Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Root Inc. is an insurtech company using technology, machine learning, and mobile telematics to transform the car insurance industry. The Staff Data Scientist will lead research and production ML initiatives for lead segmentation, bidding optimization, and performance marketing profitability across multiple channels. The role also sets technical direction, mentors data scientists and MLEs, and partners with cross-functional teams and executives.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development and advancement of ML models for bidding, targeting, and marketing optimization across paid search, lead aggregators, affiliates, direct mail, and emerging performance channels
- Partner with Lifetime Value, Engineering, Marketing, and external vendors to translate business opportunities into scalable ML solutions
- Set the technical direction of the Performance Marketing team by building and prioritizing a multi-quarter research roadmap spanning modeling, experimentation, and ML operations
- Proactively identify and frame high-leverage opportunities across performance marketing, evaluate competing technical approaches, and prioritize investments
- Mentor data scientists and MLEs in research design, ML model development, technical decision-making, and production engineering practices
- Design and build production-ready ML systems while setting standards for maintainable code, reproducible research, automated testing, deployment, and operational reliability
- Build monitoring frameworks for interconnected ML systems, enabling the team to detect model degradation, data issues, and changes in channel performance
- Lead zero-to-one prototypes and introduce new modeling or ML operations capabilities that can reshape how Root allocates and optimizes performance marketing spend
Skills
- Advanced degree in a quantitative discipline
- 8+ years of experience applying advanced quantitative techniques in industry
- Demonstrated leadership in developing and deploying real-time models, emphasizing automation and innovation
- Expert-level Python skills, including data querying, manipulation, and modeling
- Extensive experience developing and applying advanced ML models, particularly ensemble methods
- Skilled in version control (e.g. Git) with experience contributing to large-scale, collaborative projects
- Hands-on experience with AWS tools (e.g., EC2, SageMaker, Redshift) or equivalent platforms for scalable compute and storage
- Excellent business intelligence and visualization skills, with the ability to effectively communicate insights and technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Ownership mentality, with a demonstrated ability to take initiative, drive work forward, and mentor others
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and influence strategic decisions
- Master's or PhD
Benefits
- Eligible for competitive bonus and equity offering
- Root is a “work where it works best” company, supporting you working in whatever location works best for you across the US.
Company Overview
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