Data Scientist

# Principal Data Scientist, Google Search

## About the Role

Google Search is seeking a **Principal Data Scientist** to help shape the future of Search as users rapidly evolve how they discover and interact with information. In this role, you’ll use data science and quantitative analysis to develop a deep understanding of user needs, solve broad and complex problems, and identify opportunities that can improve Search quality and user experience.

You’ll work directly with executive cross-functional partners to turn data-driven insights into systems, products, and strategies with global impact. The role combines measurement, product strategy, data science leadership, and problem-solving across Search surfaces, with the opportunity to influence the future of a product used by billions of people worldwide.

## Key Responsibilities

• - Build strong measurement frameworks for broadly defined problems and use data to guide efforts toward the highest-value outcomes.
• - Identify and prioritize the most important opportunities and levers for increasing user value across Search surfaces and potential new products.
• - Establish standards for depth of understanding and analytical accuracy across the Search Data Science organization.
• - Build operating models and clear perspectives for important cross-cutting areas, including defining what successful AI experiences look like.
• - Align the organization around shared clarity, expertise, and data-driven understanding.
• - Develop deep insights into rapidly evolving user behavior and needs.
• - Partner directly with executive-level cross-functional stakeholders to translate data insights into products, systems, and strategic decisions.
• - Help address complex engineering, product, quality, and user-experience challenges affecting the future of Google Search.
• - Contribute beyond the core scope of the role to help determine the future direction of Search.

## Required Qualifications

• - Bachelor’s degree in Data Science or a similar technical field of study, **or equivalent practical experience**.
• - 15 years of experience in data science or another quantitative field, such as:
• - Statistics
• - Machine learning
• - Software engineering
• - ML engineering
• - Experience using data insights to drive product and engineering excellence.

## Preferred Qualifications

• - Master’s degree or PhD in Data Science, Statistics, or an equivalent field.
• - Experience building products from 0 to 1 as well as working on established products.
• - Strong leadership ability, with demonstrated success producing outcomes through influence rather than authority.
• - Innovative problem-solving ability, including turning ambiguity into clear solutions.
• - Comfort working with AI technology and applying out-of-the-box thinking.

## Skills & Competencies

• - **Data science:** Advanced quantitative analysis and data-driven problem-solving.
• - **Measurement:** Building measurement frameworks and establishing standards for analytical depth and accuracy.
• - **Product strategy:** Identifying and prioritizing opportunities that increase user value.
• - **Machine learning & AI:** Understanding and applying AI technology to product and user-experience challenges.
• - **Quantitative fields:** Strong foundation in areas such as statistics, machine learning, software engineering, or ML engineering.
• - **Product development:** Ability to contribute to both new 0-to-1 products and established products.
• - **Strategic thinking:** Ability to address broad, complex, and cross-cutting problems.
• - **Problem-solving:** Turning ambiguity into clear, actionable solutions.
• - **Executive collaboration:** Working directly with executive cross-functional partners.
• - **Influence:** Driving outcomes through influence rather than formal authority.
• - **Communication:** Creating organizational clarity and aligning stakeholders around data-driven insights.
• - **Innovation:** Applying creative and out-of-the-box thinking to emerging technology and Search challenges.

## Education & Experience

**Education**

• - Bachelor’s degree in Data Science or a similar technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• - **Preferred:** Master’s degree or PhD in Data Science, Statistics, or equivalent.

**Experience**

• - 15 years of experience in data science or another quantitative field such as statistics, machine learning, software engineering, or ML engineering.
• - Experience using data insights to drive product and engineering excellence.
• - **Preferred:** Experience building products from 0 to 1 and working on established products.

## Work Arrangement & Schedule

• - **Location:** Kirkland, Washington, United States
• - **Work arrangement:** Onsite
• - **Employment type:** Not explicitly specified in the source job description.
• - **Preferred working location:** Applicants may have the opportunity to indicate a preferred location among Mountain View, CA; Kirkland, WA; New York, NY; Seattle, WA; and San Francisco, CA.
• - **Expected weekly hours:** Not specified.
• - **Schedule flexibility:** Not specified.
• - **Weekend requirements:** Not specified.

## Compensation & Benefits

• - **Base salary:** $307,000–$427,000 USD
• - **Bonus:** 30% bonus target
• - **Equity:** Eligible for equity
• - **Benefits:** Health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• - **Retirement:** 401(k) with company match.
• - **Vacation:** 20 days per year, accruing at 6.15 hours per pay period during the first five years of employment.
• - **Sick time:** 40 hours per year, increased to 69 hours per year for Seattle, including 5 discretionary sick days per instance.
• - **Maternity leave:** 28–30 weeks through short-term disability and baby bonding. equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer. Google considers qualified applicants without regard to protected characteristics, including race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or veteran status, consistent
• - **Baby bonding leave:** 18 weeks.
• - **Holidays:** 13 paid days per year.

## Compliance / Additional Information

Google is an equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer. Google considers qualified applicants without regard to protected characteristics, including race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or veteran status, consistent with applicable law.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in San Francisco will be considered in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities or special needs requiring assistance during the application process.