Lead Machine Learning Scientist

Job description

# **Dave vs. Goliath. We’re Dave.** Dave is a financial app on a mission to build products that level the financial playing field. It is redefining the financial landscape by leveraging technology to create an affordable, transparent, and user-centric access to liquidity for millions of Americans. As a leading innovator in the U.S. financial services sector, Dave’s digital financial platform offers products designed to meet the credit