Senior Data Scientist

Neo Financial; Calgary; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a rapidly expanding fintech startup as a Senior Data Scientist. You will lead the delivery of machine learning models, enhance model explainability, and improve infrastructure while mentoring junior staff. Neo offers a dynamic work environment focused on growth and innovation.

Benefits

Equity through stock options

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience deploying ML models in production.
• Experience mentoring junior data scientists.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of ML models across the business.
• Enhance model explainability and improve MLOps infrastructure.

Skills

Python

Machine Learning

Data Validation

Tools

AWS SageMaker

Snowflake

MLflow

Airflow

Job description

Join us to build a more rewarding financial future for all Canadians

At Neo, we're on a mission to build a more rewarding financial future for all Canadians. Life at a rapidly expanding tech startup isn't for everyone. It's complex, fast-paced, high-pressure, but also incredibly fulfilling. Since its founding in 2019, Neo has gained incredible traction and is one of the fastest-growing fintech companies in Canada.

• 1 Fastest Growing Company in Canada for 2024 by Globe & Mail
• Deloitte's Fast 50 in Canada Winner for 2023 and 2024
• LinkedIn's Top Startup in Canada for 2022 and 2023
• Top-ranked mobile apps and credit cards
• Team of 700+ people
• 1M+ customers

What you'll be doing :

• Leading the end-to-end delivery of ML models across the business, including fraud detection, credit risk modeling, and marketing optimization.
• Enhancing model explainability and business trust through SHAP insights, validation reports, and cross-functional communication.
• Improving our MLOps infrastructure (e.g., automating model pipelines, implementing versioning and drift detection, streamlining auto-retraining processes).
• Establishing rigorous model validation frameworks (e.g., OOT validation, temporal splits, cross-validation) to ensure high model quality and generalization.
• Mentoring junior data scientists, guiding technical design decisions, reviewing code and model logic, and leading knowledge-sharing sessions.
• Partnering with business teams to ensure models are solving real business problems and delivering commercial value.

Who we are looking for :

• A senior-level Data Scientist with 5+ years relevant experience, who has proven success deploying ML models into production environments, with an emphasis on commercial impact.
• Deep technical expertise with Python (including pandas, scikit-learn), XGBoost (parameter tuning, custom objectives, SHAP analysis), and AWS SageMaker (training, pipelines, deployment).
• Strong ML validation skills, including strategies to avoid data leakage, OOT testing, and robust backtesting.
• Strong experience with Snowflake, and ideally familiar with MLflow, dbt, and Airflow.
• A pragmatic, business-first mindset — someone who can move fast, prioritize delivering value in days/weeks (not months), and thrive in an ambiguous, fast-paced environment.
• Experience mentoring and up-skilling junior staff.

Working at Neo :

The people who thrive at Neo are resourceful, growth-oriented, and driven to win. We hold ourselves to high standards because we're on a mission that matters: to build a more rewarding financial future for all Canadians. As individuals and as a team, we constantly challenge ourselves and each other to do our best work for our customers. Our commitment to customer success drives everything we do, from building intuitive products to providing exceptional support at every step of their journey.

We trust, respect, and support each other. This means honest conversations, constructive input, and continuous support. You'll be surrounded by people who push you to be your best. We primarily collaborate in person across our Calgary, Winnipeg, and Toronto offices. As we evolve rapidly, we're looking for change-makers who thrive on challenge—people who would rather blaze a trail through uncertainty than follow a well-paved path.

All team members have a stake in Neo's success and earn meaningful equity through stock options. This ownership mindset is at the heart of everything we do—when Neo grows, we all grow. If you've heard that Neo employees work hard, it's true. We hold ourselves accountable for delivering on our commitments to our customers, partners, and each other. Working at Neo means taking ownership of your work and driving results, knowing that your contributions directly impact the company's success.

Apply with us :

We believe in equal opportunity and are committed to creating an inclusive climate where everyone can thrive. Customers trust us with their finances, so successful candidates for this position will be required to undergo a security screening, including a criminal records check and a credit check.

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