The Zebra
Tech / AI / Software
StaffDataScientist
Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Senior candidates.
“Staff Data Scientist at The Zebra. Skills: Data science, Machine learning, Statistical modeling, Production code deployment, Technical leadership. Identify, scope, and deliver high-impact data science initiatives. Explore and prepare data in the warehouse”
What You'll Achieve.
Consistently tying work to measurable business outcomes
Industry & Context.
Tackle exciting problems; Navigating tradeoffs; Reducing ambiguity; Framing ambiguous problems analytically
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
7+ years of hands-on experience building machine learning / statistical models, Solid foundation in software engineering with a proficiency in both core Python and the Python data ecosystem (sklearn, pandas/polars, etc), Basic familiarly with engineering topics like CI/CD, unit testing, orchestration, cloud ecosystems
Nice to Have
MS / PhD in a quantitative field, Experience mentoring junior data scientists, Experience leading the data science function, Experience modeling customer/human behavior in a B2C context, Familiarity with reinforcement learning especially contextual bandits, Familiarity with causal inference, Familiarity with marketing measurement methods
What You'll Do.
and deliver high-impact data science initiatives
Explore and prepare data in the warehouse
and evaluate models in production
Measure real-world impact of models
Shape the technical direction of data science and AI
Write and deploy production code
Provide technical leadership
Mentor other data scientists
Drive alignment on high-impact
ambiguous problem areas
Translate business goals into data science strategy
Influence product and engineering decisions
Build machine learning models to personalize product
Connect users with policies that best fit their needs
Drive the collection and integration of new data sources
maintainable production code to operationalize models
Perform peer code reviews
Drive continuous improvement in platform and practices
Set and maintain technical standards for development
and maintenance of machine learning models
Identify areas of opportunity for the business
Communicate the role of data science in opportunities
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Work cross-functionally with product managers, engineers, and analysts; Work closely with cross-functional stakeholders; Collaboration skills
Communication Scope
Communicate effectively across technical and non-technical audiences; Great communication skills
Full Job Description
The Zebra, named a Best Place to Work in Austin four years running, revolutionizes how connected consumers research and shop for insurance. We intentionally strive to build diverse teams that feel inclusive for all. Our motto is "All Stripes Welcome," we put that into practice by valuing traditional and non-conventional backgrounds and perspectives. Our Zeebs are passionate about learning, growing, & working together to tackle exciting problems. As a Staff Data Scientist, you’ll work cross-functionally with product managers, engineers, and analysts to identify, scope, and deliver high-impact data science initiatives. You’ll own the full data science lifecycle—from exploring and preparing data in our warehouse to building, deploying, and evaluating models in production, as well as measuring their real-world impact. You’ll also help shape the technical direction of data science and AI at The Zebra. Our data scientists are hands-on builders who write and deploy production code themselves, supported by platform engineers—no handoffs required. Beyond individual contributions, you’ll provide technical leadership across the team—setting best practices, mentoring other data scientists, and driving alignment on high-impact, ambiguous problem areas. You’ll operate with a high degree of autonomy, translating business goals into data science strategy and influencing product and engineering decisions. Success in this role means consistently tying work to measurable business outcomes while navigating tradeoffs and reducing ambiguity across stakeholders. We’re looking for someone who pairs strong technical expertise with pragmatic, impact-driven thinking. You prioritize simple, scalable solutions and iterate quickly. A strong product mindset, business intuition, and the ability to frame ambiguous problems analytically are critical, along with the ability to build trust and communicate effectively across technical and non-technical audiences. LOCATION: While we are open to remote w
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