Director, Data Science

Kargo unites the world's leading brands, retailers and premium publishers across screens using innovative technology and advanced creative ad formats. At Kargo, we're all about bringing together the best of the best with a spark of creativity to stand out from the crowd. The same is true for our employees. What makes Kargo and each Kargo team member exceptional makes our company special. Kargo believes differences should be celebrated and is committed to diversity in the workplace. As an Equal Opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or other legally protected status. Individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Kargo is 500 employees strong across offices in New York City, Chicago, Austin, Dallas, Los Angeles, Sydney, Auckland, Ireland, and London. But we're not stopping there, so stay tuned as we expand our map and our team.
For more information, visit Kargo at www.kargo.com or follow Kargo on Instagram ( @kargomobile ), Twitter ( @kargo ) and LinkedIn ( Kargo ).
Title: Director of Data Science
Job Type: Full-time; In-Office Hybrid Required
Job Location: NYC
Salary Range: $200,000 - $240,000 OTE
Role Summary:
As the Director of Data Science at Kargo, you will play a pivotal role in driving the strategic direction of our adtech company's mission-critical models. You will lead a talented team of 6 to 7 data scientists and machine learning experts, focusing on leveraging the OpenRTB real-time bidding data framework to develop advanced optimizers and audience targeting models. This position requires a blend of technical expertise, leadership skills, and strategic thinking to enhance our modeling infrastructure and address the unique challenges of Kargo's clients.
What You'll Do:

• Manage and mentor a team of data scientists and machine learning experts, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.
• Collaborate closely with the bidder team, data engineering, and analytics teams to develop and refine data-driven strategies.
• Work in consultation with product management and business stakeholders to understand client needs and translate them into actionable data science projects.
• Oversee the development and implementation of audience targeting models and optimization algorithms using the OpenRTB framework.
• Ensure the reliability, scalability, and performance of our real-time bidding systems.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends and technologies in adtech, particularly in areas related to machine learning and real-time data processing.
• Drive the continuous improvement of our modeling infrastructure to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Lead the research and development of new methodologies to solve complex problems in audience segmentation and ad targeting.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to ensure alignment of data science initiatives with overall business objectives.
• Present insights and strategic recommendations to senior leadership and stakeholders.

Who You Are:

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field.
• Significant experience working with scalable modeling frameworks
• Hands on SQL and Python experience in their past several years
• Extensive experience in data science, machine learning, and adtech.
• Proven track record of leading and managing high-performing data science teams.
• Strong technical expertise in real-time bidding, OpenRTB, and related technologies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

The Recognition:
Kargo and Kargo leadership are regularly recognized for the company's growth and achievements, including:

• Ad Age's Best Places to Work (2024)
• Built In's U.S, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Chicago Best Places to Work (2024)
• Built In's U.S, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Chicago Best Midsize Places to Work (2024)
• Martech Breakthrough Awards' Best Overall AdTech Company (2023)
• B&T's Best Media Platform (2021)
• Digiday Awards' Media Award for Best Digital Product Innovation (2021)
• Martech Breakthrough Awards' Content Management Innovation (2021)