Team Lead Data Science, Travel
Rico has been with CHECK24 in Leipzig for over five years, where he leads the Data Science Team. In our interview, he gives us exciting insights into his role and what makes an ideal team member.
Hi Rico, please introduce yourself.
Rico:
Hi, my name is Rico, I’m 34 years old, and I work as a Senior Data Scientist at CHECK24 in Leipzig. I’ve been with the company for a little over five years now. After completing my PhD, I was looking for a data-intensive, statistics-oriented role in the Leipzig area. That’s when I came across CHECK24 – and it turned out to be the perfect fit: exciting challenges in the field of data science and a fantastic team.
What are your responsibilities as a Data Science Team Lead at CHECK24 Travel?
Rico:
My main responsibility is developing and maintaining data-driven features that create real value for our customers. In small project teams, we typically go through the full data science lifecycle – from problem definition and data collection to exploration, cleaning, and transformation of the data, followed by feature engineering, predictive modeling, and communicating the results.
I also support younger colleagues in both their professional and personal development.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Rico:
What excites me most is solving complex problems using data-driven approaches. I especially enjoy programming and the opportunity to develop innovative models and deploy them in production. It’s always fascinating to see how our work directly impacts the user experience.
The best thing about CHECK24?
The opportunity to take on responsibility and bring your own ideas to life.
Team Lead Data Science, Travel
What role does AI play in your daily work at CHECK24?
Rico:
AI is an integral part of my daily work – both in developing our own AI solutions and in using external AI tools like Cursor. The latter support me with tasks such as programming and help me work more productively overall.
What are your top 3 reasons to work at CHECK24?
Rico:
1. Exciting and diverse topics: The variety of projects allows you to grow continuously and explore new technologies.
2. The "CHECKito spirit": At CHECK24, collaboration is a top priority – there’s a strong culture of mutual support at all levels.
3. The chance to take on responsibility and turn your own ideas into reality.
And finally, what do you enjoy doing after work?
Rico:
After work, I like to stay active – especially ball sports and strength training. I also enjoy spending time with friends and family. One of my other passions is cinema – I love watching good movies.