Applied Data Scientist III

Sphere Digital Recruitment Group; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSUs

Benefits

Job summary

A global ad tech business in the Bay Area is seeking an Applied Data Scientist III to design algorithms for auctions and pricing. The ideal candidate will have 5.5–7 years of experience in applied science, strong skills in Python and large-scale data systems, and a PhD in a relevant field. You'll own the model lifecycle and collaborate closely with engineering teams to directly influence real-time marketplace behavior. This full-time role offers a hybrid work environment with competitive salary and benefits.

Qualifications

• 5.5–7 years of applied science or algorithmic research experience with production deployment.
• Deep theoretical grounding in optimization and learning theory.
• A researcher’s mindset with a drive to ship production models.

Responsibilities

• Designing and building new algorithms for auctions and pricing.
• Applying online learning and reinforcement learning techniques.
• Partnering closely with engineering and product to ship models.

Skills

Applied science or algorithmic research experience

Strong coding experience in Python

Experience with large-scale data systems

Theoretical grounding in optimization and learning theory

Education

PhD in CS, Statistics, Mathematics, Operations Research, or Physics

Master’s with exceptional experience

Tools

Python

NumPy/SciPy

PyTorch/TensorFlow

Spark

Job description

Applied Data Scientist III - Global Ad Tech Business

Industry: Ad Technology / Machine Learning / Optimization

Location: Bay Area (Hybrid)

Salary: $160,000 - $220,000 + RSUs + Benefits

Base pay range: $160,000.00/yr - $220,000.00/yr

Company

Join a global ad tech business building one of the highest-scale ad exchanges in the world, processing tens of trillions of decisions every single day. This team is the algorithmic brain behind the exchange, powering auctions, pricing, fraud detection, and traffic shaping.

They're looking for a senior applied scientist who loves building original algorithms from scratch, thrives in fast experimentation cycles, and wants to work alongside world‑class scientists and engineers.

Why this company stands out:

• Operates at mind-blowing scale – true research‑grade challenges in production.
• A culture that supports both deep research and real‑world deployment.
• Opportunity to publish, innovate, and shape the future of programmatic advertising.

The Job

As the Applied Scientist III, your responsibilities will include:

• Designing and building new algorithms for auctions, pricing, pacing, bid shaping, and traffic allocation.
• Applying online learning, reinforcement learning, bandits, Bayesian modeling, and game theory to dynamic, adversarial environments.
• Running ultra‑fast, hours‑level experimentation cycles to prove ideas in production.
• Owning the entire model lifecycle – from research formulation through deployment and long‑term system impact.
• Partnering closely with engineering and product to ship models that directly influence real‑time marketplace behavior.
• Identifying unexplored problems and pioneering novel modeling approaches.
• Working with massive‑scale distributed systems such as Spark and big‑data pipelines.

You

You’ll be brilliant for this role if you have:

• 5.5–7 years of applied science or algorithmic research experience with production deployment.
• A PhD in CS, Statistics, Mathematics, Operations Research, Physics, or a Master’s with exceptional experience.
• Deep theoretical grounding in optimization, learning theory, probability, reinforcement learning, bandits, Bayesian methods, or game theory.
• Strong coding experience in Python and scientific computing libraries (NumPy/SciPy, PyTorch/TensorFlow).
• Experience working with large‑scale data systems (Spark, distributed computing).
• A researcher’s mindset paired with a drive to ship production models.
• Ad tech, marketplace, or dynamic pricing experience is great but not required.

Apply Now

You can apply for this role of Applied Scientist III now by sending us your CV or by calling us today! Don’t forget to register as a candidate too.

Christian Ramirez Senior Consultant / Sphere Digital Recruitment

Sphere is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications regardless of race, ethnic origin, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or any other protected status under applicable law.

If you require any adjustments or additional support during the recruitment process for any reason whatsoever, please let us know.

Seniority level

Entry level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Advertising

Industries

Advertising Services