Apartment List

Staff Data Scientist

Apartment List$203K — $238K *
US-AnywhereRemote in United States
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7+ years of experience in developing machine learning models in production.
  • Degree in a quantitative field like Computer Science, Mathematics, or Statistics.
  • Proficient in Python and SQL across the full model development lifecycle.
  • Familiar with ML libraries such as scikit-learn, XGBoost, and TensorFlow.
  • Experience with cloud platforms, ideally GCP.
  • Strong foundation in statistical learning and experimental design.
  • Ability to communicate with technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

  • Understand customer and business problems through data to define ML objectives.
  • Deliver end-to-end ML models, from problem framing to iteration.
  • Build models in areas with existing heuristics and improve production models.
  • Apply statistical methods for model development and decision-making.
  • Lead high-leverage technical projects, defining scope and managing trade-offs.
  • Collaboration with cross-functional teams to drive ML systems supporting business goals.
  • Mentor other data scientists to enhance modeling and analytical quality.

Benefits

  • Work on impactful ML systems that shape renter and property partner experiences.
  • Own end-to-end model development from opportunity identification to production.
  • Collaborate with exceptional colleagues in a high-performance environment.
  • Influence product and business strategy with your ML insights.
  • Contribute to a critical technical capability within the company.
  • Flexible virtual-first work environment.
Full Job Description
What you'll do

  • Deeply understand customer, marketplace, and business problems through the lens of data, and translate that understanding into clear ML objectives, features, models, and measurement plans.
  • Deliver and deploy end-to-end machine learning models, from problem framing and feature engineering through model development, experimentation, launch, monitoring, and iteration.
  • Build zero-to-one models in areas where heuristics or business rules are still in place, and improve existing production models across demand, supply, ranking, personalization, renter intent, and marketplace optimization.
  • Apply a strong statistical mindset to model development, experimentation, causal inference, tradeoff analysis, and decision-making.
  • Lead ambiguous, high-leverage technical work: define scope, evaluate approaches, manage tradeoffs, and align stakeholders around a clear path forward.
  • Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Design, Analytics, Marketing, GTM and Growth to build ML systems that drive renter value, property partner success, and business performance.
  • Communicate ML opportunities, tradeoffs, and results clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, including senior stakeholders.
  • Mentor and collaborate with other data scientists, helping raise the quality of our modeling, experimentation, and analytical practice.
  • Thoughtfully leverage modern AI tools to improve productivity across coding, analysis, documentation, and workflow automation.


What you'll bring

  • 7+ years of industry experience, or equivalent experience, developing, deploying, and iterating on machine learning models in production.
  • A degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Physics, or a related quantitative field.
  • Deep proficiency in Python and SQL, with comfort working across the full model development lifecycle.
  • Familiarity with standard ML libraries and frameworks such as scikit-learn, XGBoost, TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar tools.
  • Experience working with cloud platforms; GCP experience is preferred but not required.
  • Experience with a broad set of statistical and machine learning methods to solve and optimize critical business problems and metrics.
  • Strong technical and theoretical grounding in statistical learning, modeling, experimental design and analysis, and causal inference.
  • Strong ability to work through feature engineering, feature selection, hyperparameter tuning, model evaluation, and model optimization.
  • Ability to quantitatively research opportunities, define technical strategy, set clear scope, manage timelines, and drive measurable outcomes.
  • Comfort communicating and collaborating with cross-functional audiences across Product, Engineering, Design, Analytics, Marketing, GTM and Growth and senior business stakeholders.
  • Curiosity, judgment, and a hunger to dig into uncharted territory and make a meaningful impact.


Bonus points for

  • Experience optimizing within a two-sided marketplace or similarly complex multi-stakeholder environment.
  • Background in recommendation systems, ranking, personalization, search, or matching.
  • Experience with performance marketing models, paid acquisition, supply-side optimization, or marketplace incentives.
  • Familiarity with MLOps practices, ML engineering workflows, model monitoring, Airflow, dbt, or similar infrastructure.
  • A master's degree or PhD in a relevant quantitative field.


What's in it for you

  • Impact: Work on ML systems that directly shape the renter experience, property partner outcomes, and company performance.
  • Ownership: Build and own models end-to-end, from ambiguous opportunity through production launch and iteration.
  • Exceptional colleagues: Our hiring bar is high, and your teammates are talented, motivated, collaborative, and intellectually curious.
  • Influence: Have a strong voice within R&D and across the business, helping shape product, marketplace, and company strategy through data science.
  • A critical function: Help build and scale one of the most important technical capabilities at Apartment List.
  • Culture: Work in a virtual-first environment that allows you to work from anywhere in the U.S.


Here's the Pay Range:

At Apartment List, we carefully consider a variety of factors to determine compensation for each position, including the role, level, and work. The US base salary range for this position is:

  • Zone 1: $231,000 - $280,000 TTC (including $203,000 - $238,000 base salary) + equity
  • Zone 2: $214,000 - $259,000 TTC (including $188,000 - $220,000 base salary) + equity
  • Zone 3: $196,000 - $238,000 TTC (including $172,000 - $202,000 base salary) + equity


This reflects the compensation target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Please note, the compensation details provided do not include benefits and perks that we offer.

We also rely on market indicators along with considering your work location, job related skills, experience and relevant education and training, to determine compensation that is fair and competitive for you. Apartment List will consider paying compensation near the higher of the range in exceptional circumstances, where candidates have the experience, credentials or expertise that would warrant such consideration. It is always our goal to hire exceptional talent and we would be happy to share more about compensation during the hiring process.

Here's what's in it for you (full-time US based employees only; does not apply to contract roles):

  • Competitive Compensation: Including annual salary, pre-IPO stock options, and other financial compensation (if applicable)
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage: 100% of premiums covered for you AND all of your dependents
  • Unlimited Flexible Time Off: Unlimited FTO in addition to 12 company holidays per year, quarterly "recharge" days, and a week-long holiday break
  • Home Office Reimbursement: To cover home office furniture and supplies, monthly home internet, and monthly cell phone (if applicable)
  • Health & Wellness Reimbursement: To cover monthly gym membership or other qualifying expenses
  • Parental Support: Generous parental and family leave, fertility benefits, and employer-sponsored stipends towards family forming services
  • 401k Plan: To support you in your individual retirement goals
  • Team Events: Frequent team-building events, fun team off-sites, and bi-annual company meetups
  • Commitment to DEI: To prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within our workplace and to stay true to our values and mission
  • Mentorship and Training: To get you onboard quickly, learn new professional skills, and invest in your career development
  • Impact and Visibility: To expose you to and provide the opportunity to work on highly strategic initiatives that will transform the business
  • Encouragement and Empowerment: To explore and adopt new technologies and drive meaningful decisions and outcomes


About Apartment List

Apartment List is a platform that connects renters with apartment listings through an online marketplace. The company was founded in 2011 by John Kobs and Chris Erickson. The platform allows renters to search for apartments based on various criteria such as location, price, and amenities. Apartment List also provides tools for renters to schedule tours, apply for apartments, and pay rent online. The company has raised over $200 million in funding and has partnerships with over 5,000 property management companies. Apartment List has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the US by Inc. Magazine and Deloitte.
Learn more about Apartment List
Size
200 employees
Industry
Founded
2009

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