Data Scientist

Sporting Kansas City is hiring a Data Scientist to drive end-to-end applied advanced modelling projects that strengthen decision-making and support an evidence-informed predictive framework. This onsite role in Center, TX brings you into close collaboration with coaches, scouts, analysts, and data teams to build interpretable, context-relevant models across medical, sports sciences, scouting, squad planning, and performance analysis.

What you’ll do

• Partner with coaches, analysts, scouts, and other stakeholders to identify football questions and translate them into advanced modelling work.
• Lead end-to-end development of applied advanced modelling projects, from problem definition through deployment and review cycles.
• Coordinate with the wider Data and Analytics team to ensure your modelling efforts align with Club and department strategy.
• Work closely with the First Team Data Engineer to ensure reliable data and production-ready workflows for advanced modelling.
• Collaborate with the First Team Data Analyst so model outputs become clear, actionable insights for end users.
• Champion adoption of advanced analytics across Sporting Kansas City through ongoing communication and collaboration.
• Build robust tooling for testing, validation, versioning, monitoring, model governance, and documentation to support best practices for experimentation.
• Continuously evaluate model performance and incorporate stakeholder feedback as the Club evolves.
• Assess emerging methods and research to keep Sporting Kansas City aligned with data science best practices and trends.
• Develop advanced models supporting medical, sports sciences, scouting, coaching, and performance analysis workflows.
• Support advanced football metrics, including player, team, league, and valuation models that combine multiple data sources.
• Develop advanced metrics using event, tracking, and physical data.
• Support predictive modelling for load monitoring and management, player availability, injury risk, and other key projects with medical and physical performance staff.
• Contribute to forecasting and scenario-analysis tools that support squad and salary cap planning in collaboration with Data and Analytics teams.
• Challenge existing data, systems, and practices to drive innovation.
• Productionize models and implement ML projects with the First Team Data Engineer.
• Represent Sporting Kansas City professionally, maintain confidentiality of sensitive information, and comply with Club policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What you bring

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, or a related STEM subject.
• Experience in a Data Science, Machine Learning, Applied Statistics or similar role.
• Proven experience designing, validating, and monitoring applied machine learning models.
• Strong experience using SQL and Python for data analysis, modelling, and automation.
• Strong understanding of statistical modelling, experimental design, and model evaluation.
• Creative and curious problem solver with a positive attitude to new challenges.
• Proactive, eager to learn, and able to pick up new skills while working as part of a team.
• Excellent attention to detail and evidence of developing strong analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills, translating technical concepts into practical solutions.

Preferred

• Prior experience working within an elite soccer club or high-performance sporting environment.
• Experience working with soccer event, tracking, and physical performance datasets.
• Experience developing models for elite athlete recruitment, physical performance, squad planning, player availability, and load and fatigue management.
• Experience deploying machine learning models and working with cloud-based environments.
• Strong understanding of technical and tactical aspects of soccer.
• Evidence of experience working in the MLS .
• Experience using data visualization tools such as Tableau or equivalent software.

Tools and technologies

• SQL
• Python
• Tableau

Work environment

• Ability to work in office, stadium, and outdoor environments, with travel as required.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds .
• Ability to work non-traditional hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays.