Staff Data Scientist, Forecasting

About Pinterest: Millions of people around the world come to our platform to find creative ideas, dream about new possibilities and plan for memories that will last a lifetime. At Pinterest, we’re on a mission to bring everyone the inspiration to create a life they love, and that starts with the people behind the product.

We’re looking for a technical lead for the forecasting team, responsible for owning strategy and implementation of forecasting models for key company metrics, guiding the full modeling lifecycle, setting the forecasting technical vision, translating forecasts into decisions, driving broader time‑series impact, embedding forecasting into the business, and leading and mentoring our data science teams.

What you’ll do:

• Be the technical lead for the forecasting team . Own the strategy and implementation of forecasting models of key company metrics (e.g., monthly active users), delivering accurate, interpretable forecasts at scale.
• Lead the full modeling lifecycle end to end : problem framing, feature engineering, model development and prototyping, experimentation and backtesting, deployment, monitoring/drift detection, and explainability.
• Set the forecasting technical vision. Define model architectures and standards, and partner with Engineering to shape the forecasting platform for efficient training/inference today and the scalability needed for the next generation of models.
• Translate forecasts into decisions. Present outputs, scenario analyses, and recommendation frameworks to senior leadership with clarity and brevity. This is a high‑visibility role with regular VP-level exposure.
• Drive broader time‑series impact beyond point forecasts – e.g., anomaly detection, automated root‑cause analysis, campaign/channel attribution, and early‑warning signals for business health.
• Embed forecasting into the business. Partner with BizOps/Finance and product teams to integrate forecasts and insights into operational rhythms, executive decision‑making, and strategic planning.
• Lead and mentor. Guide the work of at least two data scientists, raising the bar on technical quality, execution, and impact through candid, continuous feedback and coaching.

What we’re looking for:

• 8+ years of combined post‑graduate academic and industry experience building and shipping production time‑series/forecasting models with web‑scale data.
• A track record of delivering adjustable, well‑calibrated, and explainable forecasting systems that inform decision‑making.
• Strong background in time‑series modeling and applied statistics/econometrics; advanced degree (MS or PhD) preferred.
• Expertise in at least one scripting language (ideally Python).
• Strong SQL skills (Hive/Presto/Spark SQL) and experience building reliable data pipelines/workflows (e.g., Airflow).
• Business acumen and ownership mindset – able to simplify complex problems, connect model outputs to business levers, and prioritize for impact.
• Excellent communication skills – able to distill complex analyses and uncertainty into concise narratives for executive audiences.
• Proven technical leadership – success leading critical projects and materially influencing the scope and output of other contributors.

Relocation Statement:

• This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.

In‑Office Requirement Statement:

• We let the type of work you do guide the collaboration style. That means we’re not always working in an office, but we continue to gather for key moments of collaboration and connection.
• This role will need to be in the office for in‑person collaboration 1‑2 times per quarter and therefore can be situated anywhere in the country.

Salary and Benefits:

$164,695 — $339,078 USD (US‑based applicants only)

• Global travel + medical insurance with monthly billing for global professionals.
• Eligible for equity; final salary based on location, travel, relevant prior experience, or particular skills and expertise.

Our Commitment to Inclusion:

Pinterest is an equal‑opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, criminal history, or any other protected characteristics. If you require a medical or religious accommodation during the job application process, please complete this form for support.