Staff Data Scientist, Risk

The Wrap; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 186,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity (RSUs)

Benefits

Competitive base pay

Job summary

Gusto is seeking a Data Scientist for Risk to leverage experimentation, statistical inference, and causal analysis to drive strategic decisions affecting small businesses. You will shape metrics, build risk models, and push AI-assisted analytics across teams, owning end-to-end analyses with direct business impact.

The role emphasizes collaboration with Engineering, Product, Design, and Compliance, and is based in San Francisco with in-office days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to apply statistical methods, causal inference, and experimental design to real business problems.
• Strong SQL and Python skills with solid data storytelling.
• Experience leading technically complex projects with clear business impact.

Responsibilities

• Translate ambiguous stakeholder questions into clear, testable analyses.
• Use sound statistical reasoning and experimentation frameworks to separate signal from noise.
• Build risk models and present recommendations to improve processes and project outcomes.
• Design and interpret experiments; define success metrics and measure impact.
• Tell clear, data-driven stories that connect findings to business strategy for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Own end-to-end delivery of analyses and metrics for your product area.

Skills

SQL

Python

Statistical methods

Causal inference

Experiment design

Data storytelling

Communication

Leadership

Mentoring

Tools

Claude Code

Job description

About Gusto

At Gusto, we're on a mission to grow the small business economy. We handle the hard stuff — payroll, health insurance, 401(k)s, and HR — so owners can focus on their craft and their customers. With teams in Denver, San Francisco, and New York, we support more than 500,000 small businesses nationwide and are building a workplace that reflects the people we serve.

All full-time employees receive competitive base pay, benefits, and equity (RSUs) — because everyone who helps build Gusto should share in its success. Offer amounts are determined by role, level, and location. Learn more about our Total Rewards philosophy.

AI is a fundamental part of how work gets done at Gusto. We expect all team members to actively engage with AI tools relevant to their role and grow their fluency as the technology evolves. AI experience requirements vary by role and will be assessed during the interview process.

About the Role:

As a Data Scientist supporting Risk, you will play a crucial role in leveraging experimentation, statistical inference, and causal analysis to drive strategic decision making that contributes to the overall success of our organization. The ideal candidate is a trusted data storyteller with strong statistical and coding skills, and a passion for applying these skills to help small businesses thrive.

In this role you’ll be working with an established team and risk leaders in Engineering, Product, Design, Operation, Identity and Compliance. You'll define and track metrics that help us understand our business performance, and dive deep into our risk stack data to deliver insights and answer questions. You’ll also integrate AI-assisted practices to accelerate analysis, enhance rigor, and expand the reach of insights across Gusto. This role is an equivalent of Staff-level, with an expectation of owning experimentation and building risk models that will have direct impact on business decisions.

This is a San Francisco-based role with expectations to be in office Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Here’s what you’ll do day-to-day:

• Partner and Execute: Translate ambiguous stakeholder questions into clear, testable analyses. Structure complex business problems, identify drivers of performance, and communicate actionable insights to influence product or business decisions.
• Analytical Depth: Use sound statistical reasoning and experimentation frameworks to separate signal from noise. Select appropriate analytical techniques that balance rigor and speed, and leverage AI-assisted analytics to surface drivers of product performance, separating signal from noise
• Build Models and Leverage AI: use Claude Code to enhance analytical approaches. Build risk models and present recommendations to process and project enhancements
• Experimentation & Measurement: Design and interpret experiments within your domain. Work with stakeholders to define success metrics, measure impact, and communicate trade-offs.
• Communication: Tell clear, data-driven stories that connect findings to business strategy. Adapt communication for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Execution: Own end-to-end delivery of analyses and metrics for your product area. Collaborate with cross-functional peers to scope, prioritize, and deliver insights that inform decisions.

Here’s what we're looking for:

• 7-10 years of experience in Data Science at a product-focused software company.
• Experience with Risk DS and risk modeling.
• Strong SQL skills and comfort with Python.
• Proven ability to apply statistical methods, causal inference, and experimental design to real business problems.
• Excellent communication skills, with a track record of influencing cross-functional stakeholders and leadership.
• Demonstrated experience leading technically complex projects with clear business impact.
• A proactive, resilient problem-solver who independently structures ambiguous problems into actionable insights.
• Passion for mentoring others and raising the bar for data science craft across the team.

Our cash compensation amount for this role is targeted at $186,000/yr - $230,000/yr for San Francisco. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed above.

At Gusto, we don't use titles the traditional way, as a signal of rank or hierarchy. Instead, our titles describe two things at once — your craft (what you do, e.g. Engineering, Design) and your scope of ownership (what you're accountable for) — which is why you'll see something like "Head of X" instead of a rank word like "Director" that tells you neither. Because of this, the title on this posting may look different from what you'd expect based on the scope and seniority of the role, and from how similar roles are typically titled elsewhere. If you have questions about how this role compares to your current title or level, your recruiter can help translate.

Gusto has physical office spaces in Denver, San Francisco, and New York City. Employees who are based in those locations will be expected to work from the office on designated days approximately 2-3 days per week (or more depending on role). The same office expectations apply to all Symmetry roles, Gusto's subsidiary, whose physical office is in Scottsdale.

Note: The San Francisco office expectations encompass both the San Francisco and San Jose metro areas.

When approved to work from a location other than a Gusto office, a secure, reliable, and consistent internet connection is required. This includes non-office days for hybrid employees.

Reliable, consistent presence: We expect regular and predictable attendance, whether you're working in-office, hybrid, or fully remote, so that you stay closely connected to your team, customers, and stakeholders in real time and ensure colleagues and customers receive the timely support and responsiveness they deserve.

Our customers come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it makes our company stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for small businesses, you will find a home at Gusto.

Gusto is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. Gusto considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Gusto is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. We want to see our candidates perform to the best of their ability. If you require a medical or religious accommodation at any time throughout your candidate journey, please fill out this form and a member of our team will get in touch with you.

Gusto takes security and protection of your personal information very seriously. Please review our Fraudulent Activity Disclaimer.

Personal information collected and processed as part of your Gusto application will be subject to Gusto's Applicant Privacy Notice.