Principal Data Scientist

Columbia Sportswear Company; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with generous company match

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Extensive wellness programs

Employee discounts and generous paid time off

Job summary

Columbia Sportswear Company is seeking a Principal Data Scientist to join their Data & Analytics team based near Portland, Oregon. This hybrid role will entail designing scalable models, conducting data analyses, and implementing advanced analytics solutions to drive business performance across multiple domains.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 3 years of experience and a strong foundation in statistical programming, SQL, and machine learning. Competitive benefits include comprehensive health insurance, a 401(k) plan, and generous paid time off.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience as a Data Scientist, Statistician, or in a comparable role.
• Hands-on experience with structured and unstructured data.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work across functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and build scalable models for analytics workflows.
• Conduct data mining to uncover patterns and trends.
• Audit existing processes and implement machine-learning capabilities.

Skills

Data mining

Predictive modeling

Machine learning

Statistical programming (R, Python, SAS)

SQL

Data visualization (Power BI)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field

Graduate degree preferred

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Stack

Job description

Location: Hybrid role based out of headquarters near Portland, Oregon. Employees are expected to work onsite four days per week, with the possibility of adjustments based on business needs.

About the Position

The Principal Data Scientist is a member of the Data & Analytics (D&A) team within Columbia Sportswear’s Digital Technology group. This role supports the delivery of innovative analytical solutions to address strategic challenges and opportunities across the organization, with a focus on Direct-to-Consumer initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Design and build scalable models that leverage best‑in‑class statistical and machine‑learning techniques for integration into analytics workflows across the business.
• Collaborate with D&A teammates and business partners to translate business requirements into advanced analytics solutions.
• Conduct exploratory data analyses and data mining to uncover underlying patterns, trends, and behaviors, highlighting opportunities that drive improved business performance across brands, regions, and channels.
• Audit existing analytical processes and provide guidance on implementing advanced machine‑learning capabilities according to industry standards.
• Under minimal supervision, establish and execute plans to build, implement, and maintain predictive models using available tools and programming languages, managing the full project lifecycle.
• Collaborate with Data Engineers to validate source data and develop data pipelines that feed into machine‑learning workflows.
• Translate analytical findings and statistical models into business impact metrics and actionable recommendations.
• Drive best practices for applying and deploying Data Science at scale within the organization.

Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related quantitative field; a graduate degree is strongly preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of experience as a Data Scientist, Statistician, or in a comparable role.
• Hands‑on quantitative experience in data mining, predictive modeling, machine learning, and statistical programming with structured and unstructured data.
• Demonstrated capability in rapid prototyping and developing end‑to‑end solutions using complex algorithms.
• Broad understanding of core statistical and machine‑learning techniques.
• High proficiency in SQL and at least one statistical programming language (e.g., R, Python, SAS).
• Proficiency in data visualization tools; Power BI preferred.
• Experience with the Microsoft Stack is preferred.
• Strong communication skills—both written and verbal—with the ability to work across cross‑functional teams, including IT, and manage partner expectations.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with generous company match.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; disability and flexible spending accounts; health savings account.
• Voluntary benefits including accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity coverages.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing free, confidential 24/7 counseling services.
• Extensive wellness programs, employee discounts, and generous paid time off.
• Opportunity to attend and support company-owned outdoor events and initiatives.

EEO Statement

Columbia Sportswear Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Columbia Sportswear is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. For additional information, consult EEOC Guidelines and notify your recruiter if you require an accommodation during the application process.

Contact for Accommodations

If you need an accommodation or adjustment to successfully complete the application, please contact [e-mail] with the subject: "Applicant Assistance Requested."