Associate Principal Data Scientist, Gaming Advertising Platform

About The Company

Activision Blizzard Media is the premier advertising platform within the world's leading gaming company, connecting brands with a vast and engaged global audience. With hundreds of millions of players across more than 190 countries, the company boasts an impressive portfolio of iconic franchises including Candy Crush, Call of Duty, Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and StarCraft. Activision Blizzard Media leverages its extensive reach and innovative gaming experiences to deliver impactful marketing opportunities for brands seeking to connect with diverse audiences through cross-platform engagement. As a part of Activision Blizzard, the company is committed to fostering a dynamic, inclusive, and innovative environment where creativity and technological excellence drive success.

About The Role

We are seeking an Associate Principal Data Scientist to join our talented team. This role requires a highly experienced individual who possesses deep technical expertise and leadership capabilities. As an influential contributor, you will lead high-impact data science initiatives that shape the future of experimentation and modeling across our organization. Your responsibilities will include designing and executing large-scale data projects, applying advanced statistical and machine learning techniques—including time-series analysis, regression, classification, recommendation engines, reinforcement learning, and generative AI—to develop data-driven solutions. You will own the design and evaluation of experiments for optimization systems, ensuring scientific rigor and reproducibility. Collaborating cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and Game Studios, you will influence strategic decisions, define data science roadmaps, and champion innovative methodologies. This role offers an exciting opportunity to impact the gaming industry through scalable, interpretable, and actionable data science solutions that enhance user experiences and drive business growth.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Operations Research, or a related quantitative field.
• 14+ years of industry experience (or equivalent post-graduate experience) in data science, statistical modeling, experimentation, and machine learning, including work with large-scale systems.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL; familiarity with big data tools such as Spark and Hive.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms like Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
• Strong systems thinking skills, capable of strategic planning and deep technical analysis.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with proven experience partnering across Product, Engineering, and Business teams.
• Demonstrated leadership in mentoring, influencing, and elevating technical standards within a data science organization.
  
  

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Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of large-scale data science initiatives, setting strategic roadmaps for experimentation and modeling efforts.
• Apply advanced statistical, optimization, and machine learning techniques—including time-series analysis, regression, classification, recommendation systems, reinforcement learning, and generative AI—to develop innovative data-driven solutions.
• Own the design, implementation, and evaluation of experiments aimed at system optimization and performance improvement.
• Provide technical guidance, mentor senior data scientists, and uphold high standards for scientific rigor, reproducibility, and clear communication.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and Game Studios to define ambiguous problems, scope solutions, and influence organizational strategy.
• Evaluate and champion new methodologies, tools, and frameworks to enhance the scalability, interpretability, and actionability of data science solutions.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends in data science, experimentation platforms, and big data technologies, integrating relevant innovations into workflows.
  
  

Benefits

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• Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Health savings accounts (HSA), health reimbursement accounts (HRA), and flexible spending accounts (FSA).
• Life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, disability insurance.
• Retirement plans with company matching contributions, including 401(k).
• Tuition reimbursement and charitable donation matching programs.
• Paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, floating holidays, parental leave, and compassionate leave.
• Mental health and wellbeing programs, fitness initiatives, and access to discounted or free games.
• Additional voluntary benefits such as legal services, identity protection, rental insurance, and more.
• Relocation assistance may be available for roles requiring geographic moves.
  
  

Equal Opportunity

Activision Blizzard is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We are dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. Join us in creating a welcoming environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to making the world more playful and engaging.