Senior Data Scientist, Wharton Graduate Division

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Posted Job Title

Senior Data Scientist, Wharton Graduate Division

Job Profile Title

Job Description Summary

The Senior Data Scientist – Algorithmic Systems is a key member of the Data Science team supporting the full-time, Executive, and Global Wharton MBA programs. Reporting to the Director of Data Science, this role is instrumental in advancing analytics-driven solutions that enhance the student experience and improve office productivity.

This position will lead the enhancement, maintenance, and expansion of Wharton’s Course Match registration system—Wharton's MBA registration system that allocates course schedule. As a technically advanced implementation of modern mechanism design, Course Match is central to the MBA academic experience and requires continued refinement and innovation. The Senior Data Scientist will contribute directly to its algorithm and infrastructure integration, with responsibilities spanning optimization tuning, heuristic development (e.g., Tabu Search), performance diagnostics, and production-level feature development. The role demands expertise in mixed-integer programming (MIP), fluency in Python, and the ability to deliver clean, modular, and maintainable production code.

The position also plays a strategic role in evaluating and integrating a new optimization engine into Course Match, collaborating with internal stakeholders such as the MBA Program Office, Wharton Computing, and the University Registrar, and engaging with external vendors to ensure system robustness, scalability, and alignment with institutional practices, policies, and priorities.

Beyond Course Match, the Senior Data Scientist will contribute to a broader portfolio of academic affairs and data science initiatives, including AI integration, predictive modeling, statistical analysis, machine learning, and analytics infrastructure development. A major focus will be building reusable, scalable, and automated Python-based solutions that enable long-term innovation within the MBA Program Office and Wharton Computing.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in algorithmic systems and applied data science, with a demonstrated ability to manage complex technical projects from ideation through deployment. They will be adept at translating technical insights for diverse audiences, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and providing mentorship and thought leadership to colleagues. Outstanding communication skills and a highly collaborative mindset are essential.

**This role is a two-year appointment, with the potential for continuation.

Job Description

Duties

• Lead development and ownership of Course Match
• Serve as the primary developer and systems owner for Course Match registration system, including algorithm and infrastructure integration.
• Algorithmic and performance refinement
• Design and