Head of Data Science

TBI Bank; Fatih; On-site; TRY 3,341,000 - 5,568,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Growth opportunities

International team

Private health insurance

Food vouchers

Discounts and banking product rates

Sofia city center location

Bring your dog to work

Job summary

TBI Bank in Sofia seeks a Senior Data Scientist and ML Engineering Lead to drive end-to-end AI model development across Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece. You will lead a team of data scientists and ML engineers, delivering measurable business value and embedding models in production with strong MLOps practices.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in data science, leadership experience, and deep expertise in Python, SQL, cloud platforms, and responsible AI.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in a quantitative field (statistics, CS, econometrics, physics).
• At least 5 years in data science and ML, with 3+ years leading teams, ideally in banking/fintech.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development and deployment of AI models across Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece.
• Deliver measurable business value by launching data products.
• Embed models in production with lifecycle management and governance.
• Collaborate with Finance, Technology, and business units to scale impact.

Skills

Python

SQL

ML & Generative AI

MLOps

Cloud Platforms

Leadership

English (Fluent)

Education

Master's degree or PhD in a quantitative field

Tools

Snowflake

Azure

Job description

Join the best bank to work for in Bulgaria*

Who we are:

Do you want to join a well-established bank with a start-up culture? No, we’re not joking!

We, at tbi, have been one the most profitable banks for years and we are growing at a fast pace. We’re a bank with a long history of success that operates as a start-up and we’re always on the lookout for new opportunities to grow our business. How do we do that?

It’s all about our people. Our team is made up of brave, passionate and caring people who don’t just want to follow the same path – we want to transform into mobile-first, state-of-the-art lifestyle ecosystem.

Our colleagues love working here – 80% of them would recommend tbi as an employer to their friends and family. Our people are engaged in challenging and meaningful work, inspired to grow their potential and career, encouraged to learn and empowered to take decisions. That’s not corporate babble, it’s what our people say.

What You’ll do:

• Lead the end-to-end development and deployment of analytical and generative AI models across Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece, from problem framing to production and measured business value.
• Deliver measurable value: launch models and data products that create profit for the bank, validated by Finance.
• Run all production models under one lifecycle standard: versioned, documented, peer-reviewed, monitored for drift, and recorded in a single model registry.
• Ensure every production model has a clear business owner, a value hypothesis, and a business process able to use it, and decline models the business cannot deploy.
• Integrate models into business decision‑making, including the pricing decision engine, customer profitability, collections, churn, and reactivation.
• Establish science‑grade practices: experiment design (A/B testing and quasi‑experimental methods), reproducibility, peer review, and measurement.
• Increase MLOps maturity through automated deployment, monitoring, and retraining of models.
• Design and deploy generative AI solutions, such as AI‑generated insight reports and conversational analytics, and be ready to lead a wider generative AI scope as the bank's Data & AI strategy evolves.
• Lead, develop, and retain high‑performing Data Scientists and ML Engineers, building a culture where understanding the business and its data comes before modeling.
• Partner closely with business lines, Finance, Technology, and the other teams of the Data, Analytics & Monetization division across the three markets.

What you’ll need to succeed:

• Master's degree or PhD in a quantitative field (statistics, mathematics, computer science, econometrics, physics, or similar).
• At least 5 years of hands‑on experience in data science, machine learning, and generative AI, including at least 3 years leading teams, preferably in banking, fintech, or consumer lending.
• A proven end‑to‑end track record: models you personally took from idea to production with measured business impact, delivered independently.
• Strong hands‑on generative AI expertise: large language models, retrieval‑augmented generation, AI agents, and safe production deployment in a regulated environment.
• Strong technical depth: Python and SQL, machine learning frameworks, MLOps, and modern cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Azure).
• Strong command of experiment design, A/B testing, and causal inference.
• Understanding of lending economics (pricing, risk, unit economics, customer lifetime value) and the ability to connect analytical solutions with measurable business outcomes.
• Experience translating complex and ambiguous business problems into practical analytical solutions and presenting results to senior management.
• Ability to lead by doing, combining technical depth with people leadership.
• Fluent English, spoken and written.

What we offer:

• Take your career to the next level with real growth opportunities
• Work on exciting, meaningful projects that make an impact
• Be seen and appreciated for who you are and what you do
• Join a vibrant, international team of 23 nationalities who’ve got your back
• Stay covered with additional private health insurance
• Receive monthly food vouchers as part of your benefits package
• Enjoy exclusive perks & discounts – from Multisport cards to top retailers
• Benefit from special rates on our banking products
• Work in the heart of Sofia – steps away from National Palace of Culture and South Park
• Bring your furry friend to work – because every office is better with paws