Senior Data Scientist, Medical Imaging

Heartflow; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Equity

Job summary

Heartflow is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to drive data-centric AI initiatives focused on how real-world imaging affects deep learning models for cardiac analysis.

You will own the analytical pipeline, quantify data variance, and collaborate across Research, ML Engineering, Systems, and Regulatory teams to turn insights into actionable model improvements.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a quantitative field.
• 5+ years in Data Science, ML, or Image Analysis (3+ with PhD).
• Strong command of reproducibility statistics and data variance.
• Deep learning for medical images; DL model development or fine-tuning.
• Proficiency in Python data ecosystem and large, messy datasets.
• Experience with modern AI tools (Copilot, Gemini, Claude).
• Excellent ability to communicate insights to stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Build reproducible analytical pipelines and visualizations at population scale.
• Harmonize data-related factors and image variations.
• Translate data findings into training-time robustness strategies and model design guidance.
• Develop annotation protocols for training and FDA submissions.
• Collaborate with Research Scientists, ML Engineers, and Regulatory teams to drive decisions.

Skills

Data science

Machine learning

Image analysis

Python

Data analysis & statistics

Deep learning (PyTorch)

Data-centric ML

Communication of insights

Education

Master's or PhD in Data Science / CS / Medical Image Analysis / Statistics / Biomedical Engineering

Tools

PyTorch

Pandas

SciPy

Seaborn/Matplotlib

SQL / AWS

Job description

Heartflow is a medical technology company advancing the diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease, the #1 cause of death worldwide, using cutting-edge technology. The flagship product—an AI-driven, non-invasive cardiac test supported by the ACC/AHA Chest Pain Guidelines called the Heartflow FFR CT Analysis—provides a color-coded, 3D model of a patient’s coronary arteries indicating the impact blockages have on blood flow to the heart. Heartflow is the first AI-driven non-invasive integrated heart care solution across the CCTA pathway that helps clinicians identify stenoses in the coronary arteries (RoadMap™Analysis), assess coronary blood flow (FFR CT Analysis), and characterize and quantify coronary atherosclerosis (Plaque Analysis).Our pipeline of products is growing and so is our team; join us in helping to revolutionize precision heartcare.

Heartflow is a publicly traded company (HTFL) that has received international recognition for exceptional strides in healthcare innovation, is supported by medical societies around the world, cleared for use in the US, UK, Europe, Japan and Canada, and has been used for more than 750,000 patients worldwide.

We are looking for a Senior Data Scientist with a strong foundation in both statistical data analysis and deep learning to drive our data-centric AI initiatives. In this role, you will be at the forefront of understanding how diverse real-world imaging conditions and technical variables affect image appearance and, in turn, the accuracy and reproducibility of deep learning algorithms.

You will own the analytical pipeline to quantify these effects and explore data-driven methods to address them. You will work cross-functionally to translate these insights into downstream algorithm development and product decision-making, including development of annotation protocols to curate high quality annotations for training and validation. If you are drawn to deriving insight from large and messy real-world imaging data, and to communicating and crystalizing solutions from these insights, this is the role for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Tooling & Pipelines:Build robust, reproducible analytical pipelines and visualizations over population-scale data, to characterise dataset distributions and model vulnerabilities across diverse patient populations.
• Correction & Harmonization: Explore, develop, and validate methods for harmonizing complex data-related factors and image variations.
• Data-Centric Deep Learning: Translate findings about data variance and model behaviour into actionable data curation requirements, training-time robustness strategies, and architectural recommendations for downstream algorithm development.
• Data Curation and Annotation: Develop annotation protocols for algorithm training and validation for internal product development and FDA submissions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration and Communication: Partner with Research Scientists, Machine Learning Engineers, Systems Engineers, Process Engineers, Product and Regulatory teams. Derive and present clear analyses from messy data to drive decision-making, and provide artifacts other functions consume.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Masters or PhD Degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Medical Image Analysis, Statistics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• Experience: 5+ years (or 3+ with a PhD) of industry experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, or Image Analysis.
• Measurement Science: Working command of reproducibility and agreement statistics — variance components, Gage R&R, intraclass correlation, repeatability and reproducibility coefficients, Bland-Altman — and the judgement to separate correctable bias from irreducible variance.
• Medical Imaging Expertise: Deep understanding of medical image data structures and the physical/clinical realities of imaging. Familiarity with image processing tools and building algorithms for medical imaging data.
• Data Analysis & Statistics: Expert proficiency in Python and statistical data analysis ecosystems (e.g., pandas, scipy, statsmodels, seaborn/matplotlib). Proven ability with large, complex, and messy datasets.
• Deep Learning Experience: Hands-on experience developing or fine-tuning deep learning algorithms (preferably using PyTorch) for computer vision tasks (segmentation, classification, detection) applied to medical images.
• AI-Augmented Workflow: Demonstrated proficiency using modern agentic tools and LLMs (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Gemini, Claude) as a daily force multiplier to accelerate software development, rapidly prototype data solutions, and build reproducible pipelines.
• Communication: Exceptional ability to distill complex, multi-dimensional data analyses into clear, strategic insights for cross-functional stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Published research specifically related to domain generalization, image harmonization, or out-of-distribution (OOD) detection in medical imaging.
• Experience working with large multi-vendor CT imaging datasets, with an understanding of acquisition and reconstruction protocols.
• Proven track-record in diagnosing data- and annotation-related algorithm performance gaps, and designing data-driven solutions.
• Experience with large-scale data querying and cloud storage (e.g., AWS, SQL).
• Experience developing SaMD products and contributing to regulatory filings.
• Experience with biostats to support FDA submissions.

A reasonable estimate of the base salary compensation range is $170,000 to $240,000, bonus, and equity. #LI-IB1 #LI-Hybrid

Heartflow is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to a work environment that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to every aspect of employment at Heartflow, including recruitment, hiring, training, relocation, promotion, and termination.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Heartflow’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.