Sr Data Scientist

About the role

PenFed is hiring a (Hybrid) Sr Data Scientist at our Tysons, Virginia location. The primary purpose of this job is to develop, maintain and enhance Auto, Personal Loan and Credit Card NPV calculator used to support credit decisioning, pricing, engagement and other business strategies. In addition, this role supports the first line's independent challenge of official loss forecast for consumer lending portfolios.

Responsibilities

• Lead interaction with and advising Management regarding credit risk issues; formulates product strategy recommendations and evaluates the risk in the overall loan portfolio.
• Conduct autonomous end-to-end more complex statistical model creation, including but not limited to identifying objectives, compiling data, sampling/prepping data, feature selection, model comparison/selection, deployment, and monitoring.
• Ensures adequate internal control processes around model development, implementation and validation are established.
• Develop, monitor, and maintain risk models using advanced machine learning and statistical methods.
• Research and recommend new approaches/algorithms to identify relationships among complex data and implements model changes to improve model performance.
• Understand the trends within consumer and commercial loans portfolio, their impact on model implementation design and performance, and develop timely approach to address changes.
• Develop necessary analytics and processes during model implementation and forecasting process to provide production support and resolution.
• Establish consistent and robust model implementation processes across models with effective review and controls.
• Communicate design and results of model's development and implementation to a variety of audiences, including senior management, bank supervisors, internal validation, Internal Audit and line of business credit and finance end users.
• Apply intermediate to advanced knowledge of financial processes and procedures, and routine modeling theories and techniques to create effective modeling solutions for a single or multiple business functions.
• Maintain documentation for key processes and model components across the team with focus on standardization of processes.
• Engage model development teams, model production, and forecasting/model production team/users to develop consistent model implementation and process capabilities.
• Participate in regular interactions with various stakeholders to enhance model implementation processes and translate requirements into integrated forecasting process/tools for effective consumption.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in quantitative discipline is required. PhD is highly preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years of related work experience in building statistical models and advanced data analysis. Minimum of one (1) year of experience for PhD degree holders.
• Applied experience with Logistic Regression, Linear Regression, Machine Learning, and Survival Analysis required.
• Advanced programming skills to include knowledge of statistical programs (e.g., SQL, Python, and R) required.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and implement rapid changes in project direction.
• Demonstrate strong data analysis skills, ability to understand underlying data and complex loss/balance forecasting models, various product features, possess organizational and prioritization skills, as well as strong attention to detail.
• Detail oriented, results driven, and the ability to navigate in a quickly changing and high demand environment to develop solutions while balancing multiple priorities.
• Critical thinking using both analytical and tactical approach to problem solving within the Quantitative Modeling team is required.
• Ability to interact effectively with team members across the management team, Lines of Business (LOB), credit officers, finance, model governance, oversight, validation, and audit organizations.
• Proven project management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills required.
• Experience using AI tools preferred.

Pay

The anticipated starting salary range for this role is $84,700.00 – $183,151.00. This position is eligible for an organizational performance-based annual bonus, subject to board discretion and approval. This position is also eligible for an individual performance-based annual bonus.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
• Paid time off
• Paid parental leave, care support, and fitness center access
• 401(k) match, employee loan discounts, and fully paid life and disability coverage
• Education assistance, community involvement, and volunteer opportunities