Principal Data Scientist

Sky; Lombardia; Hybrid; EUR 47,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free Sky TV services

Sky Wifi & Sky Mobile employee rates

Private health insurance

Life and accident insurance

Meal vouchers

Job summary

Sky is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to drive data science initiatives across the business. You will apply advanced analytics to real‑world problems, develop and deploy ML models, and guide a team of junior data scientists in a fast‑paced, innovation‑driven environment.

The role offers hybrid working in Milan with up to 12 remote days per month, and a salary starting from €52,000 per year under CCNL, with a competitive package based on experience.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in a highly quantitative field or equivalent experience.
• At least 5 years of industry experience in data science.
• Fluent in data wrangling and preparation: EDA, profiling, cleansing, feature selection/engineering, supervised/unsupervised modelling.
• Proficiency in Python/SQL/R and ML libraries; deep learning APIs (Keras, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Use of Git for version control.
• Ability to translate business challenges into structured analytical approaches.
• Strong knowledge of statistical inference, experimental design, model validation and performance measurement.
• Strong written and verbal communication; fluent Italian and English.

Responsibilities

• Apply data workflow tasks: extraction, mining, preparation, quality control, KPI optimisation, modelling and insights.
• Develop and deploy machine/deep learning models across cross‑functional use cases.
• Lead design and delivery of complex data science initiatives; review solutions and partner with ML engineers.
• Mentor junior data scientists with code reviews and best‑practice sharing.
• Promote best practices in data science, experimentation, and ML across the team.
• Support problem framing, methodology selection and solution design for analytics projects.
• Identify opportunities where analytics drives measurable business value.

Skills

Python

SQL

R

Data wrangling

Feature engineering

ML/DL modelling

Git

Pandas/Numpy

Keras/TensorFlow/PyTorch

Dask

GCP/Kubernetes

Education

Master’s Degree or Ph.D in a quantitative field

Tools

Git

Pandas

Numpy

Scikit-learn

Dask

Keras

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Airflow

Kubernetes

Job description

About us

Sky is a tech media company that makes entertainment and connectivity a personal, simple, and limitless experience.

Our motto is We Believe in Better: we believe people deserve the very best, and every day we innovate to create value and make our customers’ lives easier.

As part of Sky Group and the Comcast family, we operate in an international environment driven by continuous innovation and supported by world‑class technology that enables us to reach millions of people every day.

With an IP‑first approach, we design cutting‑edge technology platforms, including Sky Stream, Sky Q, Sky Glass and NOW, integrating premium content, trusted and around‑the‑clock news coverage, and major sporting events into a simple and intuitive ecosystem.

We connect with audiences across the country through our free‑to‑air channels - TV8, Cielo and Sky TG24 - and go beyond entertainment with Sky Wifi and Sky Mobile, delivering ultra‑fast connectivity both at home and on the go.

This is how we bring the joy of a better experience, guided by our values:

• Creative. We are ambitious and innovative, embracing new technologies and leveraging insights to stay one step ahead while continuously raising the bar for our customers.
• Welcoming. We are inclusive, collaborative, and respectful, creating a strong sense of belonging.
• Simplifying. We focus on what truly matters, set clear priorities, bring clarity, and remove complexity.
• Do the right thing. We build a culture rooted in clarity, fairness, and trust through transparent processes and decisions that people can rely on.

Role: Princiapl Data Scientist

We’re looking for a passionate and talented Lead Data Scientist to join our team. In this role, you’ll have the chance to roll up your sleeves and apply data science methods and analytics to real‑world business situations across a variety of topics.

What you’ll do:

• Apply data workflow tasks as extraction, mining, preparation, quality control, KPI optimization, modelling, validation and business insight consideration.
• Apply advanced analytics techniques in a big data paradigm considering multiple data sources
• Develop and deploy machine/deep learning models applied to cross‑functional use cases to increase customer value or operational efficiency.
• Lead the technical design and delivery of complex data science initiatives, defining analytical and modelling approaches, ensuring methodological rigor, reviewing solutions developed by other data scientists, and partnering with machine learning engineers to deploy models into production.
• Mentor and coach junior data scientists through technical guidance, code reviews, modelling reviews, and best‑practice sharing.
• Define and promote best practices in data science, statistical modelling, experimentation, and machine learning across the team.
• Act as the technical reference point for the most complex analytical initiatives, supporting project teams in problem framing, methodology selection, and solution design.
• Identify opportunities where advanced analytics and AI can generate measurable business value and drive strategic decisions.

