Staff Data Scientist, Forecasting

About the role

Pinterest is on a mission to bring everyone the inspiration to create a life they love. This role involves being the technical lead for the forecasting team, owning the strategy and implementation of forecasting models, and driving broader time-series impact beyond point forecasts.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.

Requirements

• 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.

Qualifications

• Expertise in time-series forecasting and statistical methods.
• Experience with machine learning and deep learning techniques.
• Knowledge of data warehousing and ETL processes.
• Experience with data visualization tools.
• Experience with cloud-based platforms (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure).

Skills

• Python programming.
• SQL and data pipeline management.
• Data visualization and reporting tools.
• Time-series analysis and forecasting.
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Technical leadership and mentoring.

Benefits

At Pinterest, we offer a competitive compensation package including a base salary range of $164,695—$339,078 USD, along with equity and benefits. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. We also provide relocation support for eligible candidates.

Pay

$164,695—$339,078 USD

Schedule

This role requires occasional in-office collaboration 1-2 times per quarter.