Senior Data Scientist, Economics

Our mission at Duolingo is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. It’s a big mission, and that’s where you come in!

At Duolingo, you’ll join a team that cares about finding innovative solutions to complex technical problems, running countless experiments (300+ at a time!) with our massive user base to make data-driven decisions, and educating our users and employees alike. You’ll have limitless learning opportunities, mentorship and collaboration with world-class minds, and a variety of projects with large scopes — while doing work that’s both fun and meaningful. 

Join our life-changing mission to develop education for our half a billion (and growing!) learners around the world.

About the role

We’re looking for an outstanding technical candidate in economics and data science who specializes in statistical modeling, causal inference, and/or structural analysis to advance data-centric decision-making at Duolingo. The ideal candidate will have a background in the education field and/or in measuring learning gains. They will collaborate closely with executive leadership in Engineering and Product Management to develop and deliver metrics, attribution models, and actionable business analyses. They will evangelize scientific methods and influence strategic business decisions, with an appreciation for the behaviors and learning patterns of Duolingo users. They will be a strong advocate and mentor for the Data Science & Analytics team and help advance their learning, creativity, and growth.

  You will...

• Partner in leading the cycle of translating ideas from concept to production-grade economic models and data science solutions, ensuring long-term viability and robustness.
• Apply advanced analytical methods, structural approaches, causal inference, and/or machine learning to model user behavior, develop learning metrics, and identify learning improvements.
• Understand and lead the process of gathering, extracting, and compiling data across sources via relevant tools (e.g., SQL, R, Python). Independently format, re-structure, and/or validate data to ensure quality.
• Collaborate with data engineers and business intelligence to turn insights into data products (e.g. data pipelines, algorithms, self-service dashboards).
• Effectively communicate findings and insights to executive partners and collaborate with product development teams to integrate them into decision-making.
• Stay informed about advancements in applied economics and statistical methodologies to drive enhancements in internal tooling and methods at Duolingo.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to the Data Science & Analytics team, fostering an environment of excellence, innovation, and collaboration.

  You have...

• PhD in Economics, Statistics, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• 4 + years of work experience using analytics to solve product or business problems, coding (e.g., Python, R, SQL), querying databases, and economics/statistical modeling.
• Exceptional problem-solving abilities and the capacity to translate complex data into actionable insights.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with both technical and non-technical partners.
• Able to relocate to or work in our New York or Pittsburgh office.

  Why you’ll love working here…

• Generous PTO and company holidays
• High quality medical, dental, and vision care
• Comprehensive mental health, backup care, and family forming support
• Paid parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents
• Language learning opportunities
• Catered in-house lunches and breakfast
• Frequent company-wide dinners, monthly celebrations, social clubs, and so much more!

Take a peek at how we care for our employees' holistic well-being with our benefits here.

We will do everything we can within reason to make sure that your interview takes place in an environment that fairly and accurately assesses your skills. If you need assistance or accommodation, please contact your recruiter.

Duolingo is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

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