Senior Data Scientist

About the role

Senior Data Scientist, Meta-Progression Analytics

This role defines and owns the full lifecycle of meta-progression analytics at Epic Games. You will partner with product teams to shape measurement strategy and deliver data products that guide decision-making across our portfolio. The focus is on building a reliable analytics foundation for systems like experience points, quests, and seasonal progression. You will translate business needs into a clear measurement plan for meta-progression systems. This involves scoping telemetry in collaboration with engineering and defining the metrics that matter to ensure alignment with business objectives. The role requires building and maintaining ETL pipelines and data models that feed dashboards used to tune XP, quests, and Battle Pass balance each season based on empirical evidence. A core part of the role is analyzing player behavior using cohort, funnel, and shift analysis to uncover deep insights. You will investigate engagement trends and surface insights that directly inform quest design and retention strategies for long-term player value. You will design and run experiments, applying A/B testing where possible and quasi-causal methods such as difference-in-differences when randomization is not feasible to validate hypotheses.

Location and engagement

This position is based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. It is a full-time role requiring consistent availability during standard business hours for collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Compensation band

The base compensation range for this position is $180,000 to $240,000 USD annually, reflecting the level of expertise and impact required for this position.

What you will do

You will translate business needs into a clear measurement plan for meta-progression systems. This involves scoping telemetry in collaboration with engineering and defining the metrics that matter to ensure alignment with business objectives. You will build and maintain ETL pipelines and data models that feed dashboards used to tune XP, quests, and Battle Pass balance each season based on empirical evidence. You will analyze player behavior using cohort, funnel, and shift analysis to uncover deep insights into progression patterns. You will investigate engagement trends and surface insights that directly inform quest design and retention strategies for long-term player value. You will design and run experiments, applying A/B testing where possible and quasi-causal methods such as difference-in-differences when randomization is not feasible to validate hypotheses. You will work end to end with progression and quest product managers from initial scoping of what to measure to the delivery of launch reporting for new features. You will guide technical choices related to data infrastructure, SQL workflows, Python tooling, and version control practices to ensure scalability and reproducibility. Your work will demonstrate when clean experiments are viable and when alternative approaches are necessary given data constraints. You will use production-grade tools in your daily work including version control with GitHub, orchestration with Airflow or Astronomer, and AI coding assistants where appropriate to enhance productivity.

Requirements

You must bring at least five years of experience in analytics or data science, with a focus on live-service games to understand the unique dynamics of ongoing player engagement. You should understand player engagement patterns and how progression systems influence behavior to optimize key performance indicators. You demonstrate strong product sense by placing the right information in front of the right people at the right time to drive actionable decisions. You handle very large datasets with fluency in SQL and maintain a strong foundation in the Python analytics stack to perform complex transformations and analyses. You can scope telemetry requirements with engineering and build the supporting ETL and data models to ensure data quality and integrity. You apply experimental design and A/B testing principles rigorously, and you know when to rely on quasi-experimental methods when true randomization is not possible. You have experience with version control, orchestration platforms, and AI coding tools in production environments to maintain high standards of code quality and collaboration. You possess the ability to communicate complex analytical concepts to non-technical stakeholders effectively to ensure alignment and understanding. You thrive in a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift based on live-service needs and player feedback. You are comfortable navigating ambiguity and making informed decisions with partial information to keep projects moving forward.

Nice to have

Experience with live-service games and player engagement patterns is preferred as it provides context for decision-making.

Skills and tools

No additional skills or tools are required beyond those listed in the requirements to perform the duties successfully.

Practical notes

Please note that this role is based in Cary, North Carolina, United States, and requires physical presence unless otherwise noted in the official apply page. All facts in this page are derived from the source material. Candidates should review the official apply page for precise details regarding remote policy, compensation specifics, and start date availability.

What you'll do

• Collaborate with engineering to define telemetry requirements that capture meaningful player interactions and progression events.
• Construct and maintain ETL pipelines that transform raw event data into clean, analysis-ready datasets for reporting.
• Develop data models that support key metrics such as experience points, quest completion rates, and seasonal progression milestones.
• Build and maintain dashboards that provide real-time visibility into progression health and player behavior trends.
• Conduct cohort, funnel, and shift analysis to identify patterns in player engagement and retention over time.
• Investigate engagement trends to surface insights that inform quest design and retention strategies tailored to player needs.
• Design and run experiments using A/B testing where feasible, and apply quasi-causal methods like difference-in-differences when necessary.
• Partner end to end with progression and quest product managers from scoping through launch reporting for new features.
• Guide technical choices related to data infrastructure, SQL workflows, Python tooling, and version control practices to ensure robustness.
• Determine when clean experiments are viable and when alternative analytical approaches are required due to data limitations.
• Utilize production-grade tools such as GitHub for version control, Airflow or Astronomer for orchestration, and AI coding assistants to streamline workflows.

About the company

Epic Games, Inc. is an American video game and software developer and publisher based in Cary, North Carolina. The company was founded by Tim Sweeney as Potomac Computer Systems in 1991, originally located in his parents' house in Potomac, Maryland. Apply on the location for Apply Candidates are encouraged to review the official apply page for the most current information regarding remote arrangements, compensation specifics, and anticipated start dates. The listing indicates that this is a full-time position based in Cary, North Carolina, and all other terms are subject to confirmation through the official application process. Applicants should prepare to discuss how their experience in live-service games and analytics background aligns with the responsibilities outlined. The description emphasizes the importance of building a reliable analytics foundation and enabling data-driven decisions across the portfolio. This Senior Data Scientist role will work closely with engineering and product teams to ensure that measurement strategies are robust and actionable. The use of production-grade tools and modern data practices will be central to success in this position. Please ensure that all information presented here is derived from the source material and that any discrepancies are clarified by consulting the official apply page.