Lead Data Scientist II

Best Egg; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Best Egg is seeking a Data Scientist to advance marketing decisions through machine learning. You will design and deploy predictive models that optimize prospect targeting and customer outcomes, and collaborate with marketing, analytics, product, and cross-functional partners to embed models into campaigns.

The role emphasizes end-to-end modeling, data exploration, and communicating insights to technical and non-technical stakeholders while ensuring governance and ethical use of AI.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a quantitative field; PhD preferred.
• 3+ years of experience developing predictive models or analytics.
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling and machine learning fundamentals.
• Proficiency in Python (pandas, numpy, scikit-learn) and SQL.
• Ability to clearly communicate analytical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Build high-performance ML models to improve prospect response predictability and customer outcomes.
• Develop end-to-end ML pipelines including data extraction, feature engineering, model development, evaluation, and deployment.
• Explore rich data assets to uncover trends, identify key risk drivers, and generate insights.
• Manage the full modeling lifecycle: design, data prep, feature engineering, evaluation, deployment, monitoring, and documentation.
• Translate analytical findings into recommendations for strategy, pricing, and other business decisions.

Skills

ML modeling

Statistical modeling

Python

SQL

Communication

Ownership

Education

Master's degree in quantitative field

PhD preferred

Tools

Pandas

NumPy

Scikit-learn

Job description

Data is at the heart of everything we do. Join a Data Science team working at the cutting edge within our industry and constantly advancing our AI/ML practice. Our Data Science team is dedicated to creating advanced analytics and AI/ML solutions that power innovation and creative insights, pioneer new products, and help our business reach the next level. We work on diverse projects across all business units within the company and have a direct engagement model among data scientists, business stakeholders, the product organization, and cross-functional teams.

This position is central to driving marketing decisions through the design and development of machine learning solutions. This role will focus on building and improving marketing models that drive critical prospect and existing-customer targeting decisions. In addition, you will collaborate with marketing and analytics partners to integrate models into marketing strategies, improve campaign economics, and ultimately support new loan origination.

This role is for a data scientist who is passionate about modeling, analytics, and problem-solving and who wants to see their work directly drive critical business decisions.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Build high-performance ML models that improve prospect response predictability and customer outcomes.
• Build end-to-end machine learning pipelines including data extraction, feature engineering, model development, performance evaluation, and implementation.
• Explore rich data assets to uncover trends, identify key risk drivers, and generate insights.
• Manage the full modeling lifecycle: model design, data preparation and exploration, feature engineering, model development, evaluation, deployment, monitoring, and documentation.
• Design experiments and challenger models to test new ideas and drive innovation.
• Contribute to audit-ready documentation and support model validation and governance processes.
• Leverage modern AI technology and tools to improve workflow, enhance modeling performance, establish and promote best practices.
• Work cross-functionally to ensure models are explainable, transparent, and aligned with business goals and regulatory expectations.
• Translate analytical findings into recommendations for strategy, pricing, and other business decisions.
• Manage complex operational and conceptual tasks and problems that require innovative thinking, as well as the professional and personal ability to create novel solutions.
• Interface regularly with stakeholders to define solutions and user requirements within moderately complex environments.

Requirements

• A master's degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Data Science, Engineering, etc.); Ph.D. preferred.
• 3+ years of experience developing predictive models or performing advanced analytics.
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling and machine learning fundamentals.
• Proficiency in Python (e.g., pandas, numpy, scikit-learn) and SQL.
• Ability to clearly communicate analytical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ownership, curiosity, and ability to deliver high-quality results.
• Ability to commute to Best Egg's Wilmington office at least once a week.

Nice to Have

• Experience in marketing campaigns, financial services, or other regulated industries.
• Exposure to cloud environments and modern data tooling.
• Familiarity with model monitoring, validation, and model governance concepts.
• Interest in using AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) to accelerate modeling and analysis.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.