Principal Decision Scientist, Instructure
$200-220k
+ Equity + Bonus
Dynamic learning management platform
Open for applications
Dynamic learning management platform
1001+ employees
Open for applications
$200-220k
+ Equity + Bonus
1001+ employees
Company mission
To help learners thrive in tomorrow's landscape by delivering a future-ready ecosystem.
Role
Who you are
- PhD or Master's degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Economics, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, or a related quantitative field
- 8+ years of experience in data science, analytics, or a related discipline with a track record of delivering measurable business impact
- Expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning, causal inference, and experimental design (A/B testing)
- Deep familiarity with AI tooling (Claude/ChatGPT/Glean) to improve throughput
- Strong proficiency in SQL for data extraction and manipulation
- Proficiency in Python or R for data analysis, modeling, and visualization
- Experience working with modern data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, fivetran)
- Strong communication and storytelling skills with the ability to translate complex analyses into clear recommendations
- Demonstrated ability to lead end-to-end data science initiatives from problem definition through deployment and impact measurement
- Experience working in SaaS, product analytics, or EdTech environments is a plus
- Ability to operate independently while collaborating effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment
What the job involves
- The Principal Decision Scientist at Instructure will play a key role in elevating how data informs strategic decisions across the organization in an AI first era
- As a technical leader within our newly formed Decision Science group, you will partner closely with product, engineering, marketing, and executive leadership to identify high-impact opportunities, design rigorous experimentation frameworks, and deliver predictive insights that drive measurable business value across the Canvas LMS and broader Instructure ecosystem
- This is a high-visibility opportunity to help build and shape a modern decision science capability at scale
- You will help establish best practices for experimentation, causal analysis, and advanced analytics while mentoring other data scientists and analysts and influencing how data guides product innovation and business growth
- As a Principal Decision Scientist, you will help define how data informs decisions across Instructure
- You will play a foundational role in shaping the company’s decision science capabilities—driving experimentation, influencing product strategy, providing recommendations to further business outcomes and unlocking the value of Instructure’s data to power innovation across the learning ecosystem
- Drive business impact through data-driven insights
- Identify high-value opportunities to improve product adoption, customer engagement, and revenue growth through advanced analytics and predictive modeling
- Default to AI first thinking to design analysis, recommend solutions, elevate standards/throughput on the team
- Lead experimentation and causal analysis
- Design and execute rigorous A/B tests and causal inference studies to evaluate the impact of new product features, marketing strategies, and operational initiatives
- Influence product and business strategy
- Partner with product managers, engineers, marketing leaders, and executives to translate complex business questions into analytical approaches that inform strategic decisions
- Deliver end-to-end analytical solutions
- Own the full lifecycle of analytical initiatives—from identifying opportunities and building models to partnering with business teams to drive adoption and measurable impact
- Establish decision science best practices
- Serve as a technical leader within the Decision Science organization by defining standards for experimentation, modeling, and analytical rigor
- Mentor and elevate the analytics community
- Guide and mentor data scientists and analysts across the organization by demonstrating best practices in technical execution and business partnership
- Advance analytics and AI capabilities
- Explore emerging analytics and AI technologies to unlock new insights and help evolve Instructure’s data and decision-making capabilities
- Communicate insights clearly and effectively
- Translate complex analytical findings into actionable recommendations for both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Our take
Instructure is an education technology company, creator of the Canvas Learning Management Platform that allows schools to build digital learning environments that meet the needs of their institutions. The platform simplifies teaching, elevates learning, and eliminates the headaches of supporting and growing traditional learning technologies.
The Canvas platform has grown to become a key part of a large number of educational institutions, from pre-school to higher education. Meanwhile, the company has gone international and hit the $1 billion market cap, made a number of acquisitions and invested in R&D. In fact, much of Instructure's workforce is dedicated to R&D, which shows their focus on innovating.
Instructure was itself acquired in 2024 by KKR, which supports a broad-based equity ownership program for Instructure employees. With KKR's record of acquired companies, this is a promising development. And, as the company centres a future-oriented vision and brand strategy, it will be interesting to see what it does next.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
3% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (2 rounds)
Jun 2016
$4m
SERIES A
Aug 2015
$1.5m
CONVERTIBLE
Total funding: $5.5m
Company benefits
- Join a passionate community of educators and the people working to support them
- Access to a large course library, mentoring and coaching opportunities, and regular feedback
- Community engagement (partnerships, volunteering, free learning resources, and ongoing outreach efforts)
- Office culture that values outcomes and impact above all
- Equity and ownership programs give every employee a stake in our future
- Ownership, recognition, and celebrations of shared success
- Growth opportunities (we’re all about helping our people move into (and thrive in) new roles)
Company HQ
Cottonwood Heights, UT
Leadership
Steve Daly
(CEO)They have a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a MBA in Strategy and Finance with more than 20 years experience in hardware and software industries.
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