best practices. Lead projects involving multiple teams and engage with stakeholders. Influence technical direction and culture, sharing knowledge and mentoring others.

Candidate Requirements

Essential: Extensive hands-on experience in data science and machine learning, strong Python skills, experience with recommender systems, proven track record in ML projects, excellent communication skills, effective cross-team collaboration.

Desirable: Experience with MLOps, cloud services (AWS), best practices in testing and deployment, mentorship experience. Applications are encouraged even if all criteria are not met.

About the BBC

The BBC values diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, offering flexible working and prioritizing redeployment for internal candidates. Our culture emphasizes our values and behaviors, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to reflecting our diverse audiences.