Sr. Data Scientist II (Remote Eligible)

$155K - $185K Remote Senior Data Scientist

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Skills & Technologies

Drift AiEmbeddingsPythonPytorchTableau

About This Role

AI job market dashboard showing open roles by category

For over 20 years, Smartsheet has empowered teams to manage work seamlessly and scale solutions smarter. Now, in our most ambitious chapter yet, we are uniting human teams with AI agents. By orchestrating the work agents do best, automating manual tasks and uncovering insights at scale, we create the space for people to focus on what truly matters: judgment, creativity, and big thinking. That is magic at work, and it's what we show up for every day.

Smartsheet is looking for an experienced Senior Data Scientist II to build the ML models and AI sub\-agents that drive growth, monetization, efficiency, and retention across the customer lifecycle. You'll work end\-to\-end framing problems, building models across the modern ML and deep learning toolkit, designing sub\-agents that reason and act, and shipping all of it into production for millions of users. The data is unusually rich: petabyte\-scale execution data spanning two decades of how real work gets done. You are curious, technically rigorous, and can translate complex modeling and sub\-agent behavior into clear recommendations for your partners. You will work primarily with Product and Engineering and will be a part of Smartsheet's Business Intelligence team.

This full\-time position initially reports to the VP of Data Science located in our Bellevue, WA office, or you may work remotely from anywhere in the US where Smartsheet is a registered employer.

You Will:

  • Design and ship AI sub\-agents that act across the customer lifecycle, combining predictive models, retrieved context, and LLM reasoning to recommend or take action
  • Build the predictive and prescriptive models that power those sub\-agents churn risk, growth, adoption trajectories, account health scoring, and similar lifecycle problems
  • Develop the data foundations and knowledge layer those sub\-agents reason over, applying responsible aggregation and privacy\-aware design
  • Design the tools, retrieval, and grounding strategies each sub\-agent uses; decide when a sub\-agent should act, recommend, defer, or escalate
  • Build the evaluation harnesses that determine when a sub\-agent is good enough to ship and that catch regressions in production
  • Define metrics and experimentation strategy for sub\-agent rollouts; measure real customer impact, not just offline accuracy or eval scores
  • Partner with Product, Engineering, and Applied AI teams from problem framing through production deployment
  • Drive a data and modeling culture within Product and Engineering, and mentor other data scientists on the team

You Have:

  • Bachelor's degree and 8\+ years of experience (or 10\+ years of experience); advanced degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, CS, ML, Economics, Operations Research, or similar) preferred
  • Deep applied ML expertise across both traditional ML and deep learning: gradient boosting, regularized linear models, transformer\-based sequence models, foundation model embeddings, causal ML, contextual bandits, and offline RL
  • Strong grasp of causal inference for intervention design and lifecycle modeling: uplift modeling, difference\-in\-differences, propensity scoring, and synthetic control
  • Solid foundation in statistics and experimental design: hypothesis testing, power analysis, multiple comparisons, sequential testing, and quasi\-experimental methods
  • Hands\-on experience taking LLM\- and agent\-based systems to production: tool use, retrieval, multi\-step reasoning, evaluation, and guardrails
  • Experience operating ML in production — feature engineering and pipelines, model monitoring, drift detection, retraining cadence, and the trade\-offs between batch and real\-time serving
  • Proficient in SQL and Python; comfort with ML/LLM tooling at scale (Spark, Databricks, Snowflake, or equivalents), ML frameworks (PyTorch, scikit\-learn, XGBoost/LightGBM), and visualization tools (Tableau or similar)
  • Experience modeling the customer lifecycle — churn, expansion, adoption, plan health, lead/account scoring — and business fluency in the SaaS metrics that drive it (NRR, GRR, ARR, and cohort economics)
  • A pragmatic production bar: latency, cost, monitoring, drift, hallucination, and what happens when the model or sub\-agent is wrong
  • Strong track record of forming effective cross\-functional partnerships and communicating analysis clearly to technical and executive audiences
  • Ability to research and learn new technologies, tools, and methodologies, and to thrive in a dynamic environment — finding opportunities and executing in both independent and collaborative environments

Get to Know Us:

At Smartsheet, your ideas are heard, your potential is supported, and your contributions have real impact. You'll have the freedom to explore, push boundaries, and grow beyond your role. We welcome diverse perspectives and nontraditional paths—because we know that impact comes from individuals who care deeply and challenge thoughtfully. When you're doing work that stretches you, excites you, and connects you to something bigger, that's magic at work. Let's build what's next, together.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Smartsheet is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment with the best employees. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants in accordance with applicable laws in the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Costa Rica, Japan, Bulgaria, India, and Singapore. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

If there are preparations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please let us know.

