Lead Data Scientist - Ad Platforms

Disney Entertainment; Glendale (CA); On-site; USD 158,000 - 212,000; Full time

Job summary

Disney Entertainment is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to join the AI/ML and data science team in Santa Monica and Glendale, CA. You will shape ML initiatives for ad decisioning, forecasting, experimentation, and user experience enhancements across Disney’s advertising platforms.

You will mentor peers, partner with product, engineering, and program management, and drive measurable impact while advancing generative AI and data-driven decisioning at scale.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CS or statistics or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years in data science at leading tech or internet firms.
• Experience creating ML datasets and evaluation processes.
• Interest in generative media, diffusion tech, and AI.
• Strong data science and statistics knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Drive innovation in ad tech with data science and statistics.
• Translate business questions into data science frameworks.
• Define and evaluate key metrics across product areas.
• Develop SOPs for labeling and human evaluations.
• Deliver data-driven insights to cross-team stakeholders.
• Design and analyze A/B tests for ML iterations.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and program managers.
• Mentor teammates and support their growth.

Skills

Data science

Statistics

SQL

Python

Java

R

Machine learning

A/B testing

Mentoring

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or statistics

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

Airflow

Databricks

Sagemaker

Data warehouse

Job description

Job Requirements

Technology is at the heart of Disney’s past, present, and future. Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology is a global organization of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, data scientists, and more – all working to build and advance the technological backbone for Disney’s media business globally.

The team marries technology with creativity to build world-class products, enhance storytelling, and drive velocity, innovation, and scalability for our businesses. We are Storytellers and Innovators. Creators and Builders. Entertainers and Engineers. We work with every part of The Walt Disney Company’s media portfolio to advance the technological foundation and consumer media touch points serving millions of people around the world.

Here are a few reasons why we think you’d love working here:

• Building the future of Disney’s media: Our Technologists are designing and building the products and platforms that will power our media, advertising, and distribution businesses for years to come.
• Reach, Scale & Impact: More than ever, Disney’s technology and products serve as a signature doorway for fans' connections with the company’s brands and stories. Disney+. Hulu. ESPN. ABC. ABC News…and many more. These products and brands – and the unmatched stories, storytellers, and events they carry – matter to millions of people globally.
• Innovation: We develop and implement groundbreaking products and techniques that shape industry norms, and solve complex and distinctive technical problems.

Ad Platforms is responsible for Disney’s industry-leading ad technology and products – driving advertising performance, innovation, and value in Disney’s sports, news, and entertainment content, across all media platforms.

Ad Platforms organization within Disney Entertainment and ESPN Technology is fully responsible for building, enhancing and maintaining the high-performance, distributed, microservice-based Advertising Platform across all of Disney online properties, including Hulu and ESPN+. We build and maintain proprietary technology, ranging from ad serving and ad delivery, campaign management, reporting as well as all the integrations internal and external that come with evolving and maintaining a best-in-class video advertising business. Ad Platforms is also exploring advertising creation and enhancement technology for which generative AI technology will play a crucial role.

The research/AI team is the dedicated AI/ML and data science arm of the Ad Platform organization. Its mission is to advance AI and machine learning capabilities across Ad Platform by delivering scalable, high impact AI/ML and data science solutions that enhance ad decisioning, forecasting, experimentation and ad experience. We are seeking a Lead Data Scientist to join this innovative team. This role is a critical leadership opportunity for a seasoned data science professional who thrives at the intersection of advanced analytics, machine learning, and business strategy. As a Lead Data Scientist, you will spearhead ML and data science initiatives that shape the future of advertising technology. You will be responsible for designing and executing ML and data science solutions that drive measurable impact across ad decisioning, forecasting, experimentation, and user experience optimizations.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Drive innovation and apply data science and statistical analysis in a variety of areas to enhance every aspect of advertising serving, including inventory forecasting, ad experience, ad pacing, pricing, targeting, advertising creation and enhancement, and efficient ad delivery.
• Translate business questions into data science framework; develop data analysis and data models for complex ad challenges with fast turnaround.
• Define and evaluate key metrics in various product areas.
• Develop Standard Operating Procedures for human-driven evaluations or labeling.
• Deliver data insights and provide data-driven recommendations to cross-team stakeholders.
• Design and analyze A/B tests for machine learning algorithm iterations.
• Establish strong partnership with stakeholders, including product managers, engineers and program managers, in a collaborative environment.
• Mentor team members and support their technical growth.

WHAT TO BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, statistics or equivalent experience
• At least 7 years of relevant industry experience in data science at leading internet or creative technology companies. Experience in the advertising domain is a strong bonus.
• Experience creating ML datasets and rigorous dataset labeling or evaluation processes for models.
• Strong interest to learn about generative mixed media, generative video, and diffusion-based technology.
• Solid knowledge of data science and statistics. Strong communication skills and business acumen.
• Proficient in SQL, Python, Java, or R. Familiar with Tableau, and/or other visualization tools.
• Experience designing and building machine learning models.
• Passionate about understanding the ad business, applying data science to relevant business scenarios, and seeking innovation opportunities to enhance business effectiveness.
• Experienced building data-driven services and applications for production.
• A proven track record of thriving in a fast-paced, data-driven, and collaborative work environment is required.

NICE-TO-HAVES

• MS or PhD (preferred) in computer science, statistics or equivalent experience.
• Experience in digital video advertising or digital marketing domain
• Experience in production-grade development, rapid prototyping, or generative AI related research using LLMs, generative imagery or video, or agentic flows. Otherwise a strong interest to learn.
• Experience with Airflow, data warehouse, Databricks or Sagemaker.

Disclaimer

PAY TRANSPARENCY

The hiring range for this position in Santa Monica & Glendale, CA is $158,100 to $211,900 per year and in Seattle, WA is $165,000 to $222,000. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

This position is with Disney Entertainment & Sports LLC, which is part of a business we call Disney Entertainment and ESPN Product & Technology.

Disney Entertainment & Sports LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS

The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, visit the Disney candidate disability accommodations FAQs (https://support.disneycareers.com/hc/en-us/sections/32131060143380-Candidate-Disability-Accommodations-FAQs) . We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.

Having technical issues? View the FAQs for help. (https://support.disneycareers.com/hc/en-us)

The Walt Disney Company is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.