Sr. Data Science Leader – Icloud

Apple Apple · Big Tech · Cupertino, CA · Software and Services

This role is for a Sr. Data Science Leader in iCloud, responsible for defining and scaling the data science vision, building and guiding a high-impact organization, shaping product strategy, driving business outcomes, and elevating decision-making through data-informed insights. The leader will oversee a team of senior data scientists and managers responsible for analytics, experimentation, modeling, and insights that influence product experiences and business strategy. The role requires partnering with Product, Engineering, Design, and Business leaders, influencing executive decisions, and balancing strategic and execution levels in ambiguous environments.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead organizational transformation: Champion a culture that balances data-driven rigor with informed intuition in decision-making, helping teams across iCloud integrate data science insights into product and business strategy.
  2. Set the data science vision: Establish the long-term strategy for analytics, experimentation, and machine learning across iCloud and Enterprise domains, ensuring statistical rigor and scalable data science practices that support product and business priorities.
  3. Drive product and business impact through data: Guide large-scale experimentation, causal inference, predictive modeling, and optimization efforts that inform product direction, engagement, growth, and enterprise value.
  4. Influence executive decision-making: Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Design, and Business leaders to define success metrics, shape roadmaps, evaluate trade-offs, and guide strategic decisions through data-driven insights.
  5. Elevate data science capabilities across the organization: Establish best practices for analytical rigor, experimentation, and insight generation while enabling teams to work effectively with large datasets and scalable data infrastructure.

Skills

Required

  • data science
  • analytics
  • applied machine learning
  • team leadership
  • people management
  • product strategy
  • business outcomes
  • statistics
  • experimentation design
  • causal inference
  • machine learning methodologies
  • large datasets
  • data ecosystems
  • recommendation systems
  • personalization
  • growth analytics
  • optimization
  • data infrastructure
  • quantitative field
  • communication skills
  • stakeholder influence
  • ambiguity
  • complex environments

Nice to have

  • AI ecosystem awareness

What the JD emphasized

  • 10+ years of experience in data science, analytics, or applied machine learning
  • 5+ years of experience leading and scaling data science teams, including managing managers
  • Proven track record supporting product development in large-scale consumer or enterprise environments
  • Strong foundation in statistics, experimentation design, causal inference, and machine learning methodologies
  • Experience working with large, complex datasets and modern data ecosystems
  • Experience with large-scale experimentation, recommendation systems, personalization, growth analytics, or optimization at scale
  • Experience overseeing large-scale data science initiatives and cross-functional data infrastructure initiatives
  • Advanced degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, or a related quantitative field
  • Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence both technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, complex environments and set clear direction