Lead Research Data Scientist, Learning Frontiers

Google; New York (NY); On-site; USD 207,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Google Learning Frontiers seeks a Lead Research Data Scientist to bridge AI research and pedagogy-driven product experiences across surfaces like Gemini, Search, YouTube, and NotebookLM. You will identify educational intent, define user personas, and evaluate experiments testing pedagogical hypotheses.

This role balances rigorous analysis with creativity, guiding data strategy while navigating data gaps and ensuring alignment with product goals.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in statistics, data science, mathematics, physics, economics, OR related field.
• 8 years analytics experience with product/business problems OR 6 years with PhD.
• Experience defining measurement frameworks across cross-functional projects.

Responsibilities

• Analyze logs, frame strategic questions, conduct external research, and develop roadmaps.
• Lead the development of metrics and proxies to evaluate learning impact in live experiments on Gemini, Search, NotebookLM.
• Conduct data gathering, requirements specification, processing, deliverables, and presentations.
• Design longitudinal experiments and evaluate cross-product user journeys for education.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to team members.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Pedagogy/educational psychology

Communication skills

Data storytelling

Education

Master's degree in quantitative field

PhD in quantitative field

8+ years analytics experience or 6+ years with PhD

Job description

Lead Research Data Scientist, Learning Frontiers

Google – Mountain View, CA, USA; New York, NY, USA

Note: By applying to this position you will have an opportunity to share your preferred working location from the following: Mountain View, CA, USA; New York, NY, USA.

Minimum qualifications:

• Master's degree in Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Operations Research, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• 8 years of work experience using analytics to solve product or business problems, coding (e.g., Python, R, SQL), querying databases or statistical analysis, or 6 years of work experience with a PhD degree.
• Experience with cross-functional projects and defining measurement frameworks.

Preferred qualifications:

• PhD in a quantitative field with a focus on pedagogy or educational psychology.
• 10 years of work experience using analytics to solve product or business problems, coding (e.g., Python, R, SQL), querying databases or statistical analysis, or 8 years of work experience with a PhD degree.
• Experience measuring learning impact or efficacy in digital environments, beyond standard engagement metrics.
• Experience mentoring junior data scientists and guiding technical strategy for emerging product areas.
• Proven ability to navigate complex, fragmented data landscapes across multiple product surfaces (e.g., Search, YouTube, Gemini).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

About the job

The Learning Frontiers team drives educational impact by bridging foundational AI research with pedagogy-driven product experiences. We aim to graduate successful pedagogical prototypes into primary Google surfaces - such as Gemini, Search, YouTube, and NotebookLM - to support the learner’s journey. To evolve these approaches, we need to develop measures of successful learning, especially in situations when traditional engagement metrics (like clicks) may conflict with the desirable friction required for deep learning.

As a Data Scientist on the Learning Frontiers team, you will dive deep into our logs to identify educational intent, help define user personas, and evaluate experiments that test our pedagogical hypotheses. This role requires a balance of rigorous analysis and creative problem-solving as you help us navigate data gaps and build the "connective tissue" between our research goals and our product surfaces.

This is a unique chance to join our multidisciplinary team of Product Managers, Program Managers, User Experience, Learning Science specialists, and Engineers and work on cutting-edge AI capabilities, building new features from the ground up.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $207000 - $300000 (USD) + 20% bonus target + equity + benefits

Responsibilities

• Analyze logs directly, frame strategic questions, conduct external research, and develop roadmaps.
• Lead the development of metrics and proxies to evaluate the learning impact of AI in live experiments on Gemini, Search, and NotebookLM.
• Conduct analysis including data gathering, requirements specification, processing, deliverables, and presentations to solve non-routine problems.
• Design experiments for longitudinal analyses, and evaluate cross-product user journeys for educational purposes.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to team members.

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