Principal Data Scientist (US)

Work Location: Southfield, Michigan, United States of America

Hours: 40 per week

Pay

$148,720 - $223,080 USD

TD is committed to providing fair and equitable compensation opportunities. The base pay offered may vary based on skills, experience, job-related knowledge, geographic location, and other business needs.

About the role

The Principal Data Scientist is responsible for collecting data and using a wide range of data science techniques—including data wrangling, profiling, visualization, and statistical inference—to uncover actionable insights or build analytics solutions that guide decision-making and strategic planning. This role provides technical expertise with a focus on bank and industry-wide solutions to address capability gaps and create significant value for customers.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end decisioning and pricing optimization engines, using large-scale historical and market data to form hypotheses, conduct analyses, develop machine learning models, evaluate and implement models, and drive business decisions.
• Analyze large-scale data and apply statistical models to recommend insights and solve business objectives.
• Collaborate with business partners to identify and refine business strategies, analyze alternative deal structures, and deliver business P&L expectations.
• Stay up to date on industry trends and optimization methodologies in auto finance markets.
• Deliver advanced analytical capabilities beyond existing methods, leading and running analytical projects autonomously.
• Create and deliver analytical presentations for executive audiences and stakeholders.
• Showcase advanced-level peer leadership, mentor and coach peers, and influence partners.
• Act as a key business partner, guiding and collaborating with business leaders to prioritize and identify key business needs while providing impactful analytical insights.
• Serve as a thought leader on IT risk-based approaches to data science and set direction for data science concepts, principles, practices, and standards.
• Oversee the work of other data science professionals on complex, highly visible projects of strategic importance and enterprise impact.
• Provide consultative and strategic guidance to executive leadership on high-profile, complex, and high-risk technology initiatives.
• Work autonomously on initiatives with significant organizational impact, primarily at the enterprise level.
• Translate business problems into viable data science solutions using a wide range of programming languages (e.g., Python) and techniques for data extraction, preparation, and advanced analytics.
• Visualize insights to tell compelling stories that convey results to decision-makers and stakeholders at all technical levels.
• Collaborate with data analysts, software engineers, data engineers, and application developers to develop scalable and sustainable data science solutions.
• Provide deep technical leadership and expertise to define future direction in specialized areas or lead strategic development efforts on emerging data science projects.
• Lead cross-functional teams to build cutting-edge analytic solutions.
• Provide analytical thought leadership and stay current on developments in data mining and data science applications.
• Apply industry and analytical expertise to provide innovative solutions that increase business results and minimize risk.
• Identify new analytical trends, data needs, and repeatable analytic solutions; generate hypotheses and create models to answer impactful business questions.
• Protect organizational interests by identifying and managing risks and escalating non-standard, high-risk activities.
• Create and implement processes and systems to extract knowledge or insights from structured or unstructured data.
• Employ techniques and theories from mathematics, statistics, and related fields.
• Adhere to enterprise frameworks or methodologies relevant to the business area.
• Participate in cross-functional or enterprise initiatives as a subject matter expert, helping identify risks and provide guidance for complex situations.
• Lead, facilitate, or implement action and remediation plans to address performance, risk, or governance issues.
• Actively manage relationships within and across business lines, corporate functions, and control functions to ensure alignment with enterprise and regulatory requirements.
• Keep abreast of emerging issues, trends, and evolving regulatory requirements, assessing potential impacts.
• Foster a culture of risk management and control, supported by effective processes aligned with risk appetite.
• Support a positive work environment that promotes service, quality, innovation, and teamwork.
• Provide thought leadership and industry knowledge for your area of expertise and participate in knowledge transfer within the team and business unit.
• Stay current on emerging trends and developments, growing your knowledge of the business, tools, and techniques.
• Participate in personal performance management, development activities, and cross-training within your team.
• Keep others informed about project status, progress, and relevant day-to-day activities.
• Contribute to team development through mentorship, sharing knowledge and experiences, and leveraging best practices.
• Lead, motivate, and develop relationships with internal and external business partners and stakeholders to foster productive working relationships.
• Contribute to a fair, positive, and equitable environment that supports a diverse workforce.
• Act as a brand ambassador for your business area and the bank, both internally and externally.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree or advanced technical degree preferred (e.g., math, physics, engineering, finance, or computer science).
• Graduate degree preferred with either progressive project work experience or 10+ years of relevant experience; higher degree education and research tenure may be counted.

Skills

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python for data extraction, preparation, and advanced analytics.
• Strong business acumen to extract insights from big data and translate them into actionable strategies.
• Ability to visualize data and insights to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all technical levels.
• Deep expertise in statistical inference, machine learning, and data science techniques.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including data analysts, software engineers, and business process owners.
• Thought leadership in data science concepts, principles, and IT risk-based approaches.
• Ability to lead and mentor peers while influencing partners and stakeholders.
• Extensive understanding of the business and deep expertise in analytical concepts and techniques.

Benefits

TD offers a Total Rewards package that includes:

• Base salary and variable compensation/incentive awards (e.g., eligibility for cash and/or equity incentive awards).
• Health and well-being benefits.
• Savings and retirement programs.
• Paid time off, including Vacation PTO, Flex PTO, and Holiday PTO.
• Banking benefits and discounts.
• Career development and reward and recognition programs.

Additional support includes regular development conversations, training programs, and a competitive benefits plan to help colleagues thrive at work and home.

Physical Requirements

• Domestic Travel: Occasional (1-33%)
• International Travel: Never (0%)
• Performing sedentary work: Continuous (67-100%)
• Performing multiple tasks: Continuous (67-100%)
• Operating standard office equipment: Continuous (67-100%)
• Responding quickly to sounds: Occasional (1-33%)
• Sitting: Continuous (67-100%)
• Standing: Occasional (1-33%)
• Walking: Occasional (1-33%)
• Moving safely in confined spaces: Occasional (1-33%)
• Lifting/Carrying (under 25 lbs.): Occasional (1-33%)
• Lifting/Carrying (over 25 lbs.): Never (0%)
• Squatting: Occasional (1-33%)
• Bending: Occasional (1-33%)
• Kneeling: Never (0%)
• Crawling: Never (0%)
• Climbing: Never (0%)
• Reaching overhead: Never (0%)
• Reaching forward: Occasional (1-33%)
• Pushing: Never (0%)
• Pulling: Never (0%)
• Twisting: Never (0%)
• Concentrating for long periods: Continuous (67-100%)
• Applying common sense to standardized problems: Continuous (67-100%)
• Reading, writing, and comprehending instructions: Continuous (67-100%)
• Basic arithmetic (adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing): Continuous (67-100%)