Lead Data Scientist

Mastercard; Toronto; On-site; CAD 127,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

Mastercard is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to help detect and prevent fraud on a global scale. You will leverage data-driven insights to build and deploy models, work with stakeholders across teams, and develop new fraud-related products and services that protect the Mastercard payment network.

Ideal candidates bring hands-on experience with Python and Spark, familiarity with UNIX, and a track record of delivering advanced data science solutions in payments, cards, or fraud domains.

Qualifications

• Proven experience working with stakeholders to deliver data science solutions.
• Experience with Python and Spark for data manipulation.
• Familiarity with UNIX and shell scripting.
• Experience building, evaluating, and communicating fraud models.

Responsibilities

• Extract value from data sources to understand, detect and prevent fraud.
• Analyze worldwide fraud data to gain actionable insights.
• Apply modeling techniques to identify fraud and protect Mastercard network.
• Build fraud-related products and services to create value and revenue.

Skills

Python

Spark

UNIX

Agentic AI systems

Data analysis

Presentations

Stakeholder collaboration

Fraud detection

Cross-disciplinary problem solving

Education

Quantitative degree (e.g., Mathematics/Statistics/Physics/CS/Decision Science/Engineering)

Job description

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title And Summary

Lead Data Scientist

Overview

Services within Mastercard is responsible for acquiring, engaging, and retaining customers by managing fraud and risk, enhancing cybersecurity, and improving the digital payments experience. We provide value-added services and leverage expertise, data-driven insights, and execution.

The Cyber and Intelligence Solutions team is responsible for innovation, development and management of our products and services to address evolving risk and security needs for all of Mastercard’s customers across the world including Banks, Merchants, Fintechs and of course consumers.

The Lead Data Scientist will be a key contributor in helping Mastercard develop and deliver actionable insights and products to help issuers, acquirers and merchants reduce fraud.

What will you do?

• You will be a key player in helping Mastercard extract value from existing data sources in order to better understand, detect and prevent fraud.
• Use your data science expertise and skills to analyze worldwide fraud data to gain insights regarding fraud.
• Apply modeling techniques to identify and understand fraud to protect the MasterCard payment network.
• Build and manage new fraud related products and services that will provide value to our customers and increase revenue.

All About You

• Proven experience working with stakeholders to deliver state-of-the-art solutions that adhere to their requirements.
• Record of accomplishment in learning and applying new techniques and data analysis languages.
• Experience writing complex queries to efficiently extract and manipulate large amounts of data.
• Experience with Python and Spark for data manipulation is required.
• Hands-on experience designing, building, or deploying agentic AI systems, such as LLM-based agents that plan, use tools, and execute multi-step tasks autonomously, is strongly preferred.
• Experience preparing presentations for management/clients that present insights clearly and efficiently.
• Familiarity and experience with UNIX highly desired.
• Subject matter expertise in payments, cards, and /or fraud or proven ability to learn and master new subject matter areas.
• Ability to combine knowledge across multiple disciplines to solve problems.
• Excellent inter-personal skills, able to work with colleagues remotely as well as in –person.
• Degree in quantitative discipline preferred (e.g., Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Computer Science, Decision Science or Engineering).

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail] and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

Pay Ranges

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in Canada, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive pay based on location, experience and other qualifications for the role and may be eligible to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program. This posting reflects one or more current openings on our team.

Toronto, Canada: $127,000 - $203,000 CAD