Senior Applied Scientist - Economics

Who We Are

2K is based in Novato, California and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). Established in 2005, 2K Games is an international video game company that publishes games developed by some of the world's most influential game development studios. The studios responsible for 2K's extensive collection of world-class games, which are available on various platforms, include Visual Concepts, Firaxis, Hangar 13, CatDaddy, Cloud Chamber, 31st Union, and HB Studios. As part of our global strategic plan, we are expanding our portfolio by building and acquiring exciting studios whose content continues to inspire us all! 2K publishes titles in the most popular gaming genres today, such as sports, shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, casual, and family entertainment.

Our team of engineers, marketers, artists, writers, data scientists, producers, thinkers, and doers act as the professional stewards of our increasingly recognized array of franchises like NBA 2K, 2K PGA, Battleborn, BioShock, Borderlands, The Quarry, The Darkness, Mafia, Sid Meier’s Civilization, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, WWE 2K, and XCOM.

At 2K, we take pride in creating an inclusive work environment which means we encourage our teams to come as they are and do their best work! We welcome ALL applicants to explore our global positions, even if they do not meet all the requirements for the role. If you are interested in the job and believe you have what it takes to work at 2K, we encourage you to apply!

We are seeking a versatile and experienced Senior Applied Scientist to join the Applied AI team and lead efforts on in-game economy structure, development, and optimization. You will collaborate with our Visual Concepts, HB, and other 2K Studio partners to design, manage, diagnose, and optimize in-game economies for NBA 2K, WWE 2K, PGAT 2K, and future unannounced 2K Sports titles. If you have a passion for video games, AI/ML technologies, and applying advanced scientific techniques to real-world problems, this is the role for you.

Responsibilities:

1. Working together with game developers, product managers, and analysts to identify applications of data science, machine learning, economics, and statistics in areas such as game economy health, balancing and intervention, in-game marketplace pricing, and mechanism design.
2. Researching, developing, and refining ML algorithms, and applying optimization, econometric, or simulation techniques to optimize game design, balance, and player experiences.
3. Evaluating the performance and impact of your solutions, and designing and conducting experiments as necessary.
4. Communicating your recommendations to developers and live services partners, and driving cross-functional collaboration to implement the solutions in games.
5. Working with engineers to deploy AI/ML solutions, integrate them with games, or streamline decision-support insights.

Requirements:

• A Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Operations Management, Decision Sciences, or a related field, and
• A demonstrated ability in machine learning, data science, economics, or applied research roles. Strong knowledge of ML techniques and algorithms, including both traditional machine learning and deep learning.
• Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn. Experience with SQL, relational databases, and tabular datasets is expected.
• A solid background in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics.
• A decent understanding of video game mechanics and virtual economy.
• Excellent communication skills, with the capacity to present complex ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Nice to have:

• Experience working on video game-related AI/ML or data science projects, game design, or game economy balancing.
• Experience in pricing optimization and revenue optimization.
• A background or experience in mathematical optimization, reinforcement learning, imitation learning, and simulation.
• Specialization in economics fields such as mechanism design, market design, or auction theory.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us If you require reasonable accommodation.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never use instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews and when emailing, only use 2K.com accounts.