---
title: 'Senior Data Scientist II - Ads Optimization at Instacart'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-data-scientist-ii-ads-optimization-instacart-canada-3yrry955csjx'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-18'
---

# Senior Data Scientist II - Ads Optimization at Instacart

- **Company:** Instacart
- **Location:** Canada
- **Compensation:** $192k–$203k
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-09-28
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-18
- **Apply:** https://instacart.careers/job/?gh_jid=8237079

## Job description

We're transforming the grocery industry

At Instacart, we invite the world to share love through food because we believe everyone should have access to the food they love and more time to enjoy it together. Where others see a simple need for grocery delivery, we see exciting complexity and endless opportunity to serve the varied needs of our community. We work to deliver an essential service that customers rely on to get their groceries and household goods, while also offering safe and flexible earnings opportunities to Instacart Personal Shoppers.

Instacart has become a lifeline for millions of people, and we’re building the team to help push our shopping cart forward. If you’re ready to do the best work of your life, come join our table.

Instacart is a Flex First team

There’s no one-size fits all approach to how we do our best work. Our employees have the flexibility to choose where they do their best work—whether it’s from home, an office, or your favorite coffee shop—while staying connected and building community through regular in-person events. [Learn more about our flexible approach to where we work.](https://www.instacart.careers/flex-first)

## Overview

Instacart's Ads Optimization team is the decision-making engine of our $1B+ ads business. We own the systems responsible for bidding, pacing, budgeting, targeting, and additional optimization layers that convert advertiser goals into real-time outcomes — all while balancing value across users, advertisers, retail partners, and Instacart. As a Senior Data Scientist on this team, you will drive the analytics, experimentation, and algorithmic strategy that determines how our ad supply and demand meet, and how value and surplus are created and distributed across the platform.

In this role, you will operate at the intersection of data science, economics, and production systems, partnering closely with Product, Engineering, and Machine Learning to build and ship solutions that directly impact Instacart's revenue and advertiser outcomes. Your work will touch the full research-to-production loop — from problem framing and modeling to experimentation, measurement, and iteration in live systems.

## About the Job

- Own the analytics and experimentation strategy for pacing, targeting, and related optimization areas, driving measurable improvements in advertiser outcomes and platform efficiency
- Design and build intelligent pacing algorithms and budget allocation systems grounded in adaptive control and model-predictive control techniques, deployed in high-throughput production environments
- Lead end-to-end experimentation across optimization systems — designing experiment frameworks, diagnosing complex or conflicting signals, and translating results into clear, actionable recommendations for Product and Engineering leadership
- Apply causal inference, statistical modeling, and ML techniques to optimize how ad spend is distributed across time and auction opportunities, balancing user experience, advertiser goals, and platform revenue
- Present findings and strategic recommendations to leadership across Product, Engineering, and Data Science
- Serve as a thought leader and technical anchor in the Ads Optimization space, setting the analytical standard and mentoring peers across the team
- Collaborate with the Ads Product and Sales teams to gather advertiser feedback and inform optimization priorities

## About You

## Minimum Qualifications

- Proven experience in ads optimization at an ad tech company (e.g., Google, Meta, Amazon, TikTok, or equivalent), with hands-on work in pacing, targeting, budget allocation, or related systems
- Strong data science foundation: product and data analysis, A/B experimentation, causal inference, and statistical modeling
- Experience shipping optimization systems into production — not just research, but real measurement and iteration in live environments
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex technical findings for senior business and engineering stakeholders
- 6+ years of work experience in a data science or related field

## Preferred Qualifications

- Experience collaborating directly with an ads product or sales team, or with advertisers, to shape product and algorithmic priorities
- Background in budget-constrained allocation methods, adaptive control, or model-predictive control in production systems

#LI-Remote Instacart provides highly market-competitive compensation and benefits in each location where our employees work. This role is remote and the base pay range for a successful candidate is dependent on their permanent work location. Please review our Flex First remote work policy [here](https://instacart.careers/flex-first/). Currently, we are only hiring in the following provinces: Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia.

Offers may vary based on many factors, such as candidate experience and skills required for the role. Additionally, this role is eligible for a new hire equity grant as well as annual refresh grants. Please read more about our benefits offerings [here](https://instacart.careers/taste-of-instacart/).

For Canadian based candidates, the base pay ranges for a successful candidate are listed below.