\#LI\-Remote

Salary Context

This $155K-$185K range is above the median for Data Scientist roles in our dataset (median: $155K across 226 roles with salary data).

View full Data Scientist salary data →

Role Details

Company Smartsheet
Title Sr. Data Scientist II (Remote Eligible)
Location Bellevue, WA, US
Category Data Scientist
Experience Senior
Salary $155K - $185K
Remote Yes

About This Role

Data Scientists extract insights and build predictive models from data. In the AI era, many roles now include LLM-powered analytics, automated reporting, and integration with generative AI tools. The role has evolved from 'the person who runs SQL queries' to 'the person who builds AI-powered data products.'

Modern data science roles fall into two camps: analytics-focused (insights, dashboards, experimentation) and ML-focused (building predictive models, recommendation systems, NLP features). The best data scientists can operate in both modes. The AI shift means that even analytics-focused roles now involve building automated insight pipelines using LLMs, going well beyond one-off reports.

Across the 3,708 AI roles we're tracking, Data Scientist positions make up 8% of the market. At Smartsheet, this role fits into their broader AI and engineering organization.

Data Scientist roles remain in high demand, though the definition keeps shifting. Companies increasingly want candidates who can bridge traditional statistics with modern ML and LLM capabilities. The 'pure insights' data scientist role is consolidating into analytics engineering, while the 'build models' data scientist role is merging with ML engineering.

What the Work Looks Like

A typical week includes: analyzing experiment results for a product feature launch, building a predictive model for customer churn, creating an automated reporting pipeline using LLM-powered summarization, presenting insights to stakeholders, and cleaning data (always cleaning data). The ratio of analysis to engineering varies by company, but expect both.

Data Scientist roles remain in high demand, though the definition keeps shifting. Companies increasingly want candidates who can bridge traditional statistics with modern ML and LLM capabilities. The 'pure insights' data scientist role is consolidating into analytics engineering, while the 'build models' data scientist role is merging with ML engineering.

Skills Required

Drift Ai (2% of roles) Embeddings (6% of roles) Python (51% of roles) Pytorch (15% of roles) Tableau (4% of roles)

Python, SQL, and statistical modeling are the foundation. Increasingly, roles want experience with LLMs for data analysis, automated insight generation, and building AI-powered data products. Familiarity with cloud data platforms (Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks) and ML frameworks (scikit-learn, PyTorch) covers most job requirements.

Experimentation design and causal inference are underrated skills that separate strong candidates. Companies care about whether their product changes cause improvements, and can distinguish causation from correlation. A/B testing methodology, Bayesian statistics, and the ability to communicate uncertainty to non-technical stakeholders are high-value skills.

Good postings specify the data stack, the types of problems you'll work on, and the team structure. Look for companies that differentiate between analytics and ML data science. Vague 'data scientist' postings that list every skill under the sun usually mean the company doesn't know what they need.

Compensation Benchmarks

Data Scientist roles pay a median of $192,890 based on 463 positions with disclosed compensation. Senior-level AI roles across all categories have a median of $230,000. This role's midpoint ($170K) sits 12% below the category median. Disclosed range: $155K to $185K.

Across all AI roles, the market median is $217,500. Top-quartile compensation starts at $272,100. The 90th percentile reaches $325,000. For comparison, the highest-paying categories include AI Safety ($300,000) and Research Engineer ($280,000). By seniority level: Entry: $120,000; Mid: $200,000; Senior: $230,000; Director: $272,150; VP: $250,000.

Smartsheet AI Hiring

Smartsheet has 1 open AI role right now. They're hiring across Data Scientist. Based in Bellevue, WA, US. Compensation range: $185K - $185K.

Remote Work Context

Remote AI roles pay a median of $185,334 across 717 positions. About 14% of all AI roles offer remote work.

Career Path

Common paths into Data Scientist roles include Data Analyst, Statistician, Quantitative Researcher.

From here, career progression typically leads toward Senior Data Scientist, ML Engineer, AI Product Manager.

Start with statistics and SQL. Build a real analysis project on public data that demonstrates insight generation alongside model building. The market values data scientists who can communicate findings clearly to business stakeholders. If you want to move toward ML engineering, invest in software engineering fundamentals and production deployment skills.

