Staff Data Scientist

TransUnion; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Employee ESPP

Job summary

TransUnion seeks a Staff Data Scientist to lead analytics and AI-enabled consulting for Financial Services clients in Chicago. The role combines hands-on model work with strategic guidance and governance across AI/ML solutions, MLOps, and responsible AI practices.

You will mentor teammates and collaborate with Sales, Product, and Technology to shape data-driven recommendations. Hybrid work supports collaboration both remotely and on-site.

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in statistics, applied math, CS, or related field.
• 5+ years delivering analytic work for internal or external clients.
• Experience leading complex AI/ML solution engagements.

Responsibilities

• Lead analytic and AI-enabled consulting engagements from shaping to deployment.
• Translate client needs into scalable, measurable business value.
• Provide hands-on guidance across ML, LLMs, retrieval-augmented generation.
• Own analytic consulting for assigned clients and coordinate teams.
• Deliver concise analytic insights and risk considerations to stakeholders.
• Mentor peers and foster an inclusive, high-performance culture.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

Cloud platforms

ML frameworks

Generative AI

Education

Master’s or PhD in a quantitative field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Cloud services

Job description

## Staff Data ScientistApply: Chicago, Illinois: Full time: Posted Today: 19042910TransUnion's Job Applicant Privacy NoticePersonal Information We CollectYour Privacy Choices**Team Overview**This role reports into a Senior Manager of Data Science & Analytics, joining the Financial Services Consulting team. The Financial Services Consulting team at TransUnion is an industry recognized, client-facing department that rewards an entrepreneurial spirit. We have deep technical expertise and an established reputation as an analytic solutions provider in the Financial Services industry.This is a hybrid position and involves regular performance of job responsibilities virtually as well as in-person at an assigned TU office location for a minimum of two days a week.**Role Overview and Core Responsibilities*** **Analytics & AI Consulting Delivery** - Lead complex analytic and AI-enabled consulting engagements from opportunity shaping through solution design, model development, evaluation, deployment readiness, and ongoing monitoring. Translate client needs into practical, scalable solutions that deliver measurable business value.* **Technical Leadership & Modern AI/ML** - Provide hands-on guidance across machine learning, statistical modeling, generative AI, large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, agentic workflows, model evaluation, MLOps, monitoring, and responsible AI/model governance. Help formalize reusable assets, documentation standards, and repeatable delivery practices.* **Client & Commercial Impact** - Own analytic consulting responsibilities for assigned clients, identify strategies and opportunities to test and adopt TransUnion analytic products and services, and partner with Sales, Product, Technology, and vertical support teams to shape differentiated, data-driven recommendations.* **Insight Communication** - Deliver analytic insights, model considerations, risks, and recommendations in concise and compelling presentations for internal and external stakeholders across a range of technical and business backgrounds.* **Research, Innovation & Process Improvement -** Contribute to research and innovation initiatives in collaboration with DSA peers and cross-functional partners, including applied AI, responsible AI, experimentation, and emerging analytic techniques. Identify opportunities to improve quality, efficiency, governance, and scalability of analytic delivery.* **Peer Leadership & Team Development -** Mentor, coach, and train junior colleagues and peers by sharing expertise, clarifying expectations, providing candid and constructive feedback, recognizing strong contributions, and helping foster an inclusive, high-performance culture.* Ability to travel 10-20% of the time.**Required Knowledge and Experiences** * Master’s or PhD degree in statistics, applied mathematics, financial mathematics, computer science, engineering, operations research, or another highly quantitative field; or a Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field.* 5+ years of demonstrated success directly supporting internal or external clients and 6+ years of professional experience performing analytic work, preferably in industries served by TransUnion. These experiences may or may not overlap.* Aspiring leadership behaviors, including self-awareness, learning agility, inclusive collaboration, peer coaching, accountability, change leadership, and the ability to motivate and guide others toward successful team outcomes. ## **Required Technical Skills*** Advanced programming, data engineering, and applied AI/ML skills, including proficiency with Python and/or R, SQL, cloud-based analytics environments, distributed data platforms, and modern machine learning frameworks.* Demonstrated ability to lead complex analytic and AI-enabled solution engagements under limited supervision, including solution design, model development, validation, stakeholder alignment, and delivery coordination. **We're also looking for the preferred skills below. Whether you are proficient or could use some brushing up, we're happy to support your career development and growth in:*** Experience with generative AI, large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, agentic workflows, model evaluation, MLOps, model monitoring, and responsible AI/model governance.* Familiarity with credit bureau data, regulated financial services environments, credit risk lifecycle use cases, fraud, insurance, or digital marketing analytics.* Experience developing reusable analytic assets, documentation standards, governance artifacts, or scalable consulting delivery processes.* Demonstrated ability to mentor peers, support onboarding or recruiting activities, and strengthen team culture through feedback, recognition, and inclusive collaboration.* Evidence of strong analytical, critical, and creative thinking, with demonstrated interest in industries served by TransUnion.**Benefits that support every part of your life:**At TransUnion, we design benefits to help you feel well, do well, and plan well—from day one.**For Your Health**: Enjoy day-one eligibility for medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus supplemental plan options. Spousal, domestic partner, and other eligible dependent coverage is available on select plans. Choose tax‐advantaged HSA and FSA accounts to make everyday care more affordable.**For Your Protection**: We’ve got your back with company‐paid basic life and AD&D, optional voluntary life and AD&D for you and your family, and short‐ and long‐term disability. You can also opt into a legal plan, pet insurance, and travel accident coverage.**For Your Family**: From adoption assistance and fertility planning coverage to caregiver support, we’re here for every chapter. Access Dependent Care FSA for possibility of an employer match, a complimentary Care@Work membership, and up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave with eligibility for a thoughtful, gradual return.**For Your Future**: Build toward what’s next with our 401(k) with employer match and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Tap financial wellness resources, career coaching, and optional long‐term care insurance to plan confidently.**For You**: Grow and recharge with tuition reimbursement, flexible time off for exempt employees or paid time off for nonexempt employees, up to 12 paid holidays per year, commuter benefits, employee discounts, charitable gift matching, and paid volunteer time off, plus corporate volunteer events that make it easy to give back.**For Your Wellness**: Access 24/7 support including professional therapy, coaching, and emotional well‐being programs alongside guided meditation and resources that support physical, mental, social, and financial wellness.We are committed to being a place where diversity is not only present, it is embraced. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law. Additionally, in accordance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, TransUnion takes affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with a disability and protected veterans in all levels of employment and develops annual affirmative action plans. Components of TransUnion’s Affirmative Action Program for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are available for review to any associate or applicant for employment upon request by contacting [e-mail] applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and the California Fair Chance Act.Adherence to Company policies, sound judgment and trustworthiness, working safely, communicating respectfully, and safeguarding business operations, confidential and proprietary information, and the Company’s reputation are also essential expectations of this position.## **Pay Scale Information:**The U.S. base salary range for this position is $112,500.00 - $187,500 annually. \\*The salary range for this position reflects a reasonable estimate of the range of compensation for this job. At TransUnion, actual compensation is based on careful consideration of additional factors such as (but not limited to) an individual’s education, training, work experience, job-related skill set, location, and industry knowledge, as well as the scope and responsibilities of the position and market considerations. Regular, fulltime non-sales positions may be eligible to participate in TransUnion’s annual bonus plan. Certain positions may be also eligible for long-term incentives and other payments based on applicable company guidance and plan documents.