Senior Data Scientist

Harnham; San Mateo (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Harnham is seeking a Senior Data Scientist for forecasting, causal inference, and commercial modelling. You will influence long-term value, platform economics, and investment decisions by partnering with Finance, Strategy, and Product teams.

This is a hands-on, senior-role focusing on translating complex analytics into actionable business outcomes. The position offers a flexible hybrid model with monthly team meetups in the San Mateo area and a base salary in the 170k–220k range plus bonus.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in data science, econometrics, statistical modelling, or advanced commercial analytics.
• Forecasting expertise with at least one of causal inference or optimization.
• Experience developing models that influence commercial, financial, product, or investment decisions.
• Proficient in Python and SQL with experience in modern statistical modelling tools.
• Ability to translate ambiguous business problems into actionable analytical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop advanced forecasting models to understand long-term customer value and commercial performance.
• Apply causal inference and incrementality measurement to evaluate product launches and investments.
• Build optimization and scenario-planning models for strategic decisions and long-range planning.
• Own data science projects end-to-end from scoping to delivery and adoption.
• Collaborate with Finance, Strategy, and Product to translate commercial challenges into measurable solutions.
• Communicate complex findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Mentor other data scientists while staying hands-on with technical delivery.

Skills

Forecasting

Causal inference

Optimization

Python

SQL

Statistical modelling

Data science

Stakeholder management

Education

Master's or PhD in Statistics, Economics, Mathematics, OR related field

Tools

PySpark

SQL

Job description

Senior Data Scientist – Forecasting, Causal Inference & Commercial Modelling

Location: San Mateo, CA

Working Model: Flexible Hybrid (Approximately Monthly Team Meetups)

Salary: $170K–$220K Base Bonus

About the Opportunity

Harnham is partnering with a global leader in gaming and interactive entertainment to hire a Senior Data Scientist for a highly visible team focused on customer value, platform economics, and strategic investment decisions.

This is an exciting opportunity to apply advanced statistical modelling, forecasting, causal inference, and optimization techniques to complex commercial challenges impacting millions of users worldwide.

Working closely with senior stakeholders across Finance, Strategy, and Product, you will play a key role in understanding long-term customer value, measuring the incremental impact of business initiatives, and informing major investment and portfolio decisions.

This position is ideal for a commercially minded, hands-on Data Scientist who enjoys solving ambiguous business problems and translating sophisticated analytical approaches into actionable recommendations.

The Role

As a Senior Data Scientist, you will:

• Develop advanced forecasting models to understand long-term customer value, commercial performance, and platform economics.
• Apply causal inference and incrementality measurement techniques to evaluate the true impact of product launches, investments, and business initiatives.
• Build optimization and scenario-planning models to support strategic investment decisions and long-range portfolio planning.
• Own complex data science projects end-to-end, from problem definition and methodological design through implementation, validation, and business adoption.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Finance, Strategy, and Product to translate ambiguous commercial challenges into measurable analytical solutions.
• Evaluate modelling approaches based on statistical rigor, interpretability, scalability, and business impact.
• Communicate complex findings, assumptions, and recommendations to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Collaborate with and mentor other data scientists while remaining highly hands-on with technical delivery.

Your Skills & Experience

Required:

• Strong professional experience in data science, econometrics, statistical modelling, or advanced commercial analytics.
• Demonstrated expertise in forecasting, alongside strong experience in at least one of causal inference or optimization.
• Experience developing models that influence commercial, financial, product, or investment decisions.
• Strong proficiency in Python and SQL, with experience across modern statistical modelling and machine learning tools.
• Experience applying quantitative techniques to ambiguous, real-world business problems.
• Proven ability to independently own data science projects from initial scoping through delivery and stakeholder adoption.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, particularly when working with senior business or commercial leaders.
• Master's degree or PhD in Statistics, Economics, Mathematics, Operations Research, Machine Learning, or a related quantitative discipline.

Nice-to-Have:

• Experience in gaming, entertainment, streaming, subscription businesses, e-commerce, or large consumer technology platforms.
• Background in economic consulting, quantitative strategy, or commercially focused analytics consulting.
• Experience with Bayesian forecasting, experimentation, counterfactual modelling, or causal impact measurement.
• Experience in optimization, resource allocation, investment modelling, or long-range financial planning.
• Familiarity with PySpark or distributed data processing tools.
• Experience partnering directly with Finance or Strategy teams.

Why Apply?

• High-Impact Work: Influence strategic investment and commercial decisions at a globally recognized entertainment business.
• Advanced Data Science: Work on sophisticated forecasting, causal inference, and optimization challenges with measurable business impact.
• Senior Stakeholder Exposure: Collaborate closely with Finance, Strategy, and Product leadership.
• Technical Ownership: Take full ownership of complex modelling initiatives while remaining hands-on.

If you're an experienced Data Scientist with a strong foundation in forecasting, causal inference, and commercially driven modelling, we'd love to hear from you.