Data Scientist, Forecasting

Key Skills

Apache Hadoop, C Programming, C++, Data science techniques, Java Programming, Machine learning techniques, MapReduce, Python Programming, PyTorch, R Programming, Scala Programming, SQL, TensorFlow

Job Description

We are passionate about educating our users, making fact-based decisions, and finding innovative solutions to complex problems. We offer meaningful work, limitless learning opportunities, and collaboration with world-class minds. Come brighten your life and over half a billion more!

Use data to generate forecasts that drive strategic decisions and guide product development for learners worldwide.

You will:

• Own Duolingo's user forecast, using sophisticated statistical methods to inform company-wide strategic decisions and drive business results
• Work closely with heads of product, engineering, marketing, and finance in a high-visibility role that ensures alignment across the company on business-critical initiatives
• Collaborate with data scientists and product managers launching hundreds of experiments each quarter to ensure that the forecast balances business as usual with fast-paced innovation
• Continuously identify best-in-class methodologies and innovative solutions to improve and grow the forecasting practice at Duolingo
• Manage cross-functional relationships to gather inputs to the forecast (e.g. marketing spend) and communicate outputs (deviance from prior forecasts, etc.)
• Own dashboards, reports, and codebase related to the user forecast
• Ensure the integrity of our tracking and data

You have:

• 5+ years of data science experience, particularly with digital consumer products with millions of users
• BA/BS in a quantitative field (e.g.: statistics, economics, computer science) or commensurate work experience at a high-growth start-up or top technology company. The best candidates will have a technical background and want to be close to the financial core of the business.
• Expertise in time-series modeling and forecasting key metrics for a public company (DAU, revenue, etc).
• Expert-level skills in SQL, R/Python, and statistical methods to analyze and model behavioral data
• Strong communication/presentation skills with a track record of communicating complex analyses to executives/ senior management clearly and concisely
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with business units (Marketing, Finance, etc) to coordinate forecast inputs and communicate outputs
• Ability to travel to Duolingo's Pittsburgh, PA headquarters every quarter

Exceptional candidates will have:

• MS or PhD degree in a quantitative field (e.g.: statistics, economics, computer science)
• Experience with “big data” technologies like BigQuery, Redshift, Hadoop, Hive and applied experience with predictive modeling on large datasets
• Experience with freemium business models, and/or products that achieve user growth through word of mouth
• Experience articulating business questions and using available data to find answers that translate into business recommendations
• Ability to thrive in a high-growth environment
• Demonstrated self-direction, with a desire both to learn new techniques and teach others
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with imperfect datasets
• Programming experience in Java or Scala a plus