Data Scientist

Most data scientists build models that optimize ad clicks or shopping carts. At Stanford Blood Center, your models help decide how blood gets to the patients who need it. If you want your AI and ML work to matter in a way you can actually see, keep reading.

We’re hiring a Data Scientist to build predictive models, deploy LLM-powered tools, and architect the data pipelines that power blood supply forecasting, resource optimization, and clinical decision support at Stanford Blood Center.

The Role, in Short

• Design and ship AI/ML models - from LLM fine-tuning and prompt engineering to predictive forecasting - that directly influence clinical and operational decisions.
• Own the data: build and optimize the ETL pipelines and EDW architecture your models (and everyone else’s dashboards) run on.
• Build real things people use - applications and tools, not just notebooks - using Python and solid software engineering practice.
• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with clinical and operational teams, and see the impact of your work in weeks, not quarters., You’ll have real latitude here - this is a team building its data science practice, not maintaining someone else’s roadmap. Your work directly supports a safe, sufficient blood supply for patients across the region while supporting the advancement of transfusion and transplantation medicine at Stanford. And as the practice grows, you’ll have the chance to mentor others.

• A Bachelor’s in computer science, data science, engineering, or related field (+4 years experience), or a Master’s in a related field.
• 3-5+ years building production ML/AI systems, ideally with real ownership of a data warehouse or complex ETL environment.
• Strong Python chops and genuine software engineering skill - not just modeling, but building things that run reliably in production.
• Hands-on LLM experience: fine-tuning, prompt engineering, deploying language models in real applications.
• Comfort moving between deep technical work and stakeholder conversations - you can explain a forecast to a clinician as easily as you can tune a query.

$75 - $100 an hour - Contract, Pulled from the full job description

• Flexible schedule

Located in Palo Alto, California, Stanford Blood Center leads the fields of transfusion and transplantation medicine by advancing science and technology. We provide hope for the future by teaching the medical leaders of tomorrow. We enhance lives by connecting donors to patients every day. Learn more at www.stanfordbloodcenter.org