Associate Principal Data Scientist Player Experience Analytics

Associate Principal Data Scientist, Player Experience Analytics

At Rockstar Games, we create world-class entertainment experiences. Become part of a team working on some of the most rewarding, large-scale creative projects to be found in any entertainment medium - all within an inclusive, highly-motivated environment where you can learn and collaborate with some of the most talented people in the industry.

Rockstar is on the lookout for an experienced Data Scientist to join our Analytics team to scale our Game Security and Trust & Safety capabilities. In this role, you'll develop sophisticated detection systems, establish community safety metrics, and leverage advanced analytics to protect our player communities through data visualization, anomaly detection, supervised learning, and community health measurement.

This is a full-time, in-office position based out of Rockstar’s NYC headquarters in Downtown Manhattan.

What We Do

• Partner with Trust & Safety and Game Security teams to conduct high-impact projects that shape player safety policies, inform strategy, and ensure regulatory compliance (GDPR, DSA, OSA).
• Develop detection systems, advanced analytics models (graph analytics, NLP), and scalable machine learning applications protecting millions of players.

Responsibilities

• Drive complex investigations and data-driven strategies addressing cheating, griefing, toxicity, and harassment at scale.
• Develop and automate detection solutions for cheats, exploits, and violations with Game Security team.
• Serve as subject matter expert on Trust & Safety metrics, regulatory compliance, and transparency reporting.
• Design sophisticated detection systems balancing player safety with user experience using rule-based and ML approaches.
• Translate complex analytical findings into actionable insights for technical and non-technical audiences, including executives.
• Establish and monitor Trust & Safety and Anti-Cheat KPIs with dashboards enabling data-driven decisions.
• Mentor junior team members and advance analytical best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's in STEM field (Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics); advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years in data science/analytics with expertise in Security, Anti-Cheat, Trust & Safety, or related domains.
• Strong SQL proficiency with large-scale databases.
• Advanced Python, PySpark, and data science tools (numpy, pandas, scikit-learn) in cloud production environments.
• Required expertise in one: graph analytics for coordinated behavior, NLP for content moderation/toxicity, or network analysis for community safety.
• Experience with Trust & Safety metrics, transparency reporting, and regulatory frameworks (GDPR, DSA, OSA).
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills with ability to influence executive strategy.
• Expert data storytelling—translating sophisticated analytics into clear narratives driving policy decisions.
• Strategic thinking balancing player safety, user experience, and business objectives.
• Passion for creating safe, inclusive gaming communities.

PLUSES

• Trust & Safety and/or Anti-Cheat experience at gaming, social media, or UGC platforms.
• Real-time detection systems and streaming analytics experience.
• Advanced ML Techniques (Transformers, LLMs, GenAI) for content moderation.
• Graph analytics for coordinated behavior detection.
• Published research or thought leadership in Trust & Safety, content moderation, or online community safety.
• Experience with big data technologies (PySpark) and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure, Databricks).
• Multilingual capabilities or experience with non-English content moderation challenges.

How To Apply

Please apply with a CV and cover letter demonstrating how you meet the skills above. If we would like to move forward with your application, a Rockstar recruiter will reach out to you to explain next steps and guide you through the process.

Rockstar is committed to creating a work environment that promotes equal opportunity, dignity and respect. In line with this commitment, Rockstar will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process in order for such applicants to be considered for the position for which they are applying, as well as to qualified employees to enable them to perform the essential functions of their roles. If you need more information about Rockstar’s reasonable accommodation policies or process, or need to request an accommodation, please notify your recruiter during the interview process.

If you’ve got the right skills for the job, we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from all suitable candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief, race, or any other protected category.

Compensation

The pay range for this position in New York State (inclusive of New York City) at the start of employment is expected to be between the range below* per year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.

Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an "at-will position" and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

NY Base Pay Range

$121,400—$161,800 USD

Key skills/competency

• Data Science
• Player Experience Analytics
• Game Security
• Trust & Safety
• Machine Learning
• NLP
• Graph Analytics
• SQL
• Python
• Data Storytelling