Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is home to some of the world’s most beloved films and television series. From Cobra Kai to The Night Agent, our content reaches millions worldwide. Behind the scenes, our Insights, Strategy & Analytics (ISA) team empowers storytellers and business leaders with data-driven insights to shape the future of entertainment.

We are seeking a Director of Data Science to lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of data scientists while remaining hands-on in technical work. This role requires a leader who can navigate ambiguity, communicate clearly across all levels, and build impactful machine learning solutions that support SPE’s content, marketing, and distribution teams. You will shape the direction of data science at Sony Pictures and help establish a strong, collaborative, and positive team culture.

What You’ll Do:

Technical Leadership

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models, including traditional ML techniques with opportunities to expand into deep learning and generative AI where appropriate.
• Oversee end-to-end model development, including problem scoping, data exploration, feature engineering, model training, validation, and operationalization.
• Contribute as ahands-on IC, demonstrating excellence in execution while modeling collaboration and best practices
• Conduct code reviews, set technical standards, and ensure model quality, rigor, reproducibility, and performance monitoring.
• Guide the creation of POCs, validate feasibility, and partner with engineering to productionalize models and data science tools.
• Work closely with product teams to define requirements, drive adoption, measure impact, and continuously improve data science products
• Support work across diverse problem types, from predictive modeling and classification to unstructured text processing and AI-enhanced apps.
• Promote best practices in responsible AI, including interpretability, fairness assessments, and ongoing model governance.

Team & Strategy Leadership

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of data scientists and analysts, supporting both technical growth and career progression.
• Scope and structure ambiguous, loosely defined business asks, transforming open-ended questions into actionable data science projects with clear roadmaps and deliverables.
• Communicate effectively upward, downward, and across the organization, serving as the connective tissue between the team, stakeholders, and leadership.
• Help the team navigate the realities of the work cycle—projects that may begin undefined or become high-pressure when deadlines accelerate—and ensure priorities remain balanced and achievable.
• Foster a positive, collaborative culture that values learning, curiosity, flexibility, and giving each other grace as the team grows and evolves.
• Serve as a strategic partner to stakeholders, helping them articulate needs, uncover insights and drivers, and understand the value data science can deliver

What We’re Looking For

• 10+ years of experience in data science, machine learning, or applied analytics roles.
• 3+ years of experience managing people, including hiring, mentoring, and performance management.
• Strong proficiency in Python, SQL, and widely used ML frameworks (scikit-learn, XGBoost, TensorFlow or PyTorch).
• Deep experience with MLOps practices including CI/CD for ML, feature stores, model registries, monitoring, drift detection, cloud platforms (AWS, GCP) and MLOps tooling
• Proven experience delivering end-to-end ML solutions, including modeling, implementation, and impact measurement. 
• Strong understanding of traditional machine learning techniques
• Experience with modern Gen AI techniques such as prompt engineering, embeddings, RAG pipelines, vector databases, and conversational AI/agent frameworks
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills; able to simplify complex models and influence cross-functional partners.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through ambiguity, rapid changes, and competing priorities.
• Commitment to team culture, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Nice to have:

• Experience in the media & entertainment industry.
• Familiarity with apps (Dash, or Shiny).

Why Join Us

• Shape the future of entertainment — your work will directly influence how audiences around the world discover and enjoy Sony content.
• Collaborate with a diverse team of scientists, engineers, and strategists solving exciting, real-world challenges.
• Be part of a culture that values curiosity, innovation, and continuous learning, with access to professional development and cutting-edge tools.
• Enjoy the benefits of working at a global studio while contributing to projects that matter.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $190K to $228K. This role may also qualify for annual incentive and/or comprehensive benefits. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

SPE will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable law.

To request an accommodation for purposes of participating in the hiring process, you may contact us at SPE_Accommodation_Assistance@spe.sony.com.