# How Data Scientists Create Impact in Complex Billing Systems

DevFeed: [How Data Scientists Create Impact in Complex Billing Systems](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/redefining-impact-as-a-data-scientist-10024.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.figma.com/blog/redefining-impact-as-a-data-scientist/>)

Author: Madison Kohls

Published: 2026-02-18T05:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Figma Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/figma-blog.md>)

Topics: [Data Science](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/data-science.md>), [Complex Systems](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/complex-systems.md>), [data-modeling](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/data-modeling.md>), [Instrumentation](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/instrumentation.md>)

Tags: [complex-systems](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/complex-systems.md>), [data-modeling](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/data-modeling.md>), [data-science](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/data-science.md>), [instrumentation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/instrumentation.md>), [systems](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/systems.md>)

## AI overview

The article argues that impactful data science is not limited to experiments, optimization, forecasting, or inferential modeling. In Figma's Billing infrastructure, it emphasizes modeling event lifecycles, reconciling data across systems, instrumentation, and building tools that make complex system behavior observable and verifiable.

## Source excerpt

Not all impactful data science work involves experiments or optimization. Sometimes it's about making complex systems legible, correct, and safe to operate.