Senior Data Scientist (Credit Risk)

Achieve • San Mateo, CA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Achieve is seeking an experienced, hands-on Credit Risk, Sr. Data Scientist who is comfortable working with large data sets, coding in SQL and Python, and gaining insights from data to translate them into actionable insights for business stakeholders. In this role, you will maintain and enhance credit risk models and policies to monitor the portfolio and gain insights. You will also build and monitor credit risk models with a focus on loss forecasting and communicate results to teams such as Capital Markets and Marketing. The ideal candidate has a passion for streamlining processes and building tools to effectively monitor models and portfolios, and will be a key contributor to our risk management processes.

Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years’ hands-on experience in credit risk modeling and portfolio monitoring (e.g., model and performance monitoring, tracking charge-offs, delinquencies, vintage analysis, roll-rates).
• Strong programming skills in Python/SQL for data analysis, modeling, and automation.
• Solid background in Probability & Statistics.
• Experience with pricing and price optimization along with analytics and monitoring related to pricing.
• Experience with credit risk modeling methodologies: Scorecard models, XGBoost, time-series analysis, vintage modeling, roll-rate curves, survival analysis, or logistic regression in a consumer credit risk context.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Python Widgets) or dashboarding.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills; ability to interpret results, identify trends, draw actionable insights, and communicate clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Excellent documentation skills and experience in preparing audit-ready deliverables (methodologies, assumptions, model validation support).
• Master’s degree in Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related quantitative discipline (PhD preferred, but not required).

Nice To Haves

• Experience in lending (personal loans or credit cards) or fintech lending environment.
• Experience with credit risk modeling (development & monitoring).
• Experience working with credit decisioning engines such as Oscilar, TakTile etc…
• Experience working in CKLightbox environment.
• Experience working in the GCP environment.
• A passion for fintech, agile environment, ability to work both independently and in a collaborative, fast-paced team.

Responsibilities

• Building, maintaining, and enhancing credit risk models for lending portfolios.
• Extracting, cleaning, and manipulating large data sets using SQL and Python; building pipelines and analytics to perform model and portfolio monitoring.
• Performing exploratory data analysis (EDA) to identify portfolio trends, drivers of loss performance (vintage, credit bands, borrower attributes, macro factors), and providing insights into model deviations.
• Maintaining forecast deliverables: monthly/quarterly loss forecasts by vintage and segment, stress and scenario analyses, sensitivity testing.
• Providing commentary and insights to business stakeholders on credit policy assumptions, model health, and emerging portfolio risks.
• Automating reporting, dashboards, and pipelines to streamline model monitoring and improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Documenting model methodologies, assumptions, data sources, and results in a clear, audit-ready format consistent with risk governance requirements.
• Participating in governance and review of credit model methodology, model validation support, and liaising with external auditors or regulators where needed.
• Continuously identifying opportunities to improve credit decisioning accuracy, data infrastructure, modeling techniques, and integrating advanced statistical or machine-learning techniques as appropriate.

Benefits

• 401 (k) with employer match
• Medical, dental, and vision with HSA and FSA options
• Competitive vacation and sick time off, as well as dedicated volunteer days
• Access to wellness support through Employee Assistance Program, physical and mental health wellness programs
• Pet care discounts for your furry family members
• Financial support in times of hardship with our Achieve Care Fund
• A safe place to connect and a commitment to diversity and inclusion through our six employee resource groups

What This Job Offers

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