Senior Data Scientist, Payment Risk - USDS

TikTok USDS Joint Venture; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 329,334; Full time

Job summary

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is seeking a senior risk professional to establish a comprehensive payment risk framework and lead analytics across fraud, losses, and financial abuse. The role emphasizes ML-driven detection, cross-functional collaboration, and executive reporting.

Applicants bring 3+ years in payment risk, strong quantitative skills, and leadership to drive risk strategies in a fast-paced tech environment.

Qualifications

• Master's degree (Ph.D. is a plus) in Statistics, Mathematics, Finance, Computer Science Engineering or a similar Quantitative field, or equivalent practical experience
• 3 years of experience in the payment risk industry, with experience in risk management practices, fraud analytics
• Strong analytical skillset and experience with analytics tools (Excel, SQL, R, Python, Hive, Spark, and other statistical or data analysis packages)
• Results-oriented and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment requiring prioritization and ownership
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to influence others, with strong leadership skills and ability to manage Creative problem solving and critical thinking skills

Responsibilities

• Establish a holistic risk management framework for mitigating the risk of payment fraud, credit losses and financial abuse across consumers, merchants, and affiliates
• Develop metrics and dashboards to monitor risk, perform scenario planning and simulation testing
• Leverage cutting‑edge AI and Machine Learning techniques to solve complex risk problems, to improve the efficiency of automated detection and the effectiveness of risk interventions, reducing false positives while maintaining high recall
• Deep dive into fraud cases through massive data and ad hoc analysis that identify root causes of risk originations
• Design risk solutions that introduce appropriate amounts of friction for suspicious users based on suspicious user characteristics and machine learning models
• Collaborate with product, engineering and cross function teams to define risk product roadmaps and strategies
• Communicate results on a regular basis to stakeholders around the world, including executive leadership

Skills

Analytical skills

Leadership

Communication

Education

Master's degree in Statistics/Math/Finance/CS

Tools

Excel

SQL

R

Python

Hive

Spark

Job description

Responsibilities

The Payment team of U.S. Data Security department of TikTok provides payment solutions - including payment acquisitions, disbursements, transaction monitoring, payment method management, foreign exchange conversion, accounting, reconciliations, and so on - to ensure that users have a smooth and secure payment experience on TikTok platform.

• Establish a holistic risk management framework for mitigating the risk of payment fraud, credit losses and financial abuse across consumers, merchants, and affiliates
• Develop metrics and dashboards to monitor risk, perform scenario planning and simulation testing
• Leverage cutting‑edge AI and Machine Learning techniques to solve complex risk problems, to improve the efficiency of automated detection and the effectiveness of risk interventions, reducing false positives while maintaining high recall
• Deep dive into fraud cases through massive data and ad hoc analysis that identify root causes of risk originations
• Design risk solutions that introduce appropriate amounts of friction for suspicious users based on suspicious user characteristics and machine learning models
• Collaborate with product, engineering and cross function teams to define risk product roadmaps and strategies
• Communicate results on a regular basis to stakeholders around the world, including executive leadership

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree (Ph.D. is a plus) in Statistics, Mathematics, Finance, Computer Science Engineering or a similar Quantitative field, or equivalent practical experience
• 3 years of experience in the payment risk industry, with experience in risk management practices, fraud analytics
• Strong analytical skillset and experience with analytics tools (Excel, SQL, R, Python, Hive, Spark, and other statistical or data analysis packages)
• Results‑oriented and comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment requiring prioritization and ownership
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to influence others, with strong leadership skills and ability to manage

Creative problem solving and critical thinking skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong experience applying AI or Machine Learning techniques to solve complex, large‑scale risk problems are preferred

About USDS

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is dedicated to the safety and security of millions of Americans who create, discover, and connect with what they love on the apps we operate. The Joint Venture has been established in compliance with the Executive Order signed by President Trump on September 25, 2025. Our foundation is a comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity program we operate under defined safeguards to protect national security and secure U.S. user data, apps and the algorithm. We safeguard the U.S. content ecosystem, holding decision‑making authority for trust and safety policies and moderation. USDS Joint Venture helps ensure Americans can continue to express their creativity, discover new hobbies and interests, and build thriving communities and businesses on a global scale.

On-site presence across teams allows the company to operate with greater speed, alignment, and agility — especially in areas like real-time decision-making, team development, and integrated execution. As such, the company is shifting from a hybrid work model to a fully in-person schedule up to 5 days a week.

Why Join Us

Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day.

We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.

Diversity & Inclusion

TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.

USDS Reasonable Accommodation

USDS is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/USDS-RA

Job Information

【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Annually)

The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $144000 - $329334 annually.

Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.

Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).

The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.

For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates

1. Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
2. Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and
3. Exercising sound judgment.