Data Science Lead Jobs in Minnesota

Data Science Lead jobs in Minnesota are in active demand, concentrated in financial services, health tech, retail analytics, and enterprise software across the Twin Cities metro, with smaller clusters in Rochester and Duluth. Major employers with a lasting Minnesota presence include UnitedHealth Group, Target, and Mayo Clinic, all of which maintain dedicated data science functions that regularly hire at the lead level. The most sought-after specialties are machine learning engineering, predictive modeling for health and insurance applications, and retail demand forecasting. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Data Science Lead Jobs

Overview

Open roles14
Top employerMayo Clinic
Top cityMinneapolis, MN
Cities hiring7
Work type57% Hybrid
Top industryEducation

Showing 4 of 14+ Data Science Lead jobs

Barr Engineering
Internship - Data Science (Remote)
We won't show you this job again
Barr Engineering
Added 1d ago
Internship - Data Science (Remote)
Barr Engineering
Minneapolis, Minnesota
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
ML (Machine Learning)
$30 - $38/hr
Remote (US)
501-1,000

Have you applied for this role?

Mayo Clinic
Principal Data Science Analyst
We won't show you this job again
Mayo Clinic
Added 3d ago
Principal Data Science Analyst
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota
Business Operations
Business Strategy
Consulting & Professional Services
$148k.59 - $215k/yr
Hybrid
Master's degree in health science
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Mayo Clinic
Senior Data Science Analyst - AI Program
We won't show you this job again
Mayo Clinic
Added 3d ago
Senior Data Science Analyst - AI Program
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota
Business Operations
Business Strategy
Consulting & Professional Services
$128k.6 - $186k.2/yr
Hybrid
Master's degree in health science
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Securian Financial
Data Science and Advanced Analytics Internship - Summer 2027
We won't show you this job again
Securian Financial
Added 1w ago
Data Science and Advanced Analytics Internship - Summer 2027
Securian Financial
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
Hybrid
5,001-10,000

Have you applied for this role?

See All 14 Data Science Lead Jobs in Minnesota

Find roles in Minnesota that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Data Science Lead Jobs

Data Science Lead Jobs by City in Minnesota

Where Minnesota roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Minneapolis
4 jobs
Rochester
3 jobs
Medina
2 jobs
Saint Paul
2 jobs
Lakeville
1 job
Northfield
1 job
Eden Prairie
1 job

Data Science Lead Job Market in Minnesota

A snapshot from current Minnesota openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic3 open roles
Polaris Industries
Polaris Industries2 open roles
Optum
Optum1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education

What Minnesota Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in data science lead jobs across Minnesota.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in data science, statistics, computer science, or a related quantitative field
  • Five or more years of applied data science experience with at least two years in a team lead or technical lead role
  • Proficiency in Python or R alongside SQL and experience with cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure
  • Demonstrated ability to translate complex analytical findings into decisions for non-technical business stakeholders
  • Experience managing or mentoring junior data scientists and setting modeling standards across a team
  • Familiarity with machine learning frameworks such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch in production environments

Data Science Lead Jobs in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a data science lead in Minnesota?

Data science lead is not a licensed profession in Minnesota, so there is no state board or exam required. Most hiring managers in the Twin Cities and Rochester expect a bachelor's degree in a quantitative field and several years of hands-on modeling work before a lead title is considered. Building a portfolio of end-to-end projects, earning cloud certifications from AWS or Google, and contributing to team mentorship in a senior individual-contributor role are the most common steps Minnesota employers look for before promoting or hiring at the lead level.

How much do data science leads make in Minnesota?

Data science leads in Minnesota earn a median of about $128,800 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,730 for the lowest 10% to over $179,640 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire data science leads in Minnesota?

Minnesota data science lead roles are posted by Mayo Clinic, Polaris Industries, and Optum and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Minnesota's concentration of large health insurers, national retailers headquartered in the Twin Cities, and medical device and health system employers in Rochester creates unusually consistent demand for senior data science talent year-round.

Which Minnesota cities have the most data science lead jobs?

Minneapolis, Rochester, and Medina account for the greatest concentration of data science lead openings in Minnesota. The Twin Cities metro drives the majority of demand through corporate headquarters in financial services, retail, and health insurance, while Rochester's market is shaped heavily by large health system and medical research employers that maintain substantial analytics teams.

Are there remote data science lead jobs in Minnesota?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 71% of data science lead openings tied to Minnesota are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how well the role's core work, including modeling, code review, and stakeholder presentations, transfers to distributed teams. The portions of the job most likely to remain fully on-site are onboarding, cross-functional strategy sessions, and hands-on collaboration with engineering or product teams at major Minnesota headquarters.

How can I get hired as a data science lead in Minnesota with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is moving into a junior or associate data scientist role first, then building toward a lead title over time. Large Minnesota employers such as UnitedHealth Group and Target run rotational analytics programs and early-career data science tracks that accept candidates without prior professional experience but with strong academic portfolios. Lateral moves from analyst, business intelligence developer, or statistician roles are also common. A completed end-to-end project portfolio, a relevant master's degree, or a cloud machine learning certification gives Minnesota candidates a measurable edge in early screening.

Where can I find and apply to data science lead jobs in Minnesota?

You can find and apply to data science lead jobs in Minnesota on Migrate Mate, which lists current Minnesota openings. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and location preference, and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 14 Data Science Lead Jobs in Minnesota

Find roles in Minnesota that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Data Science Lead Jobs