Principal Data Scientist — Lead AI/ML & Predictive Analytics

Selby Jennings; West Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development opportunities

Collaborative working environment

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Selby Jennings client, a well-established Property & Casualty insurer, seeks an experienced Principal Data Scientist to provide technical leadership across the analytics lifecycle and to drive scalable predictive modelling, ML, and AI solutions influencing pricing, underwriting, claims, product, distribution, and portfolio management.

The role emphasizes mentoring, strategy, and cross-functional collaboration with business, actuarial, and technology stakeholders to advance analytics capabilities

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in predictive modeling, ML, AI, or production analytics.
• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative or technical field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Advanced proficiency with Python and SQL and experience building production-quality analytical solutions.
• Strong expertise in statistical modeling, ML, model validation, calibration, and explainability.
• Experience developing or working with APIs, model services, and production scoring processes.
• Knowledge of MLOps practices, including CI/CD.
• Experience with platforms such as Databricks, Snowflake, Microsoft Fabric, or similar.
• P&C insurance experience is highly preferred.
• Strong communication, leadership, stakeholder-management, and mentoring capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, deployment, monitoring, and ongoing enhancement of predictive models, ML applications, and AI solutions.
• Apply advanced statistical and ML techniques, including GLMs, GAMs, gradient boosting, ensemble methods, and explainable AI.
• Develop production-ready solutions using Python and SQL, including APIs, scoring processes, and analytic tools.
• Advance MLOps capabilities, including testing, CI/CD, model governance, performance monitoring, and lifecycle management.
• Help drive the responsible adoption of generative AI, NLP, and intelligent automation across the organization.
• Establish best practices and standards around model development, validation, documentation, explainability, and regulatory compliance.
• Partner with business, analytics, actuarial, and technology stakeholders to translate complex business challenges into data-driven solutions.
• Mentor data science and analytics professionals while serving as a technical leader across the broader Predictive Analytics function.

Skills

GLMs

GAMs

Gradient boosting

Ensemble methods

Explainable AI

Python

SQL

APIs

Model services

Production scoring

MLOps

CI/CD

Generative AI

NLP

Automation

Databricks

Snowflake

Microsoft Fabric

P&C insurance

Leadership

Mentoring

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in quantitative field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

APIs

Model services

Production scoring

CI/CD

Databricks

Snowflake

Microsoft Fabric

Job description

Selby Jennings client, a well-established Property & Casualty insurer, seeks an experienced Principal Data Scientist to provide technical leadership across the analytics lifecycle and to drive scalable predictive modelling, ML, and AI solutions influencing pricing, underwriting, claims, product, distribution, and portfolio management.

The role emphasizes mentoring, strategy, and cross-functional collaboration with business, actuarial, and technology stakeholders to advance analytics capabilities