Data Scientist, Specialist

Vanguard; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard is seeking a senior Data Scientist to lead the design, validation, and continuous improvement of an AI-powered human-simulation platform. You will build digital twins of customer behavior, integrating data science, behavioral science, and marketing analytics to drive business outcomes.

The role requires 5+ years in data science or related fields, expertise with LLMs, RAG, and prompt engineering, and strong Python/SQL skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of experience in Data Science, Analytics, Machine Learning, Marketing Analytics, or a related quantitative field.
• Demonstrated strength in analytics, marketing, user research, survey analysis, experimentation, behavioral science, or related domains.
• Experience building AI systems using LLMs, agentic systems, prompt engineering, RAG architectures, and AI evaluation frameworks.
• Strong programming skills in Python and SQL, with a foundation in statistics and experimental design.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate analytics into business recommendations.
• Experience modeling or predicting human behavior, preferences, or decisions.
• Advanced degree in a related quantitative field.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, validation, and improvement of AI-powered digital twins.
• Drive analytics and AI initiatives to improve fidelity, relevance, and predictive accuracy.
• Apply behavioral science and marketing analytics to develop human-centered AI models.
• Develop and optimize LLM, RAG, and agentic AI solutions with evaluation frameworks.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and mentor junior data scientists and analysts.

Skills

Data Science

Analytics

Machine Learning

Python

SQL

Communication

Education

Advanced degree in Data Science/Statistics/Applied Mathematics/Economics/CS/Behavioral Science

Tools

LLMs

RAG

Prompt Engineering

Model Fine-tuning

Experimentation

Job description

Job Description Summary Leads the design, development, validation, and continuous improvement of Vanguard's proprietary AI-powered human simulation capability. This emerging technology models client behaviors, preferences, decision-making, and responses. The system combines advanced data science, behavioral science, marketing analytics, and generative AI techniques to build trusted digital representations of client segments and journeys. This role is responsible for developing simulation frameworks, persona models, evaluation methodologies, and agentic AI capabilities that enable teams to predict customer responses, optimize marketing strategies, accelerate experimentation, and improve business outcomes. Partners closely with Product, UX Research, Analytics, Marketing, Data Engineering, and Technology teams to advance the capability as a scalable, self-service function while improving simulation fidelity, trust, and business impact.

Core Responsibilities

• Build and enhance AI-powered Digital Twins that simulate customer behavior, preferences, and decision-making.
• Lead analytic and AI initiatives that improve simulation fidelity, business relevance, and predictive accuracy through experimentation, validation, and real-world outcome measurement.
• Apply behavioral science, customer research, UX insights, and marketing analytics to develop and refine human-centered AI models.
• Develop and optimize LLM, RAG, and agentic AI solutions, including data preparation, evaluation frameworks, prompt engineering, and model performance measurement.
• Partner with Product, Marketing, Analytics, UX Research, and Technology teams to translate business problems into scalable AI and data science solutions. Communicate findings and recommendations to stakeholders and mentor junior data scientists and analysts.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of experience in Data Science, Analytics, Machine Learning, Marketing Analytics, or a related quantitative field.
• Demonstrated strength in at least one of the following areas: Analytics: Deep problem-solving experience in marketing, customer behavior, UX research, survey analysis, experimentation, behavioral science, or related domains.
• Applied AI / Data Science: Experience building solutions using LLMs, agentic systems, prompt engineering, model fine-tuning, RAG architectures, and AI evaluation frameworks.
• Strong programming skills in Python and SQL, along with a solid foundation in statistics, machine learning, and experimental design.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex analytical findings into actionable business recommendations. Preferred
• Experience developing AI systems that model, simulate, or predict human behavior, preferences, or decision-making.
• Experience building Digital Twins, synthetic personas, synthetic customers, or similar human simulation capabilities.
• Experience measuring alignment between AI predictions and real-world outcomes and improving model performance through experimentation and validation.
• Advanced degree in Data Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, Behavioral Science, Psychology, or a related field.

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission. To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.