Principal Fraud Analyst (Data Science), Digital Payments Fraud Strategy US

Toast; United States; Hybrid; USD 128,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Toast, Inc. is seeking a Principal Analyst to lead the Fraud Analytics team in owning the analytical strategy for mitigating fraud risk in digital transactions. This senior IC will drive actionable insights and set risk strategy across Toast’s Fintech ecosystem.

The role reports to the Senior Manager of Fraud Analytics and requires influencing cross-functional partners while building scalable fraud-detection capabilities within a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• 6–8 years of data analytics, payments risk & fraud experience.
• Strong SQL & Python with proficiency in analytical tools.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional influence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the definition and evolution of risk frameworks across the digital payments landscape, with a focus on guest fraud.
• Design, develop, and own core fraud and risk metrics that inform decision-making, performance measurement, and strategy.
• Partner with internal stakeholders (Product, Engineering, Risk Operations) to translate analytical insights into scalable solutions.
• Evaluate, integrate, and manage external data sources to enhance risk detection and decisioning capabilities.
• Define data requirements and partner with engineering to build and maintain reliable, production-grade data pipelines.
• Act as a thought leader in fraud analytics, setting best practices for measurement & risk modelling.

Skills

SQL

Python

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Tools

Analytical tools

Job description

Toast creates technology to help restaurants and local businesses succeed in a digital world, helping business owners operate, increase sales, engage customers, and keep employees happy.

Toast is driven by building the all-in-one restaurant platform that helps restaurants operate their business, increase sales, engage guests, and keep employees happy.

We are seeking a Principal Analyst to join our Fraud Analytics team to own the analytical strategy for assessing and mitigating fraud risk for digital transactions.

This role will report to the Senior Manager of Fraud Analytics. This senior individual contributor role will be central to driving actionable insights & defining the risk strategy across Toast’s Fintech ecosystem.

About this roll* (Responsibilities)

• Lead the definition and evolution of risk frameworks across the digital payments landscape, with a focus on guest fraud.
• Design, develop, and own core fraud and risk metrics that inform decision-making, performance measurement, and strategy.
• Partner with internal stakeholders (Product, Engineering, Risk Operations) to translate analytical insights into scalable solutions.
• Evaluate, integrate, and manage external data sources to enhance risk detection and decisioning capabilities.
• Define data requirements and partner with engineering to build and maintain reliable, production-grade data pipelines.
• Act as a thought leader in fraud analytics, setting best practices for measurement & risk modelling.

Do you have the right ingredients? (Qualifications)

• 6–8 years of experience in data analytics, payments risk & fraud; fintech experience is a plus.
• Very strong SQL & Python skills and proficiency with analytical tools.
• Proven ability to analyze large, complex datasets to extract actionable insights.
• Demonstrated experience owning ambiguous problem spaces and translating them into clear analytical frameworks and measurable outcomes.
• Exceptional communication skills, with a track record of influencing cross-functional stakeholders and executive leaders.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
• Strategic thinker with high intellectual curiosity and a passion for driving impact.

AI at Toast

At Toast, one of our company values is that we're hungry to build and learn. We believe learning new AI tools empowers us to build for our customers faster, more independently, and with higher quality. We provide these tools across all disciplines, from Engineering and Product to Sales and Support, and are inspired by how our Toasters are already driving real value with them. The people who thrive here are those who embrace changes that let us build more for our customers; it’s a core part of our culture.

Our Total Rewards Philosophy

We strive to provide competitive compensation and benefits programs that help to attract, retain, and motivate the best and brightest people in our industry. Our total rewards package goes beyond great earnings potential and provides the means to a healthy lifestyle with the flexibility to meet Toasters’ changing needs. Learn more about our benefits at https://careers.toasttab.com/toast-benefits.

The base salary range for this role is listed below. The starting salary will be determined based on skills, experience, and geographic location. In addition to base salary, our total rewards components include cash compensation (overtime, bonus/commissions if eligible), equity, and benefits. You can learn more about how we align pay with local labor markets in our Geographic Pay Zone Philosophy.

• Zone A $128,000—$205,000 USD
• Zone B $112,000—$179,000 USD
• Zone C $101,000—$162,000 USD

How Toast Uses AI in its Hiring Process

Throughout the hiring process, our goal is to get to know you. We use AI tools to support our recruiters and interviewers with tasks like note-taking, summarization, and documentation of interviews to ensure they can be fully focused on your conversation. All hiring decisions are made by people. We ask that you complete interviews and assessments on your own, without real-time AI tools, recording, or transcription bots, unless we tell you otherwise in advance. To learn more: https://careers.toasttab.com/ai-in-hiring

Our Approach to Hybrid Working

We embrace a hybrid work model that fosters in-person collaboration while valuing individual needs. Our goal is to build a strong culture of connection as we work together to empower the hospitality community, regardless of location. Please visit the Locations page on our career site to learn more about our in-office expectations by region: https://careers.toasttab.com/locations-toast

People Are the Secret Ingredient in Our Recipe for Success

At Toast, our employees are our secret ingredient—when they thrive, we thrive. The restaurant industry brings together people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, and we value that same breadth at Toast. We strive to build a culture grounded in authenticity, respect, and humility, where every Toaster has a real opportunity to grow, contribute, and do their best work—raising the bar in delivering exceptional experiences for our customers and each other.

Toast is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive hiring process. As part of this commitment, we strive to provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities to enable them to access the hiring process. If you need an accommodation to access the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

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For roles in the United States, it is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.