Quantitative Scientist, Forecasting & Demand Planning

Collaborative Solutions • Santa Ana, CA

1d • Remote

About The Position

Collectors is seeking a Quantitative Scientist, Forecasting & Demand Planning to build the quantitative modeling capability at the core of its next phase of growth. This role involves modeling unique asset classes like vintage sports cards, rare coins, and sealed video games, leveraging proprietary data and in-house domain expertise. The position is on a small, early-stage team where the individual will work directly with the team leader on modeling and infrastructure, with an emphasis on shipping real models and rapid growth. The role is distinct from typical quantitative roles in fintech or financial services, offering an opportunity to build from first principles.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in quantitative finance, data science, machine learning, or a related field, with hands-on experience in pricing, demand forecasting, or asset valuation.
• Solid ML fundamentals — built and validated supervised models on real data and helped get at least one into production.
• Strong Python and SQL — fluent with the standard data stack (pandas, scikit-learn or similar) and comfortable working directly with large datasets.
• Financial modeling foundations — familiar with concepts like time series forecasting, scenario analysis, and asset pricing.
• Forecasting experience — built time series or demand forecasts and can produce scenario ranges (downside, base, upside), not just point estimates.
• Production mindset — cares about model reliability, monitoring, drift detection, and working closely with engineering teams.
• Comfort with ambiguity — can make progress in a fast-moving environment and is comfortable working on problems with limited precedent.
• Ownership and follow-through — can take a loosely defined problem, scope it, and carry it to a shipped result with guidance from their lead.
• Clear communication — can explain models and results to non-technical partners and back recommendations with data.
• Intellectual curiosity about alternative assets — excited by the prospect of modeling asset classes that don't have decades of structured financial data behind them.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in fintech or alternative/exotic asset valuation.
• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in a quantitative discipline — statistics, applied math, CS, physics, economics, operations research, or similar.
• Exposure to demand planning or capacity planning in an operations-heavy business.
• Personal interest in collectibles, trading cards, coins, or related hobbyist markets.

Responsibilities

• Leverage Collectors' proprietary grading, authentication, search and transaction data as a core modeling advantage.
• Partner with Engineering to deploy models into production systems with appropriate monitoring, explainability, and feedback loops.
• Continuously improve model performance using new data sources, features, and methodologies.
• Partner with other members of the Product & Technology team to validate valuation models through rigorous backtesting and experimentation.
• Collaborate with domain experts to improve feature engineering to ensure models reflect market nuances that drive sale prices.
• Build quantitative models that forecast market dynamics, asset valuations, and pricing trends across collectible categories.
• Develop and refine intelligence that supports and enhances grading and authentication businesses.
• Generate insights that inform product, pricing, and go-to-market strategy across the Collectors portfolio.
• Join the Quantitative Sciences function as one of its first members, working directly with its leader.
• Contribute to the team's roadmap, research agenda, and technical standards.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Finance, and Operations to understand business needs and turn them into well-scoped modeling work.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: All full-time employees are eligible to enroll in Medical, Dental, and Vision
• 401(K) Matching Plan: We are proud to offer a competitive 401k matching plan to our employees to support their future financial goals
• Vacation: All full-time employees are eligible for paid vacation
• Holiday Pay: All regular, full-time employees are eligible for ten company-paid holidays
• Employee Discounts: Employees receive discounts on select grading services for different segments
• Flexible Hours: Many of our teams offer flexible schedules with varying shifts and work-from-home opportunities
• Fun Working Environment: Our team members are invited to company-wide events, celebrations, and department outings

What This Job Offers

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