Data Scientist, Marketing Analytics

Ibotta is seeking a Data Scientist, Marketing Analytics to join the Publisher Insights team. In this hybrid role based in Denver, you will build and own uplift-based rewards optimization models that support weekly retention programs.

Role Overview

You will develop uplift models that determine which bonus each saver receives in weekly retention programs. The models are designed to balance incremental redemptions against program cost, and then be maintained in production as weekly performance changes over time.

Key Responsibilities

• Build, retrain, and tune uplift models that select bonus offers for weekly retention programs, balancing incremental redemptions with cost.
• Own uplift models in production by maintaining feature pipelines, deploying new model versions, and monitoring performance and drift in line with Ibotta’s model development standards.
• Run weekly model operations by reviewing results, adjusting model parameters to remain within budget, and meeting performance thresholds.
• Design and analyze A/B tests and holdouts to measure bonus performance and generate training data for the models.
• Report model performance and business impact to Marketing stakeholders, including clear explanations to non-technical audiences.
• Analyze large datasets of saver behavior to uncover insights that improve models and marketing programs.
• Collaborate with analytics engineers, data engineers, and Marketing partners to identify, define, and prepare data for analysis and modeling.
• Support team best practices, including documentation, code review, and reusable modeling workflows.
• Embody Ibotta’s Core Values: Integrity, Boldness, Ownership, Teamwork, Transparency, and the idea that a good idea can come from anywhere.

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of progressive experience in a professional data science, machine learning, statistics, or data analysis role, or related experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Economics, or a similar field (advanced degree preferred).
• Strong Python skills (including pandas and scikit-learn) and SQL.
• Hands-on experience building and evaluating machine learning and statistical models, including gradient boosting and neural networks (TensorFlow/Keras or PyTorch).
• Working knowledge of experimentation and causal inference.
• Experience deploying or maintaining at least one model in production using Git and an orchestration tool such as Airflow or Databricks Jobs.
• Ability to build features from large, event-level datasets.
• Comfort using AI coding assistants, including the ability to review, test, and debug generated code.
• Data storytelling skills, including explaining model results and trade-offs to non-technical partners.
• Must live in the United States.
• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Spark or PySpark experience.
• Exposure to uplift or heterogeneous treatment effect modeling.
• Experience with model monitoring and drift detection.
• Experience with marketing incentives, promotions, loyalty, or retention programs, or with models that balance competing goals such as volume and cost.

Technologies

Python, pandas, scikit-learn, SQL, Spark, PySpark, TensorFlow/Keras, PyTorch, gradient boosting, neural networks, Git, Airflow, Databricks Jobs.

Compensation & Employment Details

• Employment type: Full time
• Department: Technical - Non-Engineering
• Location: Hybrid - Denver
• Base compensation: USD 110,000 - 130,000 per year
• Total compensation: Includes base salary plus a variable component
• Equity: Included in the overall compensation package
• Location note: This compensation range is specific to the United States labor market and may be adjusted based on actual experience

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Flexible time off
• Benefits package (including medical, dental, vision)
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• 401k match
• Denver office perks including paid parking, snacks, and occasional meals

Additional Information

• This position is located in Denver, CO and requires living in the United States.
• Hybrid schedule: 3 days in office.
• Ibotta is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• Applicants are accepted until the position is filled.
• For security, employees are responsible for secure handling of data per security policies, identifying and reporting phishing attempts, and reporting security incidents to the proper channels.

Recruiting Agency Notice

• Ibotta does not accept agency resumes and is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.
• Please do not forward resumes to any Ibotta employees.