How Data Science Personalizes User Experience

Meet Thomas, Lead Data Science Engineer. Based in Boston, Thomas has been with DraftKings since 2017, starting on the Analytics team before transitioning to Data Science in 2021. Thomas discusses his career journey and how his team is working on the personalization efforts that enhance our Sportsbook experience. Keep reading to learn more.

Starting On The Analytics Team

When I joined DraftKings in 2017, I was fresh out of college and eager to learn. I started on the Analytics team, where I spent the next four years working with our Product team to build out the tracking of our key customer flows and roadmap prioritization. Throughout my time here, our people-centric culture and collaborative discussions helped me understand the breadth of opportunities at DraftKings. So in 2021, I decided to challenge myself to something new and joined the Data Science team.

The Transition to Data Science

My move to the Data Science team was driven by my desire to explore what's possible for my career path. I was drawn to the team because it combines analytics and problem-solving — how we can implement solutions, investigate issues, and explore new possibilities. I knew I wanted to learn new skills, and the Data Science team seemed like the perfect next step in my career progression.

Transitioning to the Engineering team was definitely a step out of my comfort zone, but it came with immense growth:

Exposure to Machine Learning and software engineering skills: This opportunity allowed me to improve my modeling skills and learn how to apply them to solving business problems. When I started in Data Science, I gained a lot more exposure to the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and technologies used to deploy solutions to production.

Becoming a domain expert: A critical part of success as a Data Scientist at DraftKings is understanding customer needs and using Data Science to create better experiences. My time in Analytics gave me insights into how our customers used our product and the different pain points they experienced. Moving to Data Science allowed me to apply that knowledge to create a better product.

Personalization and Machine Learning

As we continue to push for innovation and build products that our customers will love, I've been working on personalization within Data Science to improve the app experience on our Sportsbook product. We currently have over 5,000 markets that our customers can bet on, and that number continues to grow. We want to show customers which markets would be most intriguing to them, whether based on their favorite team, players, their past betting activity, or what is currently trending. 

For example, if a customer frequently bets on soccer, we ensure their experience is tailored to that preference and might change depending on the season. The same personalization applies to other sports and products like casino games. All these different games happen around the clock and across several sports simultaneously, so we're constantly evolving and staying nimble in our personalization strategies. 

Team Culture and Collaboration

We've built an engaging and collaborative team culture, especially in Boston over the last year. We make it a point to come into the office together and socialize, which has helped us build stronger relationships that transfer to our work. In-person collaboration allows us to ask questions in real-time, solve problems together, and ensure that projects aren't done in silos. This collaborative environment allows everyone at DraftKings to learn and grow their careers while working on impactful projects.

The Future of Data Science at DraftKings

To scale efficiently, we'll continue to lean into speed and innovation. As a team, we're always looking for new areas of opportunity, ensuring that Data Science informs important decision-making. We create better iterations, measure success effectively, and build best-in-class products. We're just getting started, so I'm excited to see where our products will be in a few years and how it will level up everything we do at DraftKings.

Ready to join a team that prioritizes continuous learning and growth? We'll help you discover new skills and career opportunities. Explore open roles and join our Engineering team today.

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