Data Scientist

Job Title: Data Scientist Pricing Automation & Optimization

Reports To: Sr. Manager, Data Scientist Pricing Automation & Optimization Data Science Leader

Position Summary

We are seeking a Data Scientist to lead cross-functional AI/ML initiatives and drive our enterprise-wide AI vision and strategy. This role is a bridge between tactical execution and long-term strategic planning, requiring a visionary who can work independently and collaboratively with data analytics professionals across and outside Royal Caribbean Group to deliver transformative AI/ML solutions. The Data Scientist will frequently interface with senior stakeholders, providing thought leadership and regular updates on key analytics initiatives. This position demands top-tier technical expertise in machine learning & generative AI, combined with exceptional written and oral communication skills. The ideal candidate is a proven leader who pairs expert-level modeling and software engineering skills with outstanding stakeholder management and strategic program leadership.

Essential Responsibilities

Own end-to-end model development for pricing, demand forecasting, and elasticity estimation; productionize models in Azure ML and Databricks.

Implement prescriptive analytics through optimization with Linear Programming, Mixed Integer Programming or Reinforcement Learning.

Implement and maintain feature stores, model monitoring workflows, and drift checks using MLflow (metrics, alerts, lineage).

Design and execute A/B tests or quasi-experiments to measure revenue, pricing uplift, and PCP attach rate impact.

Apply SHAP/LIME and other model interpretability tools to explain drivers of model behavior to Revenue Management partners.

Contribute to CI/CD workflows (Azure DevOps), support data contracts with Data Engineering, and develop scalable API and batch-serving patterns.

Communicate insights, assumptions, risks, and trade-offs in clear, concise, and executive-ready narratives.

Qualifications / Knowledge / Skills

2 4 years of hands-on Data Science experience delivering production-grade ML solutions.

Proficiency in Python (scikitlearn, XGBoost), Spark/Delta, SQL, Azure ML, Databricks, and MLflow; familiarity with PyTorch or TensorFlow is a plus.

Strong understanding of experimental design, statistical testing, and causal inference basics.

Ability to translate technical concepts into actionable business insights; skilled in stakeholder alignment and cross-functional communication.

Expectations by Dimension

Predictive Modeling (ML)
Strong practitioner with experience in time series forecasting, price elasticity modeling, and panel data techniques.

Prescriptive Modeling (Optimization / OR)
Foundational familiarity with linear and mixed-integer programming; experience or exposure to ORTools, Gurobi, or related optimizers.

Model Explainability
Working-level proficiency with SHAP, LIME, and other model transparency frameworks.

Software Engineering Skills
Writes modular, maintainable code; participates in code reviews; implements unit and integration tests.

A/B Testing & Experimentation
Designs experiments with senior review; able to calculate significance, power, and interpret test outcomes.

Change Management & Communication
Provides regular updates to business partners; comfortable addressing stakeholder questions and concerns.