Staff Data Scientist

NerdWallet, Inc; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Vacation Time Off

Industry-leading health care plans

401K with company match

Paid sabbatical after 5 years

Wellness Stipend

Job summary

A financial technology company is looking for a Staff Data Scientist to lead causal inference and machine learning initiatives. The role is responsible for designing impactful personalization models and mentoring junior scientists. With 8+ years of experience in applied machine learning, the ideal candidate will have strong skills in Python, SQL, and data platforms like Snowflake. This position is fully remote, allowing flexibility to thrive in various work environments. Expect a well-rounded benefits package to support well-being and development.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in applied machine learning and causal inference.
• Deep expertise in causal inference methodologies.
• Strong software engineering skills and production ML experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of causal inference frameworks.
• Build and scale LTV models for real-time decisioning.
• Mentor junior and mid-level data scientists.

Skills

Applied machine learning

Causal inference

Statistical diagnostics

Communication skills

Software engineering

Tools

Python

PySpark

SQL

Snowflake

Databricks

Job description

At NerdWallet, we’re on a mission to bring clarity to all of life’s financial decisions and every great mission needs a team of exceptional Nerds. We’ve built an inclusive, flexible, and candid culture where you’re empowered to grow, take smart risks, and be unapologetically yourself (cape optional). Whether remote or in-office, we support how you thrive best. We invest in your well-being, development, and ability to make an impact because when one Nerd levels up, we all do.

Staff Data Scientist leads machine learning and decisioning systems powering personalization, lifetime value (LTV) prediction, and real-time commercial optimization across our marketplaces. This role is responsible for designing and scaling causal measurement and personalization systems that determine how we serve users while balancing customer value, partner economics, and long‑term trust. As a senior individual contributor, you will drive high‑impact modeling initiatives and shape the technical direction of data science across the organization.

You are a technical expert and strategic partner who operates with significant autonomy and influence. As a Staff Data Scientist, you set the standard for scientific rigor, mentor senior ICs, and guide cross‑functional teams without formal authority. You partner closely with Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Finance to align data science investments with business strategy, while shaping long‑term vision for AI‑driven personalization and marketplace optimization.

This role reports to the VP, Data & Analytics.

Where you can make an impact:

• Lead the design and implementation of causal inference frameworks (e.g., uplift modeling, DML, IVs, DiD, synthetic control) to measure true incremental impact across personalization, marketing, and lifecycle interventions

• Establish and standardize methodologies for incrementality, experimentation, and measurement across channels and product surfaces

• Build and scale LTV models (user‑level and cohort‑based), including churn‑adjusted and horizon‑specific approaches, for real‑time decisioning

• Develop and deploy personalization models that influence ranking, offer selection, content sequencing, and monetization strategies at the moment of user intent

• Ship production‑grade machine learning models that directly drive revenue outcomes, including marketplace optimization, partner routing, and budget allocation

• Translate predictive outputs (e.g., conversion propensity, incremental CPA, expected LTV) into decision‑ready signals for real‑time systems

• Partner with Data Engineering and Platform teams to define data instrumentation, feature stores (batch and streaming), and model monitoring frameworks (drift, bias, stability)

• Influence architectural decisions across modern data and ML platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, Spark, real‑time inference systems)

• Provide technical leadership across teams by setting best practices for experimentation, modeling, code quality, and reproducibility

• Mentor and develop senior and mid‑level data scientists, raising the overall technical bar across the organization

• Communicate complex analytical insights and trade‑offs to executive stakeholders, translating findings into actionable business strategies

• Shape long‑term strategy for personalization, experimentation, and AI‑driven growth at NerdWallet

Your experience:

• 8+ years of experience in applied machine learning, causal inference, experimentation, or related quantitative fields

• Deep expertise in causal inference methodologies (e.g., uplift modeling, doubly robust learners, instrumental variables, difference‑in‑differences, synthetic control, Bayesian time series)

• Proven experience building and operationalizing LTV models for real‑time or near‑real‑time applications

• Strong software engineering and production ML experience, including Python (pandas, numpy, scikit‑learn, LightGBM/XGBoost) and PySpark, Advanced SQL

• Experience with distributed systems and modern data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, Spark, AWS/GCP/Azure), version control and ML lifecycle tools (e.g., Git, MLflow)

• Hands‑on experience with experimentation frameworks, A/B testing, and statistical diagnostics (e.g., power analysis, bias detection)

• Demonstrated success deploying models that materially impact revenue, efficiency, or user experience

• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence Product, Marketing, Finance, and executive stakeholders

• Strong strategic thinking and ability to operate in ambiguous, high‑impact problem spaces

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with marketplace optimization, ranking systems, or auction‑based environments

• Familiarity with contextual bandits, reinforcement learning, or sequential decision‑making systems

• Knowledge of streaming data architectures (e.g., Kafka, Kinesis), orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow, DBT), and feature stores (e.g., Tecton, Feast)

• Domain experience in fintech, marketplaces, growth, or performance marketing

Where:

• This role will be remote (based in the U.S.).

• We believe great work can be done anywhere. No matter where you are based, NerdWallet offers benefits and perks to support the physical, financial, and emotional well‑being of you and your family.

What we offer:

Work Hard, Stay Balanced (Life’s a series of balancing acts, eh?)

• Industry‑leading medical, dental, and vision health care plans for employees and their dependents

• Rejuvenation Policy – Flexible Vacation Time Off + 11 holidays + holiday company shutdown

• New Parent Leave for employees with a newborn child or a child placed with them for adoption or foster care

• Mental health support

• Paid sabbatical after 5 years for Nerds to recharge, gain knowledge, and pursue their interests

• Health and Dependent Care FSA and HSA Plan with monthly NerdWallet contribution

• Monthly Wellness Stipend, Cell Phone Stipend, and Wifi Stipend (Only remote Nerds are eligible for the Wifi Stipend)

• Work from home equipment stipend and co‑working space subsidy (Only remote Nerds are eligible for these stipends)

Have Some Fun! (Nerds are fun, too)

• Nerd‑led group initiatives – Employee Resource Groups for Parents, Diversity, and Inclusion, Women, LGBTQIA, and other communities

• Hackathons and team events across all teams and departments

• Company‑wide events like NerdLove (employee appreciation) and our annual Charity Auction

• Our Nerds love to make an impact by paying it forward – Take 8 hours of volunteer time off per quarter and donate to your favorite causes with a company match

Plan for your future (And when you retire on your island, remember the little people)

• 401K with 4% company match

• Be the first to test and benefit from our new financial products and tools

• Financial wellness, guidance, and unlimited access to a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) through Northstar

• Disability and Life Insurance with employer‑paid premiums

If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents.

NerdWallet is committed to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, so all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

NerdWallet will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act and the San Francisco Fair Chance Act, which requires this notice, as well as the Los Angeles Fair Chance Act, which requires this notice.

NerdWallet participates in the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services E‑Verify program for all US locations. For more information, please see:

• E‑Verify Participation Poster (English+Spanish/Español)

• Right to Work Poster (English) / (Spanish/Español)

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