Senior Data Scientist

Senior Data Scientist at Sophos

Sophos is a global leader and innovator in advanced cybersecurity solutions. With the acquisition of Secureworks, Sophos has become the largest pure-play Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider, safeguarding over 28,000 organizations. Their comprehensive portfolio, powered by Sophos X-Ops and the newly added Counter Threat Unit (CTU), includes endpoint, network, email, and cloud security, all interoperating through the Sophos Central platform.

Sophos distributes these solutions globally through reseller partners, Managed Service Providers (MSPs), and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), defending over 600,000 organizations from various cybercrimes.

The Role: Senior Data Scientist

Sophos is seeking a Senior Data Scientist with a strong research mindset to drive advanced machine learning innovation within the security domain. This role involves leading exploratory research, independently designing and executing experiments, and developing novel methodologies that push the boundaries of ML-driven security. You will engage hands-on in data curation, feature development, and model experimentation, while also contributing to scientific publications, internal frameworks, and production-grade integrations. This is a prime opportunity for someone who thrives in a highly technical, inquiry-driven environment and aims to influence both the scientific community and real-world security outcomes through original research.

What You Will Do

• Apply general security and ML domain knowledge to problems, identifying new research avenues.
• Define and execute experiments to support research on projects with minimal supervision.
• Independently explore data curation, labeling, and feature extraction using domain expertise.
• Document experiment results, drawing and supporting conclusions; evaluate business case/impact.
• Contribute significantly to group publications and presentations, including occasional lead or sole authorship of academic publications and presenting work at conferences.
• Stay updated on current research and developments in ML and security.
• Contribute to internal tools, identifying gaps and implementing significant changes to accommodate new technologies.
• Integrate new models into existing frameworks and support hand-off to production.
• Support existing model releases, including updates, improvements, and integration with internal tools and systems.

What You Will Bring

• Fluent in machine learning and statistical concepts; able to identify, grasp, and apply relevant scientific literature.
• Fluent in Python and a database query language like SQL.
• Good general writing skills and ability to translate complex concepts for general consumption.
• Competent at contributing to scientific papers with minimal assistance; prior publications and talks are a bonus.

Nice to Have

• General security domain knowledge, with potential for deeper expertise in a security subdomain.
• Familiarity or interest in lower-level languages like C++.

Compensation & Benefits

For this role in Canada, the base salary ranges from $123,000 to $205,000 CAD, supplemented by bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits package. Specific compensation will vary based on skills, experience, location, and other factors.

Working at Sophos

Sophos operates a remote-first model, prioritizing flexibility for most employees while some roles may adopt a hybrid approach. The company fosters an innovative, fun, and team-spirited environment, supported by employee-led diversity networks, global sustainability initiatives, and various wellbeing programs. Sophos is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring equal opportunity regardless of background.

Key skills/competency

• Machine Learning
• Data Science
• Cybersecurity
• Research & Development
• Python
• SQL
• Statistical Modeling
• Threat Intelligence
• Experiment Design
• Scientific Publication