Data Scientist I

About the Role and Team

Data scientists at Direct to Consumer are the insights and modeling partners for the growth, content, marketing, product, and engineering teams at Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, and Star+. They use data to empower decision-makers with information, predictions, and insights that ultimately influence the experiences of millions of users worldwide. Scientists on the team build models, perform statistical analysis, and create visualizations to provide scalable, persistent capability that is iteratively improved through direct interaction with multi-functional business partners.

What You Will Do

As a Data Scientist I, you will be partnering closely with the Content, Programming, Marketing, Subscriber Analytics, Engagement Analytics, Finance, and Engineering teams to develop machine learning and statistical models for solving a multitude of exciting challenges. In this role you will also be working very closely with company executives, and it requires the use of analytical abilities, business understanding, and technical savviness to identify specific and actionable opportunities to tackle existing business problems through data modeling. Responsibilities include:

Modeling: Design, build and improve machine learning models. Work end to end from data collection, feature generation and selection, algorithm development, visualization and presenting model results. Collaborate with engineering to productionize models. Drive experimentation to test impact of model-based optimization. Deep Analysis: Develop comprehensive understanding of subscriber engagement patterns. Mine large data sets to find opportunities for driving growth and retention of subscribers. Visualization of Complex Data Sets: Development of prototype solutions, mathematical models, algorithms, and robust analytics leading to actionable insights communicated clearly and visually. Partnership: We partner closely with business collaborators to identify and unlock opportunities, and with other data teams to improve platform capabilities around data modeling, data visualization, experimentation, and data architecture.

Basic Qualifications

• Strong coding experience in SQL and one (or more) data programming languages like Python/R, additional experience with scientific libraries like NumPy, Pandas, or equivalent libraries a plus
• Proficient in analyzing data and developing ML models using Python (with ML frameworks like TensorFlow, scikit-learn, etc.)
• Experience and knowledge in statistical modeling: regression, classification, time series forecasting, experimentation, and other techniques
• Ability to draw insights and conclusions from data to inform model development and business decisions
• Desire to collaborate with data scientists, data analysts, and key business partners
• Intellectually curious, analytically thorough, hard-working, good work ethic and an on-point business intuition

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing scalable mathematical models and solving sophisticated quantitative problems that can be understood by non-mathematical colleagues
• Proven skills in selecting the right statistical tools given a data analysis problem
• Strong interpersonal skills, for both technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks concurrently and in a timely manner
• Experience thinking strategically to interpret market and consumer information, preferably about a subscription service
• Familiarity with data platforms and applications such as Databricks, Jupyter, Snowflake, Airflow, GitHub
• Familiarity with designing and analyzing A/B testing and other experiment types
• Some experience with distributed data technologies (Hive, Spark)

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, or comparable field of study, and/or equivalent work experience.

Preferred Education

• Master’s degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, or comparable field of study, and/or equivalent work experience.

The hiring range for this position in Santa Monica, CA is $93,400 to $125,200 per year based on a 40-hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

About Disney Direct to Consumer:

Disney’s Direct to Consumer team oversees the Hulu and Disney+ streaming businesses within Disney Entertainment helping to bring The Walt Disney Company’s best-in-class storytelling to fans and families everywhere.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with the following business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, Disney Parks, and Experiences and Products. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Disney Streaming Services LLC, which is part of a business we call Disney Direct to Consumer.

Disney Streaming Services LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.