Senior Sport & Data Scientist - MLS

Philadelphia Union; Chester (Delaware County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plan

Dental plan

Vision plan

401(k) with match

Life insurance

Paid time off

Employee discounts

On-site fitness center

Job summary

Philadelphia Union is seeking a performance-minded data professional to harness GPS and athlete-monitoring data for actionable insights. You will build dashboards, models, and pipelines, translating complex datasets into practical decisions for coaches and medical staff.

Join a high-performance team at Subaru Park, contributing to long-term player development and competitive success through data-driven strategies and modern analytics infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Sport Science, Data Science, Computer Science, Exercise Science, or related field.
• 4+ years of experience in sport science, data science, analytics, or related discipline.
• Strong understanding of GPS/player tracking, athlete monitoring, physical performance testing, and training-load analysis.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL.
• Experience with statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and machine learning.
• Experience with data pipelines, APIs, databases, and modern data architecture.
• Cloud data platforms; Databricks and AWS; Power BI experience.
• Experience within professional or elite sport preferred.
• Strong communication across performance, medical, and analytics teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage and analyze GPS, athlete monitoring, and physical assessment data across the club.
• Develop dashboards, reports, and analytical tools supporting player performance and development.
• Work with performance, medical, coaching, and technical staff to translate data into actionable insights.
• Develop data pipelines and maintain the club’s data ecosystem.
• Develop statistical and machine-learning models to support monitoring, development, and decision-making.
• Collaborate with the Director of Data Science & Engineering on the Lakehouse architecture and data ecosystem.

Skills

GPS tracking

Athlete monitoring

Python

SQL

Machine learning

Data visualization

Communication

Education

Sport Science degree

Data Science degree

Computer Science degree

Tools

Databricks

AWS

Power BI

APIs

Databases

Job description

WHO WE ARE

Awarded Major League Soccer’s 16th franchise in 2008, the Philadelphia Union officially took the pitch in 2010 and have been raising expectations ever since. Owned and operated by Union Sports & Entertainment, the Philadelphia Union call Subaru Park home—an 18,500-seat, world-class, soccer-specific stadium set along the Delaware River beneath the Commodore Barry Bridge, just 15 miles from downtown Philadelphia.

On the field, the Union have established themselves as one of Major League Soccer’s most consistent and competitive clubs. The team reached the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final three times (2014, 2015, and 2018), made multiple MLS Cup Playoff appearances, and captured the Supporters’ Shield in 2020 and again in 2025, recognizing the club’s excellence and consistency across the regular season. The Union also hosted the Eastern Conference Final in 2021, were crowned Eastern Conference Champions in 2022, and advanced to the MLS Cup Final that same year in one of the most thrilling matches in league history. The club has continued to represent Philadelphia on the international stage through participation in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.

Off the field, the Philadelphia Union are defined by a culture that is Young, Fearless, and Challenger-driven. We are unafraid to think differently, push boundaries, and pursue excellence in everything we do. We believe success is built through accountability, collaboration, innovation, and a relentless drive to raise the bar.

Our deep connection to Philadelphia is woven into who we are. From the Club’s crest and colors to the thirteen stars and rallying cry, the Union proudly reflect the city’s revolutionary spirit and its legacy as the birthplace of American independence. If you’re ready to challenge the ordinary and help shape the future of soccer in Philadelphia, we invite you to join us.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Union Sports & Entertainment is committed to building a world-class sporting organization through player development, innovation, and a clearly defined methodology. Through its first team, academy, and professional development pathways, the Union strives to leverage data and technology to gain competitive advantages on and off the field.

RESPONSIBILITIES

* Manage and analyze GPS, athlete monitoring, and physical assessment data across the club.

• Develop performance benchmarks, player profiles, and longitudinal monitoring systems.
• Work with performance, medical, coaching, and technical staff to translate data into actionable insights.
• Develop dashboards, reports, and analytical tools supporting player performance and development.
• Support research and modeling related to training load, match demands, player development, return to-play, and performance optimization.
• Work alongside the Director of Data Science & Engineering to develop and maintain the club’s Lakehouse architecture and data ecosystem.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines integrating sport science, performance, medical, technical, and other club data sources.
• Work within Databricks and AWS to support data processing, storage, analytics, and application development.
• Develop statistical and machine-learning models supporting athlete monitoring, player development, and sporting decision-making.
• Support data quality, documentation, governance, and engineering standards across the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

* Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (preferred) in Sport Science, Data Science, Computer Science, Exercise Science, or related field.

