Principal Data Scientist - Rentals Marketplace Ads Team

About the teamZillow Group’s mission is to give people the power to unlock life's next chapter. We're currently seeking a Principal Data Scientist to join the Rentals Marketplace Ads team! On the Marketplace team, we’re passionate about understanding Rentals Product performance through meticulous analysis and measurement. Our team works closely with Zillow’s Leadership on the Rentals team to uncover opportunities through data to deliver on the Zillow promise to customers - revolutionary and intuitive tools to find your dream home.
The Rentals Marketplace Ads Team sits within the larger Marketplace Ads & Sales Analytics (MASA) team. This role will focus on Zillow’s Rentals business and will work closely with product, strategy, engineering, sales, and marketing teams to deliver the data and insights necessary to grow the rentals marketplace. We work cross functionally with our data engineering and sales analytics counterparts who comprise the rest of MASA. Zillow Rentals has strong competitors in the space, but has been growing at an incredible rate for the last two years. As we continue to grow, the demands for higher quality and more targeted analysis will only increase. This role will be focused on supporting our multifamily products as well as digging into geo-specific market insights to enhance the overall partner and consumer experience for Zillow Rentals.

About the role

As a principal data scientist you’ll work closely with Zillow's Rentals data and product leadership teams to discover deep insights about the Zillow Rentals marketplace, while directly supporting product initiatives that affect our multifamily products. More specifically, this role will:

• Analyze and interpret large, complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and insights that support Zillow’s burgeoning rentals ecosystem.
• Collaborate with product stakeholders to define key metrics, goals, and objectives, and develop data-driven strategies to achieve them.
• Utilize causal inference techniques and novel experimental designs to evaluate the launches of pilot programs.
• Mentor and coach junior team members on executing analytic requests and help unblocking through code reviews & best practice sharing.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, such as product, marketing, engineering, and corporate strategy, to ensure relevant insights are surfaced for decision making.
• Collaborate with data engineering teams to design and optimize data pipelines and workflows to support efficient data collection, storage, and processing. 
• Effectively communicate complex analytical findings to diverse stakeholders, translating technical concepts into actionable insights and recommendations.
• Dive into Zillow's internal and third party data (think Databricks, Snowflake, Big Data) to develop solutions that will help move the business forward and enable better decisions at a rapid speed.

This role has been categorized as a Remote position. “Remote” employees do not have a permanent corporate office workplace and, instead, work from a physical location of their choice, which must be identified to the Company. U.S. employees may live in any of the 50 United States, with limited exceptions.

In California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington state, and Washington DC the standard base pay range for this role is $178,300.00 - $284,700.00 annually. This base pay range is specific to these locations and may not be applicable to other locations. In Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Vermont the standard base pay range for this role is $169,300.00 - $270,500.00 annually. The base pay range is specific to these locations and may not be applicable to other locations.

In addition to a competitive base salary this position is also eligible for equity awards based on factors such as experience, performance and location. Actual amounts will vary depending on experience, performance and location. Employees in this role will not be paid below the salary threshold for exempt employees in the state where they reside.

Who you are

You are a curious and passionate problem-solver who will not shy away from complexity or uncertainty! Come join us and use your expertise to help us find opportunities and guide our business into the future with powerful insights and recommendations. We're searching for a Data Scientist who has:

• A Ph.D or Master's degree in a quantitative field (e.g. science, engineering, economics, quantitative finance, operations research, statistics, or similar)
• 8+ years of work experience involving quantitative data analysis, experimentation and complex problem-solving
• A strong understanding of statistical concepts, measurement methods, A/B testing, causal inference techniques, and time series analysis
• Mastery of SQL, Excel, Python, along with some experience with Tableau, Databricks, or other visualization software. 
• Superb verbal and written communication skills with the ability to distill sophisticated issues and detailed analysis into simple, structured frameworks with concrete action plans
• Able to work cross-functionally and influence business partners to set realistic goals and focus on data-driven solutions
• Keen understanding and experience with online products

Get to know us

At Zillow, we’re reimagining how people move—through the real estate market and through their careers. As the most-visited real estate platform in the U.S., we help customers navigate buying, selling, financing and renting with greater ease and confidence. Whether you're working in tech, sales, operations, or design, you’ll be part of a company that's reshaping an industry and helping more people make home a reality.

Zillow is honored to be recognized among the best workplaces in the country. Zillow was named one of FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2025, and included on the PEOPLE Companies That Care® 2025 list, reflecting our commitment to creating an innovative, inclusive, and engaging culture where employees are empowered to grow.

No matter where you sit in the organization, your work will help drive innovation, support our customers, and move the industry—and your career—forward, together.

Zillow Group is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative environment with the best employees. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please contact your recruiter directly.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable state and local law.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.