CAN $192,000—$202,500 CAD

## About Instacart

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Instacart is the leading online grocery platform in North America, offering same-day delivery and pickup services from over 700 retail partners.
- **Entity Type**: Private (venture-backed)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2012
- **Founders**: Max Mullen (co-founder) [instacart.careers](https://www.instacart.careers/flex-first)

## Core Business
- Primary industries: Online grocery delivery, internet & web services
- Target customers: B2C consumers; also B2B partnerships with retailers and brands
- Mission: “Our mission is to create a world where everyone has access to the food they love and more time to enjoy it together.” [glassdoor.com](https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-Instacart-EI_IE714486.11,20.htm)

## Products & Services
- **Instacart Platform**: Same-day delivery and pickup from grocery stores, superstores, and local shops. Customers order via mobile app or website.
- **Instacart+**: Premium membership offering reduced delivery fees, lower service fees, and special perks.
- **Retail Partnerships**: Instacart powers e‑commerce and fulfillment for over 700 retailers across the U.S. and Canada.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (private company).
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue not disclosed; employee count between 1,001 and 5,000 per Glassdoor. [glassdoor.com](https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-Instacart-EI_IE714486.11,20.htm)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not listed in provided sources – state “Not publicly available” per search results.
- **Growth Signals**: 47% of job seekers rate their interview experience positively; 59% of employees would recommend the company. [glassdoor.com](https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-Instacart-EI_IE714486.11,20.htm) The company highlights a “high-impact environment” where you can “do in two years what might take five at another company.” [instacart.careers](https://www.instacart.careers/taste-of-instacart)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Network effects**: Largest online grocery platform in North America with deep integrations across major retailers.
- **Scale & brand recognition**: Highly trusted name in grocery delivery, with a large base of both consumers and shoppers.
- **Flex First model**: A remote-friendly culture that allows hiring top talent across the U.S. and Canada, reducing geographic constraints.

## Strategic Focus
- **Flex First & distributed work**: Empowering employees to work from home or offices, with periodic “Team Jams” for in‑person collaboration. [instacart.careers](https://www.instacart.careers/flex-first)
- **Continued platform growth**: Expanding retailer partnerships and improving the shopping experience for customers, shoppers, and brands.
- **Employee experience**: Investing in learning & development, wellness, and community impact programs to attract and retain talent.

## Why Work Here
- **Flex First philosophy**: Employees can work remotely from anywhere in the U.S. (excluding Alaska and territories) or Canada (Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia) with no mandatory return-to-office date. Offices remain open for optional use. [instacart.careers](https://www.instacart.careers/flex-first)
- **Comprehensive benefits** (from the “Taste of Instacart” page): [instacart.careers](https://www.instacart.careers/taste-of-instacart)
  - Flexible time off and “Four Year Fill‑Up” (four consecutive weeks of leave around the 4‑year mark)
  - Family‑building benefits (fertility, adoption, surrogacy support)
  - Learning & development programs with an annual allowance
  - 401(k) matching in the U.S. / RRSP in Canada, student loan assistance, financial planning
  - Work‑from‑home stipend and internet reimbursement
  - Monthly “Treat Yourself” stipend for wellness or personal care
  - Mental and physical wellness programs, medical/dental/vision coverage
  - Free Instacart+ membership
  - Community volunteer programs (Instacart Serves, donation matching, “Carrot Credits”)
- **Culture**: 59% of employees on Glassdoor would recommend the company; Glassdoor ratings show 3.5★ overall, with 3.3★ for culture & values and 3.6★ for career opportunities. [glassdoor.com](https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-Instacart-EI_IE714486.11,20.htm) The company describes itself as a place where you can “shape the career that nourishes you.”

## Sources
1. [Glassdoor – Instacart Overview](https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-Instacart-EI_IE714486.11,20.htm)
2. [Instacart Careers – Home](https://www.instacart.careers/)
3. [Instacart Careers – Flex First](https://www.instacart.careers/flex-first)
4. [Instacart Careers – Taste of Instacart](https://www.instacart.careers/taste-of-instacart)

## Other roles at Instacart

- [CX Vendor Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/cx-vendor-manager-instacart-united-states-mw0984tafpk3) — United States
- [Senior Sales Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-sales-engineer-instacart-canada-1zqb878zmf5t) — Canada
- [Senior Sales Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-sales-engineer-instacart-united-states-xqan3yrnj1n3) — United States
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