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Sr. Data Scientist, Programmatic Algorithms

impact.comColumbus, OHProduct
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Salary
$165K - $185K USD
Job type
Full-time
Posted
27 Apr 2026
Status
Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

The Senior Data Scientist position at impact.com in Columbus, OH is an embedded individual contributor role within the Programmatic Experience Group, ideal for a professional with strong modeling and production engineering expertise. This position sits at the intersection of marketplace economics, platform engineering, and data science to drive optimal performance for the company's programmatic marketplace.

Role Overview

As a Senior Data Scientist at impact.com, the primary objective is to design, deploy, and manage machine learning models that optimize pricing, inventory allocation, and yield at scale. Operating with significant autonomy, this role bridges the gap between data science and platform engineering by handling everything from data pipeline architecture to real-time inference systems. The work directly balances advertiser performance with publisher monetization, making it a critical technical function within the organization. Collaboration happens daily with Product, Data Science, and Programmatic Delivery Engine Engineering teams.

Key Responsibilities

Design and deploy auction pricing, bid shading, floor price setting, and yield optimization models for programmatic inventory.
Build inventory allocation logic, pacing routines, and matching systems across multiple partner segments and deal types.
Architect robust data infrastructure, feature stores, event pipelines, and real-time feature serving layers.
Deploy models to production real-time inference environments while managing latency, throughput, and system reliability.
Execute rigorous A/B and holdout experiments to measure the causal impact of model changes on fill rate, yield, and partner return on investment.
Implement adaptive, self-learning components such as contextual bandits and reinforcement learning signals to reduce reliance on manual overrides.

Requirements

5+ years of total experience in data science, quantitative research, or machine learning engineering, with at least 2+ years focused on programmatic advertising, ad tech, marketplace optimization, or real-time bidding.
Demonstrated proficiency in programmatic auction mechanics including header bidding, real-time bidding, deal types, and floor pricing.
Production ML engineering capability to independently take models from prototype to real-time serving, monitoring, and retraining.
Strong expertise in data architecture for high-volume, low-latency machine learning systems.
Advanced technical skills in Python and SQL, alongside familiarity with machine learning libraries like scikit-learn, XGBoost, LightGBM, PyTorch, or TensorFlow.
Experience with large-scale data processing tools such as Spark, Kafka, or equivalent batch and streaming frameworks.
Background in experiment design, causal inference, and handling delayed-feedback environments in online settings.
Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field such as Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or Economics.

Nice to Have

Direct experience with supply-side or demand-side platform yield optimization, deal matching, or bid landscape modeling.
Familiarity with auction theory, optimal reserve pricing, and revenue equivalence dynamics.
Experience applying contextual or multi-armed bandits, online learning, and reinforcement learning to real-time decisioning.
Knowledge of privacy-preserving machine learning techniques including differential privacy and federated learning.
Hands-on experience with GCP tools like BigQuery, Vertex AI, Dataflow, and Pub/Sub.

Skills and Tools

Python
PyTorch
TensorFlow
SQL
GCP
Spark
MLOps
Kafka

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $165,000 to $185,000 per year. Additional compensation includes a 5% variable annual bonus tied to company performance and an eligible Restricted Stock Unit grant with a 3-year vesting schedule.

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
Flexible spending accounts and a 401(k) plan.
Responsible PTO policy supporting work-life balance.
Mental and physical wellness benefits, including up to 12 fully covered therapy or coaching sessions per year and a monthly gym reimbursement.
Office perks such as catered lunches every Thursday, healthy snacks, and coffee.
Continuous learning support through a free Coursera subscription.

About the Company

impact.com is the leading commerce partnership marketing platform that transforms global business growth by enabling partnerships across the entire customer journey. Over 5,000 global brands, including Uber, Walmart, Shopify, Lenovo, and L’Oréal, rely on the integrated platform to manage affiliate, creator, and advocate programs that deliver measurable business results.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application directly on the official company careers page.

Skills and tech stack

PythonPyTorchTensorFlowSQLGCPSparkMLOpsKafka

Questions candidates ask

What is the location and work model for this role?

The role is based in Columbus, OH and is an on-site position.

What is the salary range for the Senior Data Scientist?

The annual salary ranges from $165,000 to $185,000, plus a 5% variable annual bonus and an eligible RSU grant.

How many years of experience are required?

Candidates must have 5+ years in data science, ML engineering, or quantitative research, including at least 2+ years building and deploying ML models in programmatic advertising or marketplace optimization.

What technical skills are necessary for the position?

Required technical skills include strong Python and SQL, experience with ML libraries like scikit-learn, XGBoost, PyTorch, or TensorFlow, and familiarity with large-scale data tools such as Spark and Kafka.

What benefits are provided by impact.com?

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k), responsible PTO, gym reimbursement, mental health support sessions, catered Thursday lunches, and a free Coursera subscription.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official impact.com careers page.

Apply on company site