Principal Data Scientist (US)

TD • Southfield, MI

1d • $148,720 - $223,080 • Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Data Scientist collects and analyzes data using techniques such as data wrangling, profiling, visualization, and statistical inference to uncover actionable insights and build analytics solutions that guide decision-making and strategic planning. The role provides technical expertise on bank- and industry-wide solutions that address capability gaps and create customer value.

The position owns an end-to-end decisioning and pricing optimization engine, using large-scale historical and market data to form hypotheses, conduct analyses, develop and evaluate machine learning models, and inform business decisions. It works closely with business partners to refine strategies, assess deal structures, and deliver business P&L expectations. The role operates autonomously on complex, high-profile, high-risk initiatives with enterprise impact and provides strategic guidance to executive leadership.

As a senior technical and business leader, the Principal Data Scientist directs work on complex projects, influences partners, may mentor peers, and serves as an authority on data science concepts, practices, and standards. The role collaborates across data science, analytics, engineering, and business teams to create scalable solutions, while applying risk management, governance, and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

• 10 or more years of relevant experience; higher-degree education and research tenure may be counted toward experience.
• Proficiency with programming languages such as Python and techniques for data extraction, preparation, statistics, and advanced analytics.
• Extensive understanding of the supported business and the broader bank, with deep expertise in analytical concepts and techniques.
• Ability to apply mathematics and statistics to data science and analytical problems.
• Ability to translate business problems into viable data science solutions and communicate findings to stakeholders with varying levels of technical understanding.
• Ability to lead complex analytical projects, provide technical leadership, and influence business partners and senior stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• Undergraduate degree or advanced technical degree in a field such as mathematics, physics, engineering, finance, or computer science.
• Graduate degree.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end decisioning and pricing optimization engine, using historical and market data to develop hypotheses, conduct analyses, build and evaluate machine learning models, and drive business decisions.
• Analyze large-scale data and apply statistical models to recommend insights and address business objectives.
• Collaborate with business partners to identify and refine strategies, analyze alternative deal structures, and deliver business P&L expectations.
• Stay current on industry trends and optimization methodologies in auto finance markets.
• Lead analytical projects autonomously and deliver presentations to executive audiences and stakeholders.
• Guide business leaders in prioritizing needs and identifying opportunities for impactful data science solutions.
• Translate business problems into viable data science solutions using knowledge of business context and data infrastructure.
• Extract, prepare, analyze, and visualize data to communicate insights clearly to decision-makers and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with data and business analysts, software engineers, data engineers, application developers, and business process owners to develop scalable, sustainable analytics solutions.
• Provide technical leadership and expertise in specialized areas and guide the direction of emerging data science projects.
• Lead cross-functional teams in building advanced analytical solutions.
• Identify analytical trends and data needs, develop hypotheses, and create models that answer consequential business questions.
• Create and implement processes and systems to extract insights from structured and unstructured data.
• Identify, manage, and escalate risks; support risk, governance, performance, and remediation activities in line with enterprise and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain relationships across business lines and control functions and assess the impact of emerging issues, trends, and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor colleagues, share knowledge and best practices, and contribute to team development and a positive, inclusive work environment.

Benefits

• Health and well-being benefits
• Savings and retirement programs
• Paid time off, including Vacation PTO, Flex PTO, and Holiday PTO
• Banking benefits and discounts
• Career development
• Reward and recognition
• Training and onboarding
• Online learning platform and mentoring programs
• Base salary and variable compensation or incentive awards, potentially including cash and/or equity awards

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal