Data Scientist, Specialist

Vanguard; Scottsdale (AZ); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard seeks a senior data science leader to design, validate, and improve its proprietary AI-powered human simulation capability. You will build simulation frameworks, persona models, and evaluation methods to predict customer responses and optimize marketing experiments.

In collaboration with Product, UX Research, Analytics, Marketing, Data Engineering, and Technology, you will scale these models into a self-service function while improving fidelity, trust, and business impact across client

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of experience in data science, analytics, marketing analytics, or related quantitative field.
• Experience building solutions using LLMs, agentic systems, prompt engineering, RAG, and AI evaluation.
• Strong Python and SQL programming, with statistics and experimental design background.
• Advanced degree in a relevant field (Data Science, Statistics, CS, Economics, Behavioral Science).

Responsibilities

• Build and enhance AI-powered Digital Twins that simulate customer behavior and decision-making.
• Lead analytics and AI initiatives to improve simulation fidelity, relevance, and predictive accuracy.
• Apply behavioral science, customer research, UX insights, and marketing analytics to models.
• Develop and optimize LLM, RAG, and agentic AI solutions, including data preparation and evaluation frameworks.
• Partner with Product, Marketing, Analytics, UX Research, and Technology to translate problems into scalable AI solutions and mentor junior team members.

Skills

Data science experience

Python

SQL

Statistics

Experimental design

Communication

LLMs

Education

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

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.