• 4+ years of experience in sport science, data science, sports analytics, or a related discipline.
• Strong understanding of GPS/player tracking, athlete monitoring, physical performance testing, and training-load analysis. Strong proficiency in Python and SQL.
• Experience with statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and machine learning.
• Experience with data pipelines, APIs, databases, and modern data architecture.
• Experience with cloud data platforms; Databricks and AWS experience preferred. Experience with business intelligence platforms such as Power BI.
• Experience within professional or elite sport preferred.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work across performance, medical, technical, and analytics departments.

WHO YOU ARE

You are a performance-minded data professional who understands that great analysis only matters when it helps people make better decisions. You are equally comfortable working with athlete monitoring data, building analytical models, and sitting with coaches, medical staff, and performance practitioners to translate findings into practical action.

You thrive at the intersection of sport science, data science, and technology and are excited by the opportunity to help build a modern, connected performance-data environment across the Philadelphia Union.

• Curious and analytical. You naturally dig deeper into data, ask thoughtful questions, identify patterns, and look for opportunities to improve how player performance and development are understood.
• Fluent in performance. You understand GPS and player-tracking data, physical testing, training load, match demands, and athlete-monitoring principles—and how those measures translate to the realities of elite soccer.
• Technically capable. You are comfortable working in Python and SQL, developing data pipelines and analytical tools, and using modern cloud and data platforms to turn complex datasets into reliable, usable information.
• A translator, not just an analyst. You can take complex models, datasets, and technical concepts and communicate them clearly to coaches, medical professionals, performance staff, technical leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborative by nature. You enjoy working across disciplines and recognize that the strongest sporting decisions come from combining data with the expertise and experience of practitioners.
• Detail-oriented and disciplined. You care about data quality, documentation, repeatable processes, and building systems that others can trust.
• Development-focused. You are interested not only in evaluating where a player is today, but also in understanding their progression over time and identifying insights that can support long‑term player development.
• Comfortable in a high-performance environment. You can balance long‑term projects with the changing priorities and fast‑moving demands of professional soccer.
• Always learning. You stay curious about emerging research, technologies, analytical methods, and best practices in sport science and data science and look for thoughtful ways to apply them within the club.

WHY THE UNION?

At Union Sports & Entertainment, development is in our DNA. From our world‑class academy to our front office, we believe in identifying talent early, investing in it fully, and creating real pathways for growth. If you’re driven, coachable, and willing to put in the work, the Union will match your ambition.

You’ll join a competitive, high‑energy environment where: People get better every day as leaders and teammates.

• Winning matters, but how we win matters just as much
• Coaching, feedback, and accountability are part of the culture, not buzzwords
• Soccer passion is real and matchdays mean something here

We celebrate effort, creativity, and results. We challenge each other. We have fun. And we take pride in developing future leaders who go on to make an impact across the sports industry.
We are committed to supporting the health, well-being, and professional success of our employees. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes paid time off, multiple medical plan options, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending and health savings accounts, a 401(k) plan with Company match, Company‑paid life and disability insurance, paid medical and baby‑bonding leave, mental health resources, wellness reimbursements, and employee discounts. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as the candidate’s qualifications, skills, relevant experience, internal equity, and prevailing business and market conditions.

Employees may also enjoy complimentary or discounted tickets, match‑day meals, access to our on‑site fitness center and café, complimentary coffee beverages, Summer Friday hours, and employee engagement events throughout the year. Eligibility for specific benefits may vary based on position and employment status.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Union Sports & Entertainment is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive workplace where every employee and candidate is treated with dignity and respect. We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Not sure you meet every requirement? Championship teams are built on diverse strengths. If you’re passionate about sports and excited about this role, we want to hear from you!