Senior Data Scientist (Credit Risk)

Achieve; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer match

Medical, dental, and vision with HSA/F

Vacation & sick time

Employee Assistance Program

Pet care discounts

Achieve Care Fund

Job summary

Achieve is seeking an experienced Credit Risk, Sr. Data Scientist to join our San Mateo, CA team. You will build and monitor credit risk models, deploy pipelines in SQL and Python, and translate insights into actions for Capital Markets and Marketing.

You will lead model governance, document methodologies, and drive improvements in forecasting, segmentation and loss analysis while collaborating with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced fintech environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years in credit risk modeling and portfolio monitoring.
• Strong Python/SQL for data analysis, modeling and automation.
• Solid background in Probability & Statistics.
• Experience with pricing and price optimization analytics.
• Experience with scorecard models, XGBoost, time-series or vintage modeling in consumer credit.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools or dashboards.
• Strong analytical and communication skills for non-technical stakeholders.
• Excellent documentation for audit-ready deliverables.
• Master’s degree in a quantitative field; PhD preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Build, maintain and enhance credit risk models for lending portfolios.
• Extract, clean and manipulate large data sets using SQL and Python; build pipelines.
• Perform EDA to identify portfolio trends and drivers of loss.
• Maintain monthly/quarterly loss forecasts by vintage and segment.
• Provide commentary on policy assumptions, model health and risks.
• Automate reporting, dashboards and pipelines to improve efficiency.
• Document methodologies, data sources and results for governance.
• Participate in governance and model validation support; liaise with regulators.
• Identify opportunities to improve decisioning, data infra and modeling techniques.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data analysis

Modeling

Statistics

Tableau

Communication

Documentation

Leadership

Education

Master's degree in Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science or related field

Tools

Tableau

Python Widgets

Job description

Achieve is a leading digital personal finance company. We help everyday people move from struggling to thriving by providing innovative, personalized financial solutions. By leveraging proprietary data and analytics, our solutions are tailored for each step of our member’s financial journey to include personal loans, home equity loans, debt consolidation, financial tools and education. Every day, we get to help our members move their finances forward with care, compassion, and empathetic touch. We put people first and treat them like humans, not account numbers.

Since 2002, Achieve has grown into one of the largest private consumer fintech unicorns in the U.S., with over $40B in enrollments for our industry‑leading, tech‑enabled debt resolution services business, and over $11Bn in personal and home loans originations via our banking‑as‑a‑service partner.

We are looking for an experienced, hands‑on Credit Risk, Sr. Data Scientist who is comfortable working with large data sets, coding in SQL and Python and gaining insights from the data and translating the results into actionable insights for business stakeholders. In this role, you will maintain and enhance our credit risk models/policies to monitor the portfolio and gain insights. You will also build and monitor credit risk models with an eye on loss forecasting and communicate the results to different teams such as Capital Market and Marketing. The candidate should have a passion for streamlining processes and building tools which can monitor models/portfolio effectively. You will be a key contributor to our risk management processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Building, maintaining and enhancing credit risk models for lending portfolios.
• Extract, clean and manipulate large data sets using SQL and Python; build pipelines and analytics to perform model and portfolio monitoring.
• Perform exploratory data analysis (EDA) to identify portfolio trends, drivers of loss performance (vintage, credit bands, borrower attributes, macro factors) and provide insight into model deviations.
• Maintain forecast deliverables: monthly/quarterly loss forecasts by vintage and segment, stress and scenario analyses, sensitivity testing.
• Provide commentary and insights to business stakeholders on credit policy assumptions, model health, and emerging portfolio risks.
• Automate reporting, dashboards and pipelines to streamline model monitoring and improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Document model methodologies, assumptions, data sources and results in clear, audit‑ready format consistent with risk governance requirements.
• Participate in governance and review of credit model methodology, model validation support and liaise with external auditors or regulators where needed.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve credit decisioning accuracy, data infrastructure, modeling techniques, and integrate advanced statistical or machine‑learning techniques as appropriate.

Required

• Minimum of 8 years’ hands‑on experience in credit risk modeling and portfolio monitoring. For example, roles in model and performance monitoring, tracking charge‑offs, delinquencies, vintage analysis, roll‑rates, etc.
• Strong programming skills in Python/SQL for data analysis, modeling and automation.
• Solid background in Probability & Statistics.
• Experience with pricing and price optimization along with analytics and monitoring related to pricing.
• Experience with credit risk modeling methodologies: Scorecard models, XGBoost, time‑series analysis, vintage modeling, roll‑rate curves, survival analysis or logistic regression in consumer credit risk context.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Python Widgets) or dashboarding.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills; ability to interpret results, identify trends, draw actionable insights and communicate clearly to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Excellent documentation skills and experience in preparing audit‑ready deliverables (methodologies, assumptions, model validation support).
• Master’s degree in Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science or a related quantitative discipline (PhD preferred, but not required).

Preferred

• Experience in lending (personal loans or credit cards) or fintech lending environment.
• Experience with credit risk modeling (development & monitoring).
• Experience working with credit decisioning engines such as Oscilar, TakTile etc.
• Experience working in CKLightbox environment.
• Experience working in the GCP environment.
• A passion for fintech, agile environment, ability to work both independently and in a collaborative, fast‑paced team.

Benefits

• 401(k) with employer match.
• Medical, dental, and vision with HSA and FSA options.
• Competitive vacation and sick time off, as well as dedicated volunteer days.
• Access to wellness support through Employee Assistance Program, physical and mental health wellness programs.
• Pet care discounts for your furry family members.
• Financial support in times of hardship with our Achieve Care Fund.
• A safe place to connect and a commitment to diversity and inclusion through our six employee resource groups.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Location & Working Arrangement

Note: This role will be working hybrid out of our San Mateo, CA office.

Visa Sponsorship

Note: We will be unable to facilitate H1-B Visa transfer or sponsorship, along with STEM-OPT Visa.

Compensation

Salary Range: $165,000 to $185,000 salary + bonus + benefits.

Company Culture

At Achieve, we’re changing millions of lives. From the single parent trying to catch up on bills to the entrepreneur needing a loan for the next phase of growth, you’ll get to be a part of their journey to a better financial future. We’re proud to have over 3,000 employees in mostly hybrid and 100% remote roles across the United States with hubs in Arizona, California, and Texas. We are strategically growing our teams with more remote, work‑from‑home opportunities every day to better serve our members. A career at Achieve is more than a job—it’s a place where you can make a true impact, have a sense of belonging, establish a fulfilling career, and put your well‑being first.

Join Achieve, change the future.

Join Achieve, change the future.