Principal Data Scientist

Outra is a UK-based data science firm specializing in household-level data, leveraging over 30 million UK households and thousands of data points to deliver predictive analytics and actionable insights. We combine advanced AI and machine learning to support business in all industries to optimize marketing efficiency, enhance customer understanding, and predict behaviours.

Outra is currently entering an exciting period of growth and expansion, as we continue to develop our unique, data science led propositions. Primarily focused on prospect generation and data enrichment, our market leading solutions use highly targeted UK household and property attributes data to support audience engagement and development, through predictive modelling.

Job Overview

As the Principal Data Scientist you will be responsible for leading the organisation’s data science initiatives, developing advanced analytics strategies, and driving innovation through AI and machine learning. You will play a key role in leveraging data to create business value, enhance decision-making, and maintain a competitive edge. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, strategic vision, and leadership skills

·Lead the development and execution of Outra’s data science strategy to drive innovation and business growth.

·Identify opportunities in AI, machine learning, and analytics while staying current with emerging technologies.

·Mentor a high-performing data science team, fostering a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and continuous learning.

·Champion data science across the organisation and communicate its value to internal and external stakeholders.

·Oversee the development, deployment, and optimisation of scalable AI/ML solutions.

·Define data engineering requirements and ensure effective use of architectures and tools to support data science products.

·Collaborate cross-functionally with product managers, engineers, and business leaders to align efforts with strategic goals.

·Translate complex data insights into compelling stories and visualisations to inform decision-making.

·Ensure responsible data practices, addressing ethical concerns and complying with privacy regulations like GDPR .

·Support product delivery by choosing appropriate methodologies, defining MVPs, and integrating data science into organisational workflows.

Capabilities and Experience

· PhD or Master’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field.

· 10+ years of experience in data science, AI/ML, or analytics.

· Experience in and a passion for working in a fast paced start-up or scale-up environment is strongly valued.

· Proven leadership experience in a data science or AI-driven organization.

· Expertise in machine learning, deep learning, NLP, and predictive modeling.

· Strong programming skills in Python,or other data science languages.

· Proficiency in big data technologies (Spark, ), cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), and AI/ML platforms (e.g. DataIKU).

· Excellent problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

· Strategic vision and business acumen.

· Strong technical expertise in AI/ML and advanced analytics.

· Excellent data storytelling and communication skills.

· High level of integrity and ethical AI awareness.