Lead Data Scientist

ReTech · Remote - Worldwide · full-time · 2026-09-26

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and product-minded Lead Data Scientist to drive the evolution of our Data Science function, shape the technical vision, and guide a high-impact team working at the intersection of research and production. This is a unique opportunity to influence strategy, lead cross-functional teams, and build ML solutions that directly power mission-critical business decisions

What You Will Do

- Define and own the Data Science strategy, ensuring alignment with business goals and long-term product vision.

- Shape and maintain the technical roadmap based on business priorities, team capacity, and company growth.

- Scale the Data Science function as the organization expands, designing team structure and hiring profiles.

- Lead, hire, and mentor a cross-functional team of Data Scientists while fostering a strong R&D culture built on rigor and measurable impact.

- Manage resources across both Delivery (S&D) and Research (R&D) squads, ensuring clarity and productivity.

- Act as the bridge between R&D and Delivery: translate business needs into research tasks and adapt prototypes into production-ready solutions.

- Architect client solutions by selecting appropriate models, algorithms, and assortment strategies using our ML stack.

- Serve as the quality gatekeeper: review code, validate A/B test designs, and ensure all work meets the team’s Definition of Done (DoD).

- Drive key DS metrics such as research-to-production time, experiment velocity, and recommendation quality.

- Communicate insights clearly to product managers, engineers, clients, and stakeholders, aligning expectations and next steps.

- Represent the company’s technological excellence to investors and partners during high-stakes due diligence.

- Collaborate with clients' Data Science and Analytics teams (including PhDs), explaining methodology, assumptions, and results with confidence.

- Translate complex model outputs into concise, business-oriented presentations for executives and decision-makers.

- Support the sales and pre-sales process by building compelling technical narratives and showcasing ML capabilities.

- Stay hands-on when needed — from debugging critical delivery issues to prototyping new models or designing experiments.

What You Have

- 5+ years of experience in Data Science or a related field, with a strong record of delivering production value.

- Strong Python and SQL proficiency, with clean and modular coding practices.

- Hands-on experience with Databricks and Apache Spark.

- Familiarity with Data Mesh principles and collaboration workflows with data engineering teams.

- Solid mathematical foundation, ideally within a Computer Science–related discipline.

- Expertise in scientific Python tools: NumPy, pandas, scikit-learn, and either TensorFlow/Keras or PyTorch.

- Deep understanding of statistical methods and A/B testing frameworks.

- Experience with Time Series Forecasting approaches.

- 3+ years working with tabular and mixed (multimodal) data.

- Bonus: experience in Causal Inference and ecommerce/retail domains.

- Upper-intermediate or higher English proficiency and excellent public speaking skills.

Soft Skills

- A strong focus on business impact — understanding not only how the model works but why it matters.

- Ability to translate complex concepts into simple explanations for non-technical stakeholders.

- Professional communication with highly technical client teams, including PhD-level experts.

- Ownership of data requirements, integration workflows, and validation processes.

- Comfort with experimentation, iteration, and decision-making in a dynamic environment.

- Proactivity: contribute DS-driven ideas to the Product Backlog and influence roadmap direction.

- Creative thinking and a pragmatic approach to solving complex technical and product challenges.

- Curiosity, eagerness to learn, and a strong entrepreneurial mindset.