[Hiring] Principal, Advanced Analytics – Subscriber Forecasting @DIRECTV

Role Description

DIRECTV is transforming its video portfolio across Signature, BYOD, DTVi, and Genre Packs within an increasingly dynamic and competitive subscription landscape. Accurate, forward-looking subscriber forecasting is critical to enterprise planning, marketing investment, product strategy, and financial decision-making.

The Principal, Advanced Analytics – Subscriber Forecasting is the senior leader responsible for architecting and governing DIRECTV’s end-to-end subscriber volume forecasting framework for designated products. This role owns the science behind forecasting Gross Adds, Churn, Reconnects, and Migrations—across run-rate expectations and scenario-based overlays.

This leader combines deep expertise in time-series forecasting, survival modeling, and advanced statistical methods with automation and AI enablement capabilities to modernize DIRECTV’s forecasting ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

• Enterprise Subscriber Volume Forecasting
  • Lead forecasting methodologies for Gross Adds, Churn, Reconnects, and Migrations across DIRECTV’s video portfolio.
  • Develop integrated forecasting frameworks that reconcile acquisition inflow, tenure-based churn dynamics, reconnect behavior, and product migrations.
  • Produce baseline (run-rate) forecasts and overlay models reflecting strategic initiatives, competitive shifts, seasonality, and macro impacts.
  • Ensure forecasts are transparent, defensible, and aligned across Marketing, Finance, Product, and Executive Leadership.
• Advanced Forecasting Methodologies
  • Apply and evolve advanced forecasting techniques, including:
    • Time-series modeling (ARIMA, SARIMA, state-space models)
    • Hierarchical forecasting frameworks
    • Survival analysis and hazard modeling for churn dynamics
    • Cohort-based and tenure-based decay modeling
    • Machine learning approaches (GBM, XGBoost, LSTM, ensemble methods)
  • Design migration models to capture movement across packages, platforms, and pricing constructs.
  • Incorporate industry trend signals, competitive dynamics, and structural shifts into forecasting assumptions.
  • Continuously test, backcast, and refine models to improve accuracy and reduce bias.
• Tenure Dynamics & Behavioral Modeling
  • Develop survival curves and hazard functions to model churn behavior across tenure cohorts.
  • Analyze lifecycle inflection points and structural breakpoints affecting retention and reconnect rates.
  • Build cohort-level forecasting models that capture evolving subscriber behavior over time.
  • Translate behavioral dynamics into actionable forecasting assumptions for enterprise planning.
• Scenario Planning & Overlay Strategy
  • Construct scenario frameworks that quantify impacts from:
    • Pricing actions
    • Promotional intensity
    • Competitive entry or disruption
    • Packaging shifts
    • Product transitions
  • Lead sensitivity analysis and stress testing to inform executive decision-making.
  • Provide structured, data-driven recommendations around forecast risks and opportunities.
• Automation & AI Enablement
  • Architect automated forecasting pipelines that reduce manual intervention and increase model scalability.
  • Build reproducible workflows using Python, SQL, and modern data orchestration tools.
  • Integrate AI and machine learning into forecasting workflows to enhance pattern detection, anomaly identification, and dynamic recalibration.
  • Develop self-service dashboards and monitoring systems that track forecast accuracy and model drift.
  • Modernize legacy forecasting processes into an AI-enabled forecasting ecosystem.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Governance
  • Serve as the enterprise authority on subscriber volume forecasting methodology.
  • Partner closely with Finance, Marketing, Product, Strategy, and Operations to align on assumptions and forecast outputs.
  • Establish governance standards for forecasting accuracy, version control, and scenario documentation.
  • Communicate complex modeling outputs to senior executives in a clear and structured manner.

Qualifications

• 5 – 7 years required, 7+ years desired experience in forecasting, advanced analytics, econometrics, or quantitative modeling.
• Deep expertise in time-series forecasting, survival analysis, cohort modeling, and statistical inference.
• Demonstrated experience forecasting subscription-based product volumes.
• Strong proficiency in Python, SQL, and advanced analytics libraries.
• Experience building automated modeling pipelines and scalable analytical systems.
• Familiarity with AI-driven forecasting enhancements and ensemble modeling approaches.
• Strong executive communication skills and ability to defend modeling assumptions.
• Advanced degree in Statistics, Economics, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or related quantitative field preferred.

Successful Profile

• A successful Principal, Advanced Analytics – Subscriber Forecasting at DIRECTV:
  • Brings scientific rigor and technical depth to enterprise forecasting.
  • Anticipates structural shifts before they materially impact performance.
  • Balances statistical sophistication with practical business applicability.
  • Modernizes forecasting through automation and AI integration.
  • Establishes DIRECTV as a best-in-class organization in subscription volume forecasting science.

Requirements

• May require a background check due to job duties requiring routine access to DIRECTV and DIRECTV customer’s proprietary data.
• Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction will be considered for employment in accordance with local ordinances and state law.
• This is a remote position that can be located anywhere in the contiguous United States. #LI-Remote

Benefits

• DIRECTV's compensation structure is designed to be market-competitive and fully supports efforts to attract and retain employees.
• It is the company's policy to offer pay that is competitive with other employers in the local market.
• Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location.
• The Base Salary range displayed below reflects the minimum and maximum target salary for each of DIRECTV's 4 (four) US Labor Market Zones.
• Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
• DIRECTV WAGE ZONES: $134,363 - $244,036
  • Low (N1): $134,363 - $201,595
  • Mid (N2): $141,435 - $212,205
  • High (N3): $155,579 - $233,426
  • Top (N4): $162,650 - $244,036
• Click HERE to review information on some of the largest Designated Market Areas (DMAs).
• Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
• Please note that the salary ranges reflect base salary only and do not include bonus or benefits - when you consider all of these together, it represents a pretty impressive total compensation package.

Company Description

A career with DIRECTV comes with big rewards.