Principal Data Scientist

Zillow Zillow · Consumer · United States · Remote

Principal Data Scientist to lead measurement strategy for Zillow's Elevate on-site advertising platform. This role focuses on defining measurement, leading experimentation, and building KPI frameworks to connect ad performance to advertiser outcomes and revenue growth. The role involves partnering with various teams, translating data into insights, and collaborating with external vendors. Experience in data science, marketing science, advertising analytics, and measurement is required, along with strong SQL and Python/R skills.

What you'd actually do

  1. Define and evolve the measurement strategy for Zillow’s Elevate on-site advertising platform, including ad placements, pricing models, inventory optimization, and advertiser value.
  2. Lead incrementality, lift testing, and experimentation frameworks that support advertiser reporting and internal decision-making.
  3. Build KPI frameworks that connect ad performance to advertiser outcomes, product decisions, and revenue growth.
  4. Partner with Ad Product, Ad Tech, Sales, Commercial, and Data Engineering teams to ensure measurement solutions support both monetization and advertiser trust.
  5. Translate ad performance and marketplace data into actionable insights that shape product roadmaps and go-to-market strategy.

Skills

Required

  • 8+ years of experience in data science, marketing science, advertising analytics, or applied measurement
  • Deep expertise in on-site advertising measurement, including lift testing, incrementality, A/B experimentation, advertiser reporting, and performance optimization
  • Strong knowledge of measurement approaches such as causal inference, marketing attribution methods, and marketing mix modeling
  • Experience working in or closely with ads platforms, retail media networks, sponsored listings, or similar on-site advertising environments
  • Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cross-functional alignment without formal management authority
  • Strong analytical and technical skills, including experience with large-scale behavioral, clickstream, or marketplace datasets and proficiency in SQL plus Python or R
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex methodologies into clear business recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences

Nice to have

  • familiarity with third-party measurement partners or modern data tools

What the JD emphasized

  • Deep expertise in on-site advertising measurement
  • Strong knowledge of measurement approaches
  • Experience working in or closely with ads platforms
  • Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders
  • Strong analytical and technical skills
  • Excellent communication skills