Principal Data Scientist - Marketing

ZipRecruiter; London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a high-impact data science team at a global marketing firm as a Principal Data Scientist. This senior role offers the opportunity to lead the development of machine learning solutions that transform business strategies for renowned clients. You will be a hands-on technical leader, guiding projects from ideation to delivery while mentoring junior talent. Collaborate with engineers and strategists in a dynamic environment focused on innovation and measurable impact. If you're ready to influence strategy while remaining close to the technical work, this role is for you.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience building and deploying DS/ML products in production.
• Strong Python and SQL skills with a deep understanding of ML lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, implementation, and deployment of advanced ML solutions.
• Serve as a technical mentor to mid-level and junior data scientists.

Skills

Python

SQL

AWS

Git

CI/CD

Machine Learning

Communication

Tools

MLflow

FastAPI

Airflow

Job description

Job Description

PRINCIPAL DATA SCIENTIST – HYBRID (London, 3 days a week)

£100,000–£125,000+ based on experience

THE COMPANY

Join a high-impact data science team at a global marketing and customer experience company. As a Principal Data Scientist, you’ll lead the development of end-to-end machine learning solutions that drive business transformation across household-name clients.

This role is ideal for a hands-on technical leader with the ability to shape strategy, influence stakeholders, and still get stuck into code. You’ll partner closely with engineers, strategists, and creatives in a genuinely cross-functional setting.

THE ROLE

As a Principal Data Scientist, you will:

• Lead the design, implementation, and deployment of advanced ML solutions across the full stack — from data engineering and modelling to cloud deployment (AWS)
• Scope and steer high-impact projects from ideation to delivery, aligning technical strategy with business objectives
• Serve as a technical mentor to mid-level and junior data scientists
• Represent the data science function in client conversations and cross-functional planning
• Maintain a high bar for clean, testable code and scalable, maintainable solutions
• Foster a culture of experimentation, velocity, and clear communication

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Must-Have:

• 5+ years of experience building and deploying DS/ML products in production
• Strong Python and SQL skills; deep understanding of ML lifecycle from prototyping to production
• Hands-on experience with AWS (or similar), Git, and CI/CD pipelines
• Strong track record leading technical delivery and collaborating with non-technical stakeholders
• Ability to balance high-level strategic thinking with hands-on implementation
• Excellent communicator, able to tailor messages for technical, creative, and client audiences

Nice-to-Have:

• Experience with marketing data, customer-level modelling, or decision science (e.g. uplift, attribution, causal AI, optimization)
• Familiarity with MLOps tooling (MLflow, FastAPI, Airflow, etc.)
• Experience designing and interpreting A/B tests or other experimental frameworks
• Background in consulting, agency, or fast-paced environments where autonomy and adaptability are key

WHY THIS ROLE IS DIFFERENT

This is a senior role with real breadth — not just a leadership position in name. You’ll be hands-on where it counts, shaping projects, mentoring talent, and collaborating across disciplines to create meaningful, measurable impact. Ideal for someone ready to step into a technical leadership role while staying close to the work.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested? Apply via the link on this page with your CV.