Principal Data Scientist – Gaming Industry

About the role

Aristocrat is looking for a Principal Data Scientist to drive high‑impact analytics across its gaming portfolio. You will shape data‑science strategy, build advanced ML and reinforcement‑learning solutions, and partner with game teams to boost player engagement and business performance.

Key responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end data‑science projects, from problem framing to impact measurement.
• Design and deploy machine‑learning and reinforcement‑learning models for retention, monetisation and operational optimisation.
• Develop modelling frameworks covering causal inference, uplift modelling, sequential decisioning, bandits and forecasting.
• Define success metrics, guardrails and decision frameworks with product teams.
• Establish engineering standards for model validation, uncertainty, reproducibility and bias checks.
• Drive scalable experimentation using A/B tests, multi‑armed bandits, power analysis and variance reduction.
• Collaborate with Data Engineering, MLOps and Game Tech to ensure reliable data pipelines and model deployment.
• Create internal data products such as AB‑test calculators and automated insight tools.
• Provide technical leadership through code reviews, mentoring and cross‑functional collaboration.

Required profile

• PhD or MSc in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Physics, Mathematics or a related quantitative field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of professional data‑science experience.
• Proven delivery of at least three data or ML products from definition to production.

Required skills

• Machine learning
• Reinforcement learning
• Causal inference
• Uplift modelling
• Sequential decisioning
• Bandit algorithms
• Forecasting
• A/B testing and multi‑armed bandit experimentation
• Power analysis and variance reduction techniques
• Model validation, uncertainty quantification, reproducibility and bias assessment
• Collaboration with Data Engineering, MLOps and Game Tech teams