Staff Data Scientist, Credit Strategy

Mulligan Funding•San Diego, CA

129d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Staff Data Scientist, Credit Strategy is a key member of the Risk Management team, responsible for designing, deploying, and optimizing end-to-end credit strategies that balance growth, profitability, and credit risk. This role plays a critical part in maximizing credit conversion and customer lifetime value while ensuring portfolio performance remains within established loss tolerances. This position partners closely with Risk leadership, manual underwriting, Product, Engineering, and Data Science teams to build scalable, data-driven credit strategies that support sustainable growth and resilient portfolio construction. This role follows a hybrid work schedule with three days onsite and two days remote each week, with Mondays designated as a mandatory onsite day.

Requirements

5+ years of relevant experience in commercial risk data science and credit strategy within a fintech or banking environment
At least 3–4 years of hands-on experience designing, calibrating, and managing credit strategies for Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) products; prior MCA credit strategy experience is required
Strong experience overseeing model deployment, execution, and monitoring within a production environment
Master’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Economics, Finance, or a related quantitative discipline required

Nice To Haves

ML Ops experience is highly preferred

Responsibilities

Design and deploy innovative approval, qualification, and segmentation strategies that maximize application approval rates while achieving credit loss targets
Develop and maintain underwriting policies that define minimum acceptance criteria and policy declines for segments outside Mulligan’s risk appetite
Create statistically grounded credit limit assignment frameworks that optimize lifetime customer value while managing downside risk
Design pricing and interest rate strategies, including testing frameworks, to ensure adequate loss coverage, strong borrower selection, and high customer take-up rates
Optimize data collection strategies by balancing the information value of data against customer friction and operational cost
Partner closely with the manual underwriting team to build a hybrid risk framework that integrates analytical strategies with expert manual review, ensuring consistent execution and continuous feedback loops
Collaborate with Product, Engineering, and Data Science teams to design and deploy scalable infrastructure that enables rapid iteration and refinement of credit strategies
Establish robust portfolio monitoring and reporting processes to track approval rates, credit performance, and risk metrics against expectations
Apply a thoughtful, forward-looking approach to portfolio construction to ensure assets are resilient across economic cycles and attractive to debt investors on a risk-adjusted basis
Incorporate macroeconomic trends and forward-looking risk signals into credit strategy to ensure ongoing relevance in evolving market conditions
Performs other duties as assigned

Benefits

Medical, vision, and dental benefits to support you and your family.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses.
A 401(k) with matching contributions to help you plan for retirement.
Paid time off, including sick leave, vacation, and holidays.
Paid parental leave for growing families.
A Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) for athletic and wellness expenses.
An employer-sponsored Life and AD&D policy, with options for additional coverage.
A Learning Stipend for professional development activities.
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and travel assistance services.
Complimentary snacks and refreshments in the breakroom.
A referral program that rewards you for bringing in top talent.
Company events to connect, celebrate, and grow together.