Senior Applied Scientist / Data Scientist

Position summary:

We are looking for a talented and motivated Senior Applied Scientist to help improve the performance of our targeting and optimization products.

The Applied Science team at Sojern develops services and pipelines to optimize advertising campaign performance and applies machine learning at scale for thousands of customers. We utilize a range of algorithms and methods to do this including:

• Bayesian statistics and supervised learning to model conversion rates and revenue
• Multi-constraint optimization for allocating budgets
• Scaled AI/ML with Tensorflow/Vertex AI to model a traveler’s propensity to book
• Time series forecasting

As a part of the Science and Optimization team, we deliver through the full data product life-cycle: from prototyping to production development to A/B testing and measurement. This provides each team member the opportunity to gain additional experience with a range of technologies such as Tensorflow, Vertex AI, Docker and the Google Cloud Platform.

Note that this role requires availability to work later business hours, with a regular schedule ending at 7:00 PM Mon-Thu.

What you will do:

• Design and maintain statistical and machine learning models to optimize campaign performance
• Model key performance advertising metrics like conversion rates and click through rates, and use those metrics to automate estimation of campaign bids and budgets
• Improve systems that optimize campaign performance and pacing
• Implement machine learning pipelines on Google Cloud Platform
• Write and ship production-level python code
• Write and execute complex SQL queries to extract and transform data from various sources
• Collaborate with other applied scientists, software engineers, data analysts and product managers to design and implement solutions based on business requirements
• Document code and processes for future reference and maintainability.
• Participate in the entire Agile development lifecycle, including sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives

What you bring to the table:

Essentials

• You have expert-level understanding of data science topics.
• You have at least two years experience as an applied scientist / data scientist.
• You have a PhD in computer science or a quantitative discipline, or equivalent experience.
• You have written and put Python code into production and can reason about algorithmic efficiency.
• You can design and apply machine learning models (supervised, unsupervised, reinforcement learning etc.) to solve business problems.
• You can effectively communicate with applied/data scientists, data s analysts, engineers and product managers.
• You can evaluate, analyze and interpret model results resulting in further improvement of existing statistical model performance
• You can perform complex data analysis using SQL/Jupyter notebook to find underlying issues and propose a solution to stakeholders explaining the various trade-offs associated with the solution.
• You can use your grit and initiative to fill in gaps and drive projects to completion

Nice to have

• You have experience with Google Cloud Platform
• You have experience with Docker
• You have at least one year of experience within the Ad Tech ecosystem

What we have for you:

We take a whole-person approach to create a Sojernista Experience that allows our people to thrive, not just as employees, but as humans. As an employee of Sojern, you would benefit from this in the following ways:

• Rewards & Recognition: Competitive compensation packages, stock options offered to every employee, Bonusly program to reward and recognize team wins and performance, plus employees can take up to 40 hours of paid time per year to volunteer and give back to the community
• Flexibility: Flexi-Friday benefit, hybrid or remote work options for most roles, time-zone friendly work hours with async collaboration
• Connection: Team offsites planned annually, six employee resources groups, regular virtual and in office team building events, monthly company All Hands & leadership Q&As
• Wellbeing: PTO allowance to recharge, comprehensive healthcare options, paid parental leave (16 weeks for birthing parents; 12 weeks for non-birthing parents), retirement contributions and investment options (for applicable locations), travel benefits (hotel stay benefit & IATA membership), plus mental health, wellness & financial health resources
• Growth: Learning & development stipend, mentorship program, career development programs, leadership training
• Productivity: Home office tech set up (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse), monthly internet and phone allowance, modern tools to communicate and collaborate (Slack, Google Suite)

Our Sojernista First workplace philosophy is designed to take a flexible approach, recognizing that the needs of our employees may differ depending on their role, team, or location. What does not differ is our focus on building genuine connections, increasing global collaboration, and providing programs, tools and resources centered around the needs and wellbeing of our employees, regardless if you are working in an office, hybrid, or fully remote.

About Sojern:

At Sojern, we believe in the power of travel as a way to bring the world together. It is that passion that drives Sojern to build smart digital solutions that help travel marketers reach travelers efficiently, and increase long-term growth, customer loyalty and profitability.

Our customers include hotels, attractions and tourism boards, and they use the power of machine learning, data science and real-time traveler data in Sojern’s products to build direct relationships with travelers across social, mobile and the web. Now, more than ever, our thousands of customers rely on Sojern to drive visits, bookings, and ticket sales by engaging with travelers as they plan their travel.

As a globally distributed company, we are headquartered in San Francisco with employees based in 14 countries and counting. Our team is passionate about travel and the core values that define our culture: Win as a Team, Embrace Inclusion, Be Genuine, Deliver Wow, and Center Around the Customer. Check out our Glassdoor reviews!

Disclosure - Pre-Employment Requirements:

All candidates offered employment by Sojern may be subject to pre-employment requirements, including but not limited to a background check. Sojern is compliant with all federal and local laws with consideration to pre-employment requirements.

Our Commitment to Diversity Equity and Inclusion:

At Sojern, we work to create a brave space that seeks out, embraces, and promotes diverse thoughts, beliefs, and experiences of Sojernistas globally.

We are building a workforce that represents the customer base we are serving and the world we live in. A diversified workforce is an innovative workforce. Just as there is no one typical traveler, there is no one typical employee. We foster diversity and inclusion across the company, actively seeking to amplify underrepresented voices and apply diverse perspectives to ensure products, policies, and programs are relevant for our employees and clients alike.

Embracing our differences and celebrating them moves us towards our goal of making travel inclusive of all. Sojern’s S-Groups (employee resource groups) are a core aspect of our culture, fostering belonging and connection, inspiring learning, and creating opportunities for all Sojernistas across the globe.

• SoEmpowered: Supporting, developing, and empowering those who identify as women at Sojern
• SoProud: Celebrating Sojern’s LGBTQIA+ community while creating an inclusive and safe space for community members
• SoWell: Advocating for balance in life and overall wellbeing and providing space and resources for Sojernistas with different needs
• SoConnected: Creating space, connection and resources for Sojern’s young and rising professionals
• Parents & Caregivers: Helping families thrive with our community of parents and caregivers
• Sojern Gives Back: Supporting underrepresented communities and social causes, striving to make a global and local impact

We also have employee-run Slack channels for those with specific interests, for example plant lovers, pets and more.

At Sojern, we value diversity and always treat all employees and job applicants based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender orientation, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Sojern is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. Please inform your TA Partner if you are requesting a reasonable accommodation.