Your Profile:

• A Master’s Degree or Ph.D in a highly quantitative field (Statistics, Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science, etc.) or equivalent experience
• At least 5 years of industry experience in data science
• Fluent in data wrangling and preparation: exploratory analysis, profiling & cleansing, feature selection, feature engineering, supervised, unsupervised and semi‑supervised modelling techniques.
• Strong working knowledge on programming languages such as Python, SQL, R, common data science libraries (Pandas, Numpy, Scikit‑learn, Dask, etc.) and at least one of the deep learning oriented APIs (Keras, TensorFlow, PyTorch)
• Use of version control systems (like git)
• Demonstrated ability to translate loosely defined business challenges into structured analytical approaches and actionable solutions.
• Strong knowledge of statistical inference, experimental design, model validation, and performance measurement.
• Proven ability to lead the technical direction of complex data science projects and influence decisions across cross‑functional teams.
• Experience reviewing code and analytical methodologies, ensuring high standards of quality and reproducibility.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in both Italian and English is mandatory.

Nice to Have:

• Demonstrable working experience and theoretical deep knowledge of state‑of‑the‑art models and methodologies for Natural Language Processing and Computer Vision is also a big plus
• Experience with GCP resources, object‑oriented programming and is a plus
• Working knowledge of MLOps tools (Airflow, Kubernetes) and visualization tools (like Tableau) is a plus
• Experience collaborating with software engineering and platform teams to productionize machine learning solutions.
• Familiarity with digital marketing or advertising is a plus

What we offer:

For Employees Covered by the Private Radio and Television Collective Labour Agreement (CCNL), the salary starts from: €52.000

Contract type: Permanent

The actual compensation package will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and specific skills.The role is also eligible for the annual incentive scheme.

• Free access to Sky’s TV services through Sky Q or Sky Stream
• Sky Wifi and Sky Mobile at exclusive employee rates
• Private health insurance, extendable to family members and cohabiting partners
• Life and accident insurance coverage
• Complimentary access to the company gym (Milan office only)
• Financial support for new parents and caregivers
• Free tax return assistance
• Meal vouchers

These benefits are complemented by initiatives focused on mental, physical and financial wellbeing, summer camps and language courses for employees’ children, as well as a wide range of exclusive discounts and special offers.

Hybrid Working

Hybrid working that truly works. Depending on your role, you can benefit from up to 12 days of remote working per month, giving you the flexibility to focus without distractions. When you’re in the office, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate, co‑create and make decisions in unique spaces designed to help you perform at your best.

Our Milan hub is located in Rogoredo, in the Santa Giulia district, just a few minutes’ walk from Milano Rogoredo Station (M3 Rogoredo FS, regional and high‑speed rail services, and the suburban railway network). The area is also well served by bus connections. The campus is easily accessible by car and motorcycle, thanks to its convenient links to the city’s main transport routes.

At Sky Campus, you’ll find two cafés, a company restaurant, the Sky Cinema, and a variety of collaborative spaces dedicated to innovation and the sharing of ideas. The surrounding area also offers additional cafés, restaurants, supermarkets and a wide range of amenities.

Learning & Development:

At Sky, we invest in your growth. We believe that internal mobility is a powerful driver of professional development and offer opportunities to explore new roles and career paths within the company.

Through Sky Learn, our learning platform, you will have access to continuous learning opportunities, digital content, and upskilling and reskilling programmes designed to help you grow, evolve, and build your future career.

Social Impact & Inclusion

At Sky, we believe in people. We are committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively support wellbeing and ensure equal opportunities for all, including people with disabilities and those protected under applicable legislation.

As part of this commitment, we host employee networks such as Body&Mind, LGBTQ+, Women@Sky, and Parents&Carers. These voluntary communities bring colleagues together to share experiences and promote initiatives focused on wellbeing, inclusion, and female empowerment.

Every day, we work to create a positive and lasting impact on the communities around us through Sky Cares volunteering initiatives, Sky Up digital education programmes, and the immersive company visit experiences offered by the Academy Studios.

Sky is committed to attracting and supporting talent in all its forms. All applications, including those from candidates belonging to protected categories under Italian Law 68/99, will be considered in line with our principles of equal opportunity and inclusion, without discrimination of any kind. Sky Italia is committed to ensuring a fair, inclusive and non‑discriminatory recruitment process.

In line with this commitment and with Legislative Decree 96/2026, Sky Italia does not request or collect information regarding candidates’ previous compensation or employment classification, either during interviews or through direct contact and/or third parties involved in the recruitment process.