Senior Machine Learning Data Scientist

Extend; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical benefits

401(k) plan

Job summary

Extend is transforming post-purchase experiences in San Francisco with AI-driven solutions for fraud detection, returns, and protection. We seek a Senior ML Data Scientist to own cutting-edge models built on signals from hundreds of millions of users to protect customers and drive revenue.

You will lead the full data science lifecycle, partnering with Product, Engineering, and fraud teams to translate data into scalable, production-grade ML systems that stop bad actors and unlock business value.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a quantitative field such as Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, Operations Research, Physics or related field
• 3+ years of work experience building and deploying machine learning systems into production
• Strong proficiency in Python and SQL
• Strong understanding of ML fundamentals: model selection, evaluation methodology, feature engineering, and common failure modes
• Hands-on experience with PyTorch, scikit-learn, and XGBoost (or similar gradient boosting frameworks)
• High attention to detail, strong intellectual curiosity, and a deep understanding of user behavior and fraud patterns
• Empathetic, humble, and collaborative team player
• Candidates must be located within the continental United States

Responsibilities

• Own the model lifecycle: requirements, experimentation, model development, evaluation, and model cards, partnering with ML engineers on deployment and production infrastructure
• Translate complex fraud patterns into well-framed ML solutions: defining what to model, what success looks like, and where ML adds value vs. simpler approaches
• Design and maintain feature engineering pipelines for model development
• Monitor model quality in production, tracking performance over time, detecting data drift, and determining when to retrain
• Partner closely with leadership, go-to-market, fraud operations, product, and engineering teams to define and execute effective fraud strategies
• Champion a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and collaboration across the fraud and broader data science teams

Skills

Python

SQL

ML fundamentals

Empathetic team player

Collaboration

Data-driven

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, OR Operations Research, Physics or related field

Tools

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

XGBoost

Job description

Extend is revolutionizing the post-purchase experience for retailers and their customers by providing merchants with AI-driven solutions that enhance customer satisfaction and drive revenue growth. Our comprehensive platform offers automated customer service handling, seamless returns/exchange management, end-to-end automated fulfillment, and product protection and shipping protection alongside Extend's best-in-class fraud detection. By integrating leading-edge technology with exceptional customer service, Extend empowers businesses to build trust and loyalty among consumers while reducing costs and increasing profits.

Today, Extend works with more than 1,000 leading merchant partners across industries, including fashion/apparel, cosmetics, furniture, jewelry, consumer electronics, auto parts, sports and fitness, and much more. Extend is backed by some of the most prominent technology investors in the industry, and our headquarters is in downtown San Francisco.

About the Role:

The Fraud & Machine Learning team is the secret sauce behind Extend’s post-purchase protection platform. As a Senior ML Data Scientist, you will own the development of cutting‑edge machine learning models based on signals and transactions from hundreds of millions of users to detect and prevent fraud, assess risk, and unlock business value.

You will drive the full data science lifecycle - from requirements and feature engineering through model development, evaluation, and monitoring. You’ll partner closely with Product, Engineering, and our Fraud Intelligence team to translate messy data into scalable, production‑grade ML systems that stop bad actors in their tracks. If you’re impact‑driven and excited to tackle complex problems at the intersection of core machine learning and fraud prevention, you’ll thrive on our team!

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Own the model lifecycle: requirements, experimentation, model development, evaluation, and model cards, partnering with ML engineers on deployment and production infrastructure
• Translate complex fraud patterns into well‑framed ML solutions: defining what to model, what success looks like, and where ML adds value vs. simpler approaches
• Design and maintain feature engineering pipelines for model development
• Monitor model quality in production, tracking performance over time, detecting data drift, and determining when to retrain
• Partner closely with leadership, go‑to‑market, fraud operations, product, and engineering teams to define and execute effective fraud strategies
• Champion a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and collaboration across the fraud and broader data science teams

What We’re Looking For:

Required:

• Hands‑on, proactive, and analytical professionals who are passionate about using data to solve complex, real‑world problems
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a quantitative field such as Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering, Operations Research, Physics or related field
• 3+ years of work experience building and deploying machine learning systems into production
• Strong proficiency in Python and SQL
• Strong understanding of ML fundamentals: model selection, evaluation methodology, feature engineering, and common failure modes
• Hands‑on experience with PyTorch, scikit‑learn, and XGBoost (or similar gradient boosting frameworks)
• High attention to detail, strong intellectual curiosity, and a deep understanding of user behavior and fraud patterns
• Empathetic, humble, and collaborative team player
• Candidates must be located within the continental United States

Preferred:

• Experience building fraud detection or risk assessment systems
• Experience with cloud ML platforms, particularly AWS (e.g., SageMaker)
• Experience with graph data and graph‑based models (e.g., PyTorch Geometric)
• Experience with model monitoring and observability tooling (e.g., Arize)

Estimated Pay Range:

$135,000 - $165,000 per year salaried*

* The target base salary range for this position is listed above. Individual salaries are determined based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, job‑related knowledge, skills and experience.

Life at Extend:

• Working with a great team from diverse backgrounds in a collaborative and supportive environment.
• Competitive salary based on experience, with full medical and dental & vision benefits.
• Stock in an early‑stage startup growing quickly.
• Generous, flexible paid time off policy.
• 401(k) with Financial Guidance from Morgan Stanley.