Freelance Data Science Startup Jobs in California

Data Scientist

About OpenArt

OpenArt is an AI Storytelling and Visual Creation Platform used by millions worldwide. We’re building the next generation of creative tools powered by cutting-edge AI, enabling anyone to create videos, visuals, characters, and stories with unprecedented speed and imagination. We believe the future of creativity is AI-native, and we’re shaping that future.

Why Join OpenArt

• First Data Scientist hire in the US — set the bar, shape the function, and build the foundation of OpenArt\'s data science practice.

• Direct impact on product strategy — your work shapes what we build, how we prioritize, and how we measure success.

• Work across product, engineering, data, marketing, and finance — one of the most cross-functional roles in the company.

• Build from 0 → 1 — define how we use data to drive product decisions atOpenArt.

• High ownership, low process, fast iteration environment.

• 7–10X revenue growth over the past 2 years — now scaling our data and analytics infrastructure to match.

About the Role

We\'re looking for a Data Scientist to be our first DS hire in the US (we have a Data Analyst based in Shenzhen) and help build OpenArt\'s data science function from the ground up.

This role sits at the intersection of product, analytics, and experimentation —focused on turning data into product decisions that move the needle for millions of creators.

You\'ll work closely with cross-functional teams including Product, Engineering, Data Engineering, Marketing, and Finance. By applying your technical skills, analytical mindset, and product intuition, you will help our customers improve their creative experience and help OpenArt identify and solve product development\'s biggest challenges.

What You’ll Do

• Product leadership: use data to shape product development, quantify new opportunities, set goals, identify upcoming challenges, and ensure the products we build bring value to our customers.

• Analytics: develop hypotheses and employ a diverse toolkit of rigorous analytical approaches — different methodologies, frameworks, and technical techniques — to test them.

• Experimentation: design, run, and analyze A/B tests and other causal experiments; help establish the experimentation culture and standards across the company.

• Metrics and measurement: define and own key product metrics, build dashboards, and ensure leaders and teams have accurate, trusted data to make decisions.

• User and behavioral analysis: deep-dive into how users create, share, and engage on OpenArt to surface insights that drive retention, engagement, and monetization.

• Communication and influence: convince and influence your partners by telling clear data stories — translate complex analyses into crisp recommendations for PMs, engineers, and execs.

• Cross-functional partnership: collaborate with Data Engineering on instrumentation and pipelines, with Product/Eng on feature design and measurement, and with Marketing/Finance on growth and revenue analytics.

• Build the function: establish DS best practices, mentor over time, and help shape the team as it grows.

What We’re Looking For

Core Requirements

• Bachelor\'s or above in a quantitative discipline: Statistics, AppliedMathematics, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

• Minimum 3 years of work experience in analytics or data science

• Expert SQL and strong Python skills

• Deep understanding of statistical analysis, experimentation design, and common analytical techniques such as regression and decision trees

• Strong product intuition — able to connect numbers to user behavior and product decisions

• Strong verbal and written communication skills; able to tell clear data stories to both technical and non-technical audiences

• A humble, collaborative, can-do attitude and natural curiosity

• High ownership, fast execution, and strong attention to detail

Nice to Have

• Experience as the first or early DS hire at a startup

• Experience working with consumer products, marketplaces, or creator/UGC platforms

• Familiarity with experimentation platforms and causal inference methods

• Experience with BigQuery, Amplitude, Metabase, or similar tools in data stack

• Experience partnering with marketing/growth teams (LTV, retention, funnel analysis)

• Exposure to AI/ML products or generative AI

• Comfort working across time zones with a globally distributed team

⚙ Tech Stack You’ll Work With

BigQuery, SQL, Python, Amplitude, Metabase, Stripe, GCP

Compensation

• Competitive base salary and bonus program

• Equity — meaningful ownership in what you build

• High autonomy, high growth environment

Work Setup

• Bay Area preferred (hybrid allowed)

• Visa sponsorship available

• We’ll consider remote