Senior Staff Data Scientist

Zendesk, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Zendesk, Inc. is seeking a Staff Data Scientist to join the AI Security team.

You will envision and build ML approaches to identify anomalous activity and security risks, collaborating with Security Engineers, Software Engineers, ML researchers, and product teams to deliver actionable insights and models used to protect customers from abuse. The role emphasizes developing scalable detection techniques, evaluating AI features, and mentoring colleagues while staying abreast of the latest AI

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years applying ML/AI in fraud detection, anomaly detection or security.
• Proficiency in SQL and Python; experience with data processing frameworks.
• Fluency with AI-assisted programming tools to accelerate workflows.
• Experience with large datasets and distributed computing (e.g., Spark, Snowflake).
• Strong communication skills to translate complex concepts to non-technical partners.

Responsibilities

• Run and develop the AI Security evaluation platform for Zendesk AI features.
• Analyze large volumes of behavioral data to identify abuse patterns and automate methods.
• Develop detection models using offline data to inform production implementations.
• Improve anomaly detection accuracy and reduce false positives in spam projects.
• Collaborate with security, product, and engineering to implement prevention strategies.
• Mentor team members and provide technical leadership on data science projects.

Skills

SQL

Python

Spark

Snowflake

Anomaly detection

AI Security

Education

Advanced degree in CS/Statistics/Math

Tools

SQL

Python

Spark

Snowflake

Job description

Job Description

About the Position

As a Staff Data Scientist at Zendesk, you will be joining the AI Security team and be responsible for envisioning and developing machine learning and AI approaches that help us understand and identify anomalous activity and AI Security risks. The role involves collaboration with Security Engineers, Software Engineers, ML researchers, and product teams to share actionable insights and models that can be used to keep Zendesk’s customers safe and prevent product abuse.

Key Responsibilities

• Run and develop our AI Security evaluation platform to test Zendesk AI features.
• Analyze large volumes of behavioral and user interaction data to identify patterns of abuse, and automatize methodology.
• Develop viable detection models and techniques using offline data that can inform and guide engineering implementation in production
• Improve detection accuracy for existing spam detection projects while minimizing false positives
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement prevention strategies based on data insights
• Know the latest trends in AI Security
• Mentor and provide technical leadership on projects
• Collaborate with our Security and Product teams on emerging data challenges and provide data science expertise

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or related quantitative field, or equivalent practical experience
• 5+ years of experience applying ML/AI in areas such as fraud detection, anomaly detection, or security
• Strong programming skills in SQL and Python, with proficiency in data processing frameworks
• Fluency in AI-assisted programming (e.g., Claude Code, Cursor AI) and other AI tools to accelerate workflows.
• Experience with a variety of Statistical, ML, data mining, and time series techniques, including strong experience with the specificities of anomaly detection techniques and their statistical properties (e.g., knowing how to deal with unbalanced datasets, sparsity)
• Experience working with large datasets and distributed computing environments (e.g., Spark, Snowflake)
• Strong communication skills with ability to translate complex technical concepts to non-technical collaborators

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven track record implementing anomaly detection or AI Security evaluation systems at scale.
• Experience with AI Red Teaming tools.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity concepts and common attack vectors.
• Experience with ML model monitoring, maintenance in production, and customer impact of guardrails and firewall models.

The intelligent heart of customer experience

Zendesk software was built to bring a sense of calm to the chaotic world of customer service. Today we power billions of conversations with brands you know and love.

Zendesk believes in offering our people a fulfilling and inclusive experience. Our hybrid way of working, enables us to purposefully come together in person, at one of our many Zendesk offices around the world, to connect, collaborate and learn whilst also giving our people the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week.

As part of our commitment to fairness and transparency, we inform all applicants that artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision systems may be used to screen or evaluate applications for this position, in accordance with Company guidelines and applicable law.

Zendesk is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster global diversity, equity, & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment and employees at Zendesk are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer. If you are based in the United States and would like more information about your EEO rights under the law, please click here.

Zendesk endeavors to make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities and disabled veterans pursuant to applicable federal and state law. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to submit this application, complete any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] with your specific accommodation request.