Staff Machine Learning Scientist

Dave

3d • $208,000 - $269,000 • Remote

About The Position

Dave is seeking a Staff Machine Learning Scientist to shape how the company builds, evaluates, and governs machine learning models across its business. The role sets technical direction across credit, fraud, marketing, and growth while remaining hands-on with high-impact modeling challenges. The scientist will establish practical governance standards, strengthen measurement of business outcomes, and help teams make data-informed decisions, with meaningful autonomy and influence over how machine learning supports members and Dave’s long-term growth.

The position will influence modeling strategy, architecture, shared infrastructure, and investment priorities across underwriting, collections, fraud, marketing, and growth. It will develop and improve credit models, establish model lifecycle governance, and work with Legal, Compliance, Risk, and sponsor-bank stakeholders to turn regulatory requirements into measurable controls. It will also advance business measurement through metrics, experimentation, causal inference, and incrementality analysis; develop AI-assisted workflows; and mentor scientists.

The role’s work will influence financial decisions, success measurement, and risk management. By developing reliable models and scalable governance practices, the Staff Machine Learning Scientist will help Dave expand access to financial products while supporting responsible and sustainable growth. The role has significant independence and cross-functional influence, with partners in Engineering, Product, Finance, Risk, and Compliance.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience building production machine learning solutions, including demonstrated technical leadership at staff or principal scope.
• Strong experience with consumer credit modeling, portfolio economics, and risk-based decision systems, ideally in fintech or consumer lending.
• Experience with model validation, model risk management, or independent review in regulated environments, including familiarity with fair-lending and adverse-action considerations.
• Advanced proficiency in Python, SQL, statistical modeling, and machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, XGBoost, or Spark.
• Experience designing experiments, defining business metrics, and measuring incremental impact through causal inference or holdout methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction and communicate complex trade-offs across senior stakeholders.
• Practical experience using AI tools throughout the modeling lifecycle, with sound judgment in evaluating outputs.
• A bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a quantitative field, or equivalent experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience evaluating or governing generative AI applications, including model guardrails and monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Shape modeling strategy across underwriting, collections, fraud, marketing, and growth, influencing architecture, shared infrastructure, and investment priorities.
• Establish model governance standards for validation, monitoring, risk classification, documentation, change management, and independent review throughout the model lifecycle.
• Build and improve credit models for underwriting, collections, and settlement strategies, balancing portfolio performance, profitability, and member outcomes.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, Risk, and sponsor-bank stakeholders to translate regulatory requirements into measurable controls and strengthen responsible modeling practices.
• Advance business measurement through meaningful metrics, experimentation, causal inference, and incrementality analysis to inform product and portfolio decisions.
• Develop AI-assisted workflows and mentor scientists to improve modeling efficiency, evaluation quality, and consistency across teams.
• Influence how Dave makes financial decisions, measures success, manages risk, and supports responsible growth.

Benefits

• Home office stipend
• Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Paid parental and caregiver leave
• 401(k) savings plan with matching contributions
• Financial advisor and financial wellness support
• Flexible PTO and company holidays, including Juneteenth and Winter Break
• Flexible hours
• Virtual-first work culture
• All-company in-person events once or twice a year and virtual events throughout the year

What This Job Offers

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