Lead Data Scientist (User Growth)

TikTok; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 219,000 - 408,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

Parental leave

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Wellbeing benefits

Paid holidays

Paid sick days

Personal time

Job summary

TikTok in San Jose, CA is seeking a Lead Data Scientist for User Growth to partner with product analytics and data science teams in designing and tracking key metrics, running causal analyses, and supporting product decisions through modeling and experimentation.

The role focuses on designing and monitoring core metrics, leading A/B experiments, and building models (including LTV and ROI) to inform growth strategy.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a quantitative discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in statistical modeling and machine learning.
• 2+ years of experience leading a team.
• Ability to communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency in SQL and Python/R.

Responsibilities

• Apply analytical and statistical methods to address complex business problems across product and business lines.
• Build and improve statistical models, including LTV and ROI prediction, to support user growth decisions.
• Lead model-driven analyses to generate deeper insights across products and establish an inter-product analytic approach.
• Collaborate with Product, Operations, Engineering, and cross-functional partners to drive product development using analytic, statistical, and algorithmic expertise.
• Design, run, and analyze A/B experiments to inform and execute product strategy and support business decision-making.
• Design and monitor core metrics, and investigate root causes of metric changes through model-based deep dives.
• Use the causal structure of user behavior to identify trends and opportunities for user growth and a stronger ecosystem, guiding product team decisions.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Team leadership

Data analysis

SQL

Python/R

Education

Master’s degree in a quantitative discipline

Tools

SQL

Python

R

Job description

The Lead Data Scientist for User Growth will partner with product analytics and data science teams to design and track key metrics, run causal and model-driven analyses, and support product decisions through modeling and experimentation.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply analytical and statistical methods to address complex business problems across product and business lines.
• Build and improve statistical models, including LTV and ROI prediction, to support user growth decisions.
• Lead model-driven analyses to generate deeper insights across products and establish an inter-product analytic approach.
• Collaborate with Product, Operations, Engineering, and cross-functional partners to drive product development using analytic, statistical, and algorithmic expertise.
• Design, run, and analyze A/B experiments to inform and execute product strategy and support business decision-making.
• Design and monitor core metrics, and investigate root causes of metric changes through model-based deep dives.
• Use the causal structure of user behavior to identify trends and opportunities for user growth and a stronger ecosystem, guiding product team decisions.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a quantitative discipline (e.g., Statistics, Operations Research, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics).
• 5+ years of experience in statistical modeling (Regression, Classification, Clustering, etc.) and machine learning (including deep learning), with experience in user-level modeling.
• 2+ years of experience leading a team.
• Ability to conduct rigorous analysis and communicate findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency in SQL and Python/R.

Tools and Technologies

• SQL
• Python
• R

Compensation

The base salary range for this role in the selected city is $219,000 - $408,000 annually. Compensation may vary based on qualifications, skills, competencies, experience, and location. Base pay is part of the Total Package and the role may include additional discretionary bonuses/incentives and restricted stock units.

Benefits

• Day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) savings plan with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Life insurance
• Wellbeing benefits, among others
• 10 paid holidays per year
• 10 paid sick days per year
• 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure)

Location and Employment Details

• Location: San Jose, CA (onsite)
• Employment type: Regular
• Job code: A217255

Additional Information

Los Angeles County (Unincorporated) Fair Chance: Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. The company notes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship on certain job duties, potentially affecting a conditional offer of employment, including interacting with internal or external clients and/or colleagues with unsupervised contact, managing confidential information, and exercising sound judgment.

Accommodation: TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in its recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs, or other protected reasons under applicable laws. Candidates who need assistance or a reasonable accommodation can reach out at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request.