Senior Data Scientist

The opportunity
Unity’s Ads Experimentation Platform team is looking for a Staff Data Scientist to lead the evolution of how we validate and optimize our global advertising ecosystem. At Unity, our ads reach billions of devices, and the ability to rapidly iterate on machine learning models or ads delivery pipelines is critical to our growth.

In this role, you will be the technical authority for our experimentation and evaluation roadmap. You will bridge the gap between advanced statistical methodology and large-scale engineering, building the tools that allow ML teams to iterate faster and with higher confidence. You will join a team focused on high-velocity innovation, moving beyond standard A/B testing into the next generation of causal inference and high-sensitivity evaluation methodologies.

What you'll be doing

• Advance A/B Testing Efficiency: Lead the implementation of variance reduction (CUPED) and sequential testing to increase platform sensitivity and speed. You will develop strategies to mitigate interference and network effects, ensuring results reflect true causal impact in a complex auction environment.
• Scale Ranking Evaluations: Architect and deploy interleaving frameworks to rapidly assess ranking model performance in real-time. This enables the team to identify winning candidates orders-of-magnitude faster than standard bucket testing.
• Reduce Budget Cannibalization Effects: Design methodologies to account for finite advertiser budgets and prevent experimental groups from cannibalizing each other's spend. You will develop pacing-aware evaluation techniques to maintain marketplace integrity and ensure unbiased results.
• Define Long-Term Value (LTV) Proxy Metrics: Research and validate surrogate metrics that correlate highly with long-term user retention and value. You will provide ML teams with short-term signals that accurately predict long-term impact, enabling faster optimization for long-term growth.
• Drive Automated ML Experimentation: Build the statistical foundations for automated pipelines that autonomously test and select optimal features and hyperparameters. This reduces manual engineering overhead and accelerates the deployment of high-performing models at scale.
• Cross-Functional Technical Leadership: Serve as the lead subject matter expert on experimentation for ML, Product, and Engineering teams. You will ensure statistical rigor is integrated throughout the product lifecycle, from initial model training to live production auctions.

What we're looking for

• Extensive Experience: 8+ years of experience in Data Science or Applied Research, specifically within Ad Tech, Marketplaces, or high-scale experimentation platforms.
• Advanced Education: An MS or PhD in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Computer Science, Operations Research, or equivalent).
• Statistical Mastery: Deep expertise in causal inference, experimental design, and frequentist/Bayesian statistics, with a proven track record of applying these to high-volume, real-time data.
• Technical Proficiency: Strong programming skills in Python or Scala, and experience with large-scale data processing frameworks like Spark, Snowflake, or BigQuery.
• Specialized Knowledge: Practical experience implementing advanced testing methodologies like CUPED, interleaving, or switchback testing in production environments.
• Strategic Leadership: Ability to translate complex statistical concepts into clear product roadmaps and mentor engineering teams on experimental rigor.

You might also have

• Experience building or maintaining internal experimentation platforms at a major tech company.
• Familiarity with the unique challenges of long-term value (LTV) prediction and surrogate metric design in mobile gaming or digital advertising.

Additional information

• Relocation support is not available for this position
• Work visa/immigration sponsorship is not available for this position

Benefits
At Unity, we want our team members to thrive. We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support well-being and work-life balance.

Please note: Benefits eligibility, specific offerings, and coverage vary based on the country and employment status.

While specific benefits vary, here are some of the ways we strive to take care of our eligible team members globally: Comprehensive health, life, and disability insurance | Commute subsidy | Employee stock ownership | Competitive retirement/pension plans | Generous vacation and personal days | Support for new parents through leave and family-care programs | Office food snacks | Mental Health and Wellbeing programs and support | Employee Resource Groups | Global Employee Assistance Program | Training and development programs | Volunteering and donation matching program

Life at Unity
Unity [NYSE: U] is the world’s leading game engine, powering play for more than 3 billion consumers each month. The top mobile games in the world, the most played PC indie titles, the most innovative console games, and virtually all of the top XR and Web Games are developed, deployed, and grown in Unity. Unity also enables teams across industries like automotive, manufacturing, and healthcare to design, simulate, and collaborate in 3D — closing the gap between ideas and reality. For more information, please visit www.unity.com.

Unity is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative environment and celebrate our employees across age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Our differences are strengths that enable us to support the growing and evolving needs of our customers, partners, and collaborators. If you have a disability that means there are preparations or accommodations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please fill out this form to let us know.

This position requires the incumbent to have a sufficient knowledge of English to have professional verbal and written exchanges in this language since the performance of the duties related to this position requires frequent and regular communication with colleagues and partners located worldwide and whose common language is English.

Headhunters and recruitment agencies may not submit resumes/CVs through this website or directly to managers. Unity does not accept unsolicited headhunter and agency resumes. Unity will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company that does not have a signed agreement with Unity.

Your privacy is important to us. Please take a moment to review our Prospect Privacy Policy and Applicant Privacy Policy. Should you have any concerns about your privacy, please contact us at [email protected].

#SEN