Data Scientist, Performance and Reliability

Cursor2 weeks ago

Location

San Francisco

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 150,000 – 225,000

Level

Senior

Role

Data Scientist

Posted

May 5, 2026

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

Cursor is seeking a Data Scientist specializing in Performance and Reliability to help define how the company leverages data for decision-making and enhancing user experiences across AI interactions. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in developing metrics, performance frameworks, and data tooling to improve product stability and user satisfaction.

What you'll do

Performance Metrics Design: Design and implement comprehensive metrics to measure stability of product surfaces and AI agent harness

Performance Framework Development: Build robust measurement and rollout frameworks to prevent, detect, and root cause performance regressions

Data Tooling Collaboration: Partner with engineering teams to develop self-serve data analysis tools and capabilities

User Experience Analysis: Identify and analyze performance and reliability issues that significantly impact user experience and frustration levels

What we look for

Technical

Data Science ExpertiseAdvanced proficiency in statistical analysis, experimental design, and causal inference techniques

Performance MetricsExperience operationalizing north star performance metrics across product pillars

Data ToolingProven ability to build and implement data tooling for non-technical users

Education

Academic BackgroundAdvanced degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Data Science, or related quantitative field preferred

Experience

Professional Experience5+ years of data science experience in high-growth technology companies

Cross-Functional CollaborationDemonstrated ability to work directly with engineering teams on measurement and strategic initiatives

Skills

Required skills

Statistical AnalysisAdvanced statistical modeling and experimental design skills

Performance MeasurementExpertise in developing and tracking performance metrics

Causal InferenceStrong capabilities in understanding and applying causal inference techniques

Nice to have

AI Performance OptimizationExperience with AI system performance analysis and optimization

Full Stack Data ScienceAbility to work across different technology layers and data ecosystems

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 150,000 – 225,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Stock Options

Equity compensation in a high-potential AI startup

Health Insurance

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Remote Flexibility

Potential for hybrid work arrangements

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Phone or video call with recruiting team to discuss background and role fit
2
Technical Assessment — Take-home data science challenge focusing on performance analysis and metric design
3
Technical Interviews — Multiple rounds of interviews with data science and engineering team members
4
Final Interview — Discussion with leadership about strategic vision and potential contributions