The Lead Data Scientist at Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology is a senior technical leader responsible for driving innovation in personalization and large-scale data insight generation across ESPN’s streaming products. This role involves providing technical direction, mentoring junior team members, and developing advanced experimentation frameworks to deliver actionable insights that influence product strategy. The ideal candidate will have 7+ years of experience in data science or related fields, with expertise in statistical testing, causal inference, and experiment design. Proficiency in Python, SQL, and modern ML/statistics libraries is essential, along with familiarity with large-scale datasets in distributed computing environments. Additionally, the role requires strong communication skills to translate technical findings into actionable recommendations for executive leadership and product managers.
Skills
Python
SQL
pandas
scikit-learn
Spark
Databricks
Snowflake
Tableau
Looker
Mode
A/B testing
Power analysis
Sequential testing
Causal inference
Automation
AI-driven tools
Data engineering best practices
Dashboarding tools
Machine Learning
Statistics
What you'll do
Lead technical direction and mentor junior data scientists in experimentation and modeling.
Drive personalization insights by analyzing user behavior trends and recommendation system performance.
Design and execute large-scale A/B experiments using rigorous statistical methods and causal inference frameworks.
Develop scalable data insight products, including automated dashboards and decision-support tools.
Own end-to-end delivery of complex data science projects, collaborating with cross-functional teams.
What we're looking for
7+ years of experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, or Statistics.
Proven track record of delivering high-quality experimentation analyses and insights influencing product strategy.
Deep expertise in statistical testing, causal inference, and experiment design.
Strong proficiency in Python, SQL, and modern ML/statistics libraries.
Experience with large-scale datasets in distributed computing environments.
Demonstrated success with dashboarding tools and crafting data stories for stakeholders.
Exceptional communication skills to translate technical analyses into compelling narratives.
Market check
Salary context
This
$155,700–$208,700
range sits above
70%
of similar postings on FindRole.
Peer median band
$108,000–$220,000
Median floor and ceiling across peers.
Typical midpoint (25–75%)
$126,800–$195,442
Middle half of comparable postings.
Based on 240 comparable postings.*
* 240 is the maximum number of comparable postings sampled.
Employer
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is a diversified global entertainment and media enterprise operating in segments including Disney Parks, Experiences and Products; Entertainment (ABC, Hulu, Disney+); and ESPN. Industry: Entertainment & Media
The Walt Disney Company currently has
118 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$141,900–$190,300
across 110 roles with salary data.