What to Expect in Interviews

Interviews combine statistics, coding, and business acumen. SQL is almost always tested, often with complex joins and window functions. Expect a case study round where you're given a business problem and asked to design an analysis plan. Coding rounds focus on pandas, statistical modeling, and visualization. The strongest differentiator is how well you communicate insights to non-technical stakeholders during presentation rounds.

When evaluating opportunities: Good postings specify the data stack, the types of problems you'll work on, and the team structure. Look for companies that differentiate between analytics and ML data science. Vague 'data scientist' postings that list every skill under the sun usually mean the company doesn't know what they need.

AI Hiring Overview

The AI job market has 3,708 open positions tracked in our dataset. By seniority: 102 entry-level, 1,705 mid-level, 1,469 senior, and 432 leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level). Remote roles make up 14% of the market (508 positions). The remaining 3,180 roles require on-site or hybrid attendance.

The market median for AI roles is $217,500. Top-quartile compensation starts at $272,100. The 90th percentile reaches $325,000. Highest-paying categories: AI Safety ($300,000 median, 21 roles); Research Engineer ($280,000 median, 147 roles); AI Architect ($254,798 median, 67 roles).

Data Scientist roles remain in high demand, though the definition keeps shifting. Companies increasingly want candidates who can bridge traditional statistics with modern ML and LLM capabilities. The 'pure insights' data scientist role is consolidating into analytics engineering, while the 'build models' data scientist role is merging with ML engineering.

The AI Job Market Today

The AI job market spans 3,708 open positions across 16 role categories. The largest categories by volume: AI/ML Engineer (2,605), Data Scientist (310), AI Software Engineer (259). These three account for the majority of open positions, though smaller categories often have higher per-role compensation because of specialized skill requirements.

The seniority mix tells a story about where AI teams are in their maturity. Entry-level roles (102) are outnumbered by mid-level (1,705) and senior (1,469) positions, reflecting that most companies are past the 'build a team from scratch' phase and need experienced engineers who can ship production systems. Leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level) total 432 positions, representing the bottleneck between technical execution and organizational strategy.

Remote work availability sits at 14% of all AI roles (508 positions), with 3,180 requiring on-site or hybrid attendance. The remote share has stabilized after the post-pandemic correction. Senior and specialized roles (Research Scientist, ML Architect) are more likely to be remote-eligible than entry-level positions, partly because experienced hires have more negotiating power and partly because these roles require less hands-on mentorship.

AI compensation is structured in clear tiers. The market median sits at $217,500. Top-quartile roles start at $272,100, and the 90th percentile reaches $325,000. These figures include base salary with disclosed compensation. Total compensation (including equity, bonuses, and sign-on) runs 20-40% higher at companies that offer those components.

Category matters for compensation. AI Safety roles lead at $300,000 median, while Prompt Engineer roles sit at $140,000. The spread between highest and lowest-paying categories reflects the premium on specialized technical skills versus broader analytical roles.

The most in-demand skills across all AI postings: Python (1,890 postings), Aws (1,103 postings), Azure (877 postings), Rag (855 postings), Gcp (631 postings), Prompt Engineering (560 postings), Pytorch (545 postings), Claude (498 postings). Python dominates, appearing in the vast majority of role descriptions regardless of category. Cloud platform experience (AWS, GCP, Azure) is the second most common requirement. The newer entrants to the top skills list (RAG, vector databases, LLM APIs) reflect the shift from traditional ML toward generative AI applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on 463 roles with disclosed compensation, the median salary for Data Scientist positions is $192,890. Actual compensation varies by seniority, location, and company stage.
Python, SQL, and statistical modeling are the foundation. Increasingly, roles want experience with LLMs for data analysis, automated insight generation, and building AI-powered data products. Familiarity with cloud data platforms (Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks) and ML frameworks (scikit-learn, PyTorch) covers most job requirements.
About 14% of the 3,708 AI roles we track offer remote work. Remote availability varies by company and seniority level, with senior and leadership roles more likely to offer location flexibility.
Smartsheet is among the companies actively hiring for AI and ML talent. Check our company profiles for detailed breakdowns of open roles, salary ranges, and hiring trends.
Common next steps from Data Scientist positions include Senior Data Scientist, ML Engineer, AI Product Manager. Progression depends on whether you lean toward technical depth, people management, or product strategy.

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