Senior Lead Data Scientist

Compass; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 204,000 - 227,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Participation in incentive programs (e

Plus paid vacation

medical, tele-health, dental andvision

401(k) plan

FSAs

commuter program

life and disability insurance

Maven

Carrot fertility benefits

UrbanSitter

Employee Assistance Program

pet insurance

Job summary

Compass in San Francisco seeks a Senior Lead Data Scientist to drive large-scale, cross-functional data initiatives and mentor teams. You will shape strategy and translate research into scalable, production-ready solutions for the business.

You will blend statistics, ML, and software engineering to define processes, own key outcomes, and partner with executives to guide data-driven decisions across product, growth, and operations.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional data science experience
• Expertise in XGBoost, deep learning, NLP
• Experience as a technical lead for multiple teams
• Proficient Python and SQL for large-scale data work
• Ability to design robust MLOps pipelines
• Ability to enforce clean code standards

Responsibilities

• Lead large cross-functional initiatives with ill-defined problems and solutions
• Coordinate across teams, manage dependencies, and set timelines
• Translate research into practical, scalable data solutions
• Define and roll out processes and best practices across Data org
• Mentor senior data scientists and advise leadership

Skills

Technical leadership

XGBoost

Deep learning

NLP

Mentoring

Communication

Strategic initiatives

Software architecture

Ambiguity tolerance

Python

Education

Master's degree or PhD in quantitative field

Tools

Python

SQL

MLOps pipelines

Code quality practices

Job description

At Compass, our mission is to help everyone find their place in the world. Founded in 2012, we're revolutionizing the real estate industry with our end-to-end platform that empowers residential real estate agents to deliver exceptional service to seller and buyer clients.

About the Role

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Lead Data Scientist to lead large-scale, cross-functional initiatives that are critical to Compass. In this role, you will have mastery over major organizational problems and solution spaces, delivering with complete independence and maintaining accountability for strategic intent and results. You will facilitate cross-organizational collaboration, orchestrate efforts across multiple teams, and advise management on complex technical and strategic decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of large, cross-functional initiatives where both the problem and solution approach are not well-defined.
• Orchestrate efforts across multiple teams, managing dependencies and setting realistic timelines for high-impact projects.
• Foster a culture of shared ownership across teams and translate cutting-edge industry research into practical, scalable solutions for the company.
• Define and roll out new processes, methodologies, and best practices across the entire Data organization.
• Mentor senior-level data scientists across the organization and act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in a quantitative field (e.g., Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics) with 8+ years of professional data science experience.
• Deep expertise in multiple complex data science areas, such as XGBoost, deep learning, and NLP.
• Proven experience as a technical lead, defining and driving strategic initiatives for multiple teams simultaneously.
• Mastery of advanced Python and SQL for large-scale data manipulation, analysis, and architectural design.
• Expertise in evaluating and selecting cutting-edge methodologies to solve highly ambiguous business problems.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing robust MLOps pipelines for large-scale model deployment and monitoring.
• Proven ability to define and enforce clean code standards and software engineering best practices across teams.
• Experience mentoring and developing senior-level data scientists to foster growth and technical excellence.
• Exceptional communication skills with a track record of serving as a trusted advisor to organizational leadership.

Compensation

The base pay range for this position is $204,000-$226,700 annually; however, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Bonuses and restricted stock units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of benefits. Base pay is based on market location. Minimum wage for the position will always be met.

Perks that You Need to Know About

• Participation in our incentive programs (which may include eligible cash, equity, or commissions).
• Plus paid vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, and recharge leave
• medical, tele-health, dental and vision benefits
• 401(k) plan
• flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• commuter program
• life and disability insurance
• Maven (a support system for new parents)
• Carrot (fertility benefits)
• UrbanSitter (caregiver referral network)
• Employee Assistance Program
• and pet insurance.

Do your best work, be your authentic self.

At Compass, we believe that everyone deserves to find their place in the world - a place where they feel like they belong, where they can be their authentic selves, where they can thrive. Our collaborative, energetic culture is grounded in our Compass Entrepreneurship Principles and our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, growth and mobility. As an equal opportunity employer, we offer competitive compensation packages, robust benefits and professional growth opportunities aimed at helping to improve our employees' lives and careers.

Notice for California Applicants

Los Angeles County Fair Chance Notice