Principal Data Scientist

About Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Bros. Discovery is a global leader offering iconic content and innovative storytelling. Our teams range from creative minds to technology experts working collaboratively to bring memorable experiences to audiences worldwide. We provide career-defining opportunities with curated benefits and resources that support growth and success.

Role Overview

The Principal Data Scientist will be a key technical leader responsible for designing, developing, and deploying impactful machine learning and data science solutions across Warner Bros. Discovery’s worldwide operations. This role is best suited for an experienced professional with 14 to 16 years of total experience, including 10 to 12 years of focused data science, machine learning, and statistical modeling expertise.

Core Responsibilities

• Create and scale advanced machine learning models including predictive analytics, natural language processing, computer vision, forecasting, optimization, and recommendation systems.
• Employ solid statistical foundations such as hypothesis testing, probability modeling, causal inference, and experimental design to tackle complex business challenges.
• Develop transparent and explainable ML solutions maintaining scientific rigor, reproducibility, and operational stability.
• Execute feature engineering, model selection, hyperparameter optimization, and validation utilizing contemporary ML tools and practices.
• Transform ambiguous and complex problems into well-structured analytic strategies that produce measurable outcomes.
• Construct production-level ML pipelines integrated with data platforms like Snowflake, AWS, GCP, and Databricks.
• Implement continuous integration and delivery, model monitoring, drift detection, alert systems, and governance frameworks.
• Collaborate on designing feature stores, experimentation frameworks, and observability tools for ML models.
• Partner with data engineering and platform teams to assure scalable and dependable deployment of ML solutions.
• Lead delivery of machine learning projects addressing content performance predictions, audience segmentation and retention analytics, search and personalization, metadata enhancement through NLP and CV, as well as operational forecasting and automation.
• Translate model outcomes into impactful, actionable insights for business and product stakeholders.
• Work closely with senior management across streaming, technology, product, content, and marketing teams to align analytical efforts with strategic goals.
• Present complex analytical results in an accessible manner to influence business decision-making.
• Mentor and guide data scientists and ML engineers to elevate team capabilities, scientific discipline, and collaborative efforts.
• Lead initiatives to promote knowledge sharing, documentation quality, internal communities of practice, and responsible AI usage including model governance and ethical considerations.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Master's degree required; Ph.D. preferred in Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related discipline.
• Between 14 and 16 years of total professional experience with 10 to 12 years specializing in data science, machine learning, and advanced analytics.
• Proven hands-on expertise in predictive modeling, optimization methods, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision.
• Proficiency in programming and ML tools such as Python, SQL, PyTorch or TensorFlow, scikit-learn, and other ML frameworks.
• Experience with ML operations including model deployment, continuous integration and delivery, monitoring, and observability mechanisms.
• Strong background in statistical modeling, experimental design, and Bayesian methods.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms including AWS, GCP, and Snowflake.
• A history of delivering measurable business value through scalable ML applications in large organizational settings.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence interdisciplinary teams.

Preferred Experience

• Exposure to the media and entertainment sector, particularly in streaming, digital advertising, metadata management, or audience insights.
• Practical experience with foundation models such as large language models, embeddings, and generative AI techniques.
• Knowledge of video intelligence, OCR/computer vision workflows, and content metadata processing systems.
• Recognized contributions to the ML/AI community through publications, patents, or conference presentations.

Company Values and Inclusion

At Warner Bros. Discovery, our guiding principles shape how we operate every day. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that embraces diverse perspectives and backgrounds. We strictly provide equal opportunity to all candidates without discrimination. Accommodations are available for candidates with disabilities during the application and recruitment processes.