Senior Data Scientist, Home Lending

Wealthfront; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 185,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

Wealthfront is seeking a Data Scientist embedded in the Home Lending area to build predictive models and analyze user behavior across our lending tools. You will translate statistical results into actionable recommendations and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to improve product and customer outcomes.

The role emphasizes independence, rigorous mathematics, and the mentorship of junior data scientists, with equity and discretionary bonus components in compensation. Based in Palo Alto, CA.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in quantitative field with 6+ years in data science.
• Strong communication and collaboration across organizations.
• Hands‑on mathematical and software engineering skills.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL.
• Desire and ability to mentor junior Data Scientists.

Responsibilities

• Build predictive models for potential purchasers or refinancers to enable targeted outreach.
• Analyze user behavior in home lending tools to optimize experiences.
• Contextualize statistical results for business stakeholders and translate numbers into recommendations.

Skills

Python

SQL

Communication

Mentorship

Education

Master's or PhD in quantitative field

Tools

Python

SQL

Job description

The Wealthfront Data Science Team utilizes our rich financial and behavioral data to influence key product and marketing decisions, as well as to safeguard our client’s information and assets. The team draws from backgrounds in Statistics, Operations Research, Computer Science, Economics, and Natural Sciences. We value analytical rigor, clear communication, and proactivity. We believe that good ideas can come from anywhere and encourage Data Scientists to pursue self-directed explorations in search of business value.

The Data Scientist in this role will be primarily embedded within Wealthfront’s new and quickly-growing Home Lending area. The vision of this area is to enable our clients to grow their wealth through leveraged home ownership.

The Wealthfront Data Science Team utilizes our rich financial and behavioral data to influence key product and marketing decisions, as well as to safeguard our client’s information and assets. The team draws from backgrounds in Statistics, Operations Research, Computer Science, Economics, and Natural Sciences. We value analytical rigor, clear communication, and proactivity. We believe that good ideas can come from anywhere and encourage Data Scientists to pursue self-directed explorations in search of business value.

The Data Scientist in this role will be primarily embedded within Wealthfront’s new and quickly-growing Home Lending area. The vision of this area is to enable our clients to grow their wealth through leveraged home ownership.

Responsibilities

• Build predictive models for potential purchasers or refinancers in our client base to enable efficient and targeted outreach
• Analyze user behavior in web-based home lending tools and flows to identify patterns and optimize these experiences
• Interpret and contextualize statistical results for business stakeholders and help translate numbers into recommendations

Expectations

• Demonstrate a high degree of independence, proactivity, and curiosity - be the first to identify opportunities
• Formulate project plans with clear rationale, candidate approaches and milestones
• Communicate clearly and effectively with partners both within and outside the home lending area, through written documents, presentations, and in-person or video meetings
• Identify key initiatives for the Home Lending area and champion the role of Data Science within these initiatives
• Employ a high degree of mathematical rigor and best practices for software development.
• Enhance overall Data Science team execution through hands‑on help, design feedback and peer review
• Depending on experience and interest, management of more junior Data Science team members.

Requirements

• A Master's or a PhD degree in a quantitative field such as Statistics, Operations Research, Computer Science, Economics or Natural Sciences, with 6+ years of prior experience in a Data Science role. Exceptions to these requirements may be considered on a case‑by‑case basis.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills and a record of partnering across organizations to sharpen project requirements. Sometimes this includes re‑framing the original request to solve a more general problem with similar effort.
• Hands‑on mathematical and software engineering skills to execute on complex projects.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL.
• Desire and ability to mentor junior Data Scientists within the team by exemplifying math, engineering and technical communication skills.

Estimated annual salary range: $185,000 - $211,000 USD plus equity and a discretionary bonus.

Benefits