Sr. Staff Data Scientist (Credit Risk)

Achieve • San Mateo, CA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Achieve is seeking an experienced, hands-on Credit Risk, Sr. Staff Data Scientist who is adept at working with large datasets, coding in SQL and Python, and deriving actionable insights from data to present to business stakeholders. This role involves maintaining and enhancing credit risk models and policies for portfolio monitoring, as well as building and monitoring credit risk models focused on loss forecasting. The candidate will communicate findings to teams like Capital Markets and Marketing and should be passionate about streamlining processes and developing tools for effective model and portfolio monitoring. This position is a key contributor to the company's 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 a fintech lending environment.
• Experience with credit risk modeling (development & monitoring).
• Experience working with credit decisioning engines such as Oscilar, TakTile etc…
• Experience working in a 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 datasets using SQL and Python; building pipelines and analytics for 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 provide insights into model deviations.
• Maintaining forecast deliverables, including monthly/quarterly loss forecasts by vintage and segment, stress and scenario analyses, and 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 the governance and review of credit model methodology, providing model validation support, and liaising with external auditors or regulators as needed.
• Continuously identifying opportunities to improve credit decisioning accuracy, data infrastructure, modeling techniques, and integrating advanced statistical or machine-learning techniques as appropriate.

Benefits

• Hybrid and remote work opportunities
• 401 (k) with employer match
• Medical, dental, and vision with HSA and FSA options
• Competitive vacation and sick time off
• Dedicated volunteer days
• Access to wellness support through Employee Assistance Program, Talkspace, and fitness discounts
• Up to $5,250 paid back on eligible education expenses
• Pet care discounts
• Financial support in times of hardship with our Achieve Care Fund
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion through employee resource groups

What This Job Offers

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