Staff Data Scientist - Ad Optimization, India

At Branch, we’re transforming how brands and users interact across digital platforms. Our mobile marketing and deep linking solutions are trusted to deliver seamless experiences that increase ROI, decrease wasted spend, and eliminate siloed attribution. Our Branch team consists of smart, humble, and collaborative people who value ownership over all. Everything we do is centered around creating a great product, team, and company that lives and breathes our motto: Build Together, Grow Together, Win Together.

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Staff Data Scientist to lead our efforts in optimizing ad display on native Android surfaces. In this role, you will design and implement data-driven strategies to maximize ad effectiveness, user engagement, and revenue. You will collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and cross-functional teams to drive innovation, improve ad relevance, and ensure a seamless user experience.

As a Staff Data Scientist, you’ll get to:

• Develop and refine data-driven ad optimization strategies tailored to native Android environments, focusing on user engagement, personalization, and revenue uplift.
• Design, implement, and improve predictive models for ad targeting, recommendation, and bidding strategies using cutting-edge machine learning and statistical techniques.
• Lead the design and analysis of experiments to test ad placements, formats, and targeting methods. Use data from A/B tests and multivariate testing to validate hypotheses and inform decisions.
• Analyze user behavior patterns to understand engagement and dropout points, leveraging insights to optimize ad positioning, timing, and relevance.
• Partner with product managers, engineers, designers, and marketing teams to align ad strategies with business objectives and user experience goals. Communicate insights and recommendations effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ensure the scalability of ad models across a wide range of Android devices and varying network conditions. Work closely with engineering teams to deploy and monitor models in a production environment.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior data scientists, fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment. Lead by example in developing high-quality, scalable solutions for complex ad optimization challenges.

You’ll be a good fit if you have:

• PhD (preferred) or Master's Degree (required) in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Machine Learning, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in data science or machine learning, with a strong focus on ad technology or user experience optimization.
• Demonstrable experience in working with ad serving, ad tech stacks, and optimization techniques, especially within Android or mobile ecosystems.
• Expertise in machine learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar).
• Advanced proficiency in Python, or Kotlin.
• Experience with data processing and pipeline tools (e.g., Spark, Hadoop, Airflow).
• Deep understanding of A/B testing, causal inference, and other experimentation methods.
• Familiarity with ad tech, programmatic advertising, and user behavior metrics, particularly in the context of mobile and Android platforms.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. Proven ability to articulate complex data science concepts to stakeholders across different domains.

Nice to have:

• Previous experience optimizing ad displays on native mobile or Android surfaces.
• Familiarity with the Android SDK and understanding of native Android UI/UX design principles.
• Knowledge of reinforcement learning, multi-armed bandit models, and contextual targeting techniques.

This role is either based at our Bengaluru, India office and follows a Hybrid schedule that will be aligned with our Return to Office guidelines (preferred) or 100% remote in India. This role is not eligible for remote work in any other location.

The salary range provided represents base compensation and does not include potential equity, which is available for qualifying positions. At Branch, we are committed to the well-being of our team by offering a comprehensive benefits package. From health and wellness programs to paid time off and retirement planning options, we provide a range of benefits for qualified employees. For detailed information on the benefits specific to your position, please consult with your recruiter.

Branch is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

If you think you'd be a good fit for this role, we'd love for you to apply! At Branch, we strive to create an inclusive culture that encourages people from all walks of life to bring their unique, diverse perspectives to work. We aim every day to build an environment that empowers us all to do the best work of our careers, and we can't wait to show you what we have to offer!

A little bit about us:

Branch is the leading provider of engagement and performance mobile SaaS solutions for growth-focused teams, trusted to maximize the value of their evolving digital strategies. The Branch platform provides a seamless experience across paid and organic, on all channels and platforms, online and offline, to eliminate friction and drive valuable action at the moments of highest intent. With Branch, businesses gain accurate mobile measurement and insights into user interactions, enabling them to drive conversions, engagement, and more intelligent marketing spend.

Branch is an award-winning employer headquartered in Mountain View, CA. World-class brands like Instacart, Western Union, NBCUniversal, Zocdoc and Sephora acquire users, retain customers and drive more conversions with Branch.

Candidate Privacy Information:

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