Manager, Data Science

LendingTree•Charlotte, NC

10h•$170,000 - $215,000•Hybrid

About The Position

LendingTree is seeking a Manager, Data Science to lead its data science team, set technical direction, and ensure models deliver measurable business results. The role owns the team roadmap, identifying opportunities for machine learning and AI and guiding solutions from prototype through production at scale. The manager will balance technical leadership with talent development and business partnership. The position leads and develops data scientists while collaborating with engineering, MLOps, product, analytics, platform leaders, and senior business stakeholders. It oversees the full model lifecycle and promotes high standards for experimentation, validation, monitoring, documentation, testing, versioning, and code review. The role also champions explainability, fairness, and reliability, and communicates analytical findings to technical and business audiences. The position is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and requires attendance at the Southend office three days per week. Candidates must already be legally authorized to work in the United States; the company will not provide employment visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Statistics, or a related field; a PhD is a plus.
At least 7 years of experience in applied data science, including experience in a leadership or people management role.
Track record of leading teams through the full machine learning lifecycle, including data preparation, modeling, validation, deployment, and monitoring.
Advanced proficiency in Python, SQL, and data science libraries including NumPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn, PyTorch, and TensorFlow.
Experience with cloud-based machine learning platforms; AWS SageMaker or Snowpark preferred.
Solid understanding of MLOps, reproducibility, and governance practices.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with a history of business impact.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to influence technical and executive audiences.
Legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer visa sponsorship.
Able to attend the Southend office in Charlotte, NC three days a week.

Nice To Haves

Experience in fintech or other data-rich, high-scale consumer businesses.
Background in software engineering, model deployment, or data platform integration.
Experience managing hybrid teams (on-site and remote).
In-depth knowledge of GenAI and LLM capabilities, ideally including building Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and agentic workflows.
Curiosity, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for continuous learning.
Comfort in fast-paced, highly ambiguous, cross-functional environments, and a drive to build scalable, responsible, and impactful data science and AI solutions.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of data scientists, fostering technical excellence, growth, and scientific rigor.
Partner with senior stakeholders to identify and prioritize opportunities where machine learning and AI can deliver value.
Oversee the design, development, and deployment of scalable, reproducible models.
Guide the team through data acquisition, feature engineering, and the full model lifecycle from prototype to production.
Promote best practices in experimentation, modeling, validation, and monitoring, and raise standards for documentation, testing, versioning, and code review.
Champion explainability, fairness, and reliability in model-driven solutions.
Translate complex analytical findings into actionable insights for technical and business audiences.
Drive alignment across business units so models meet real-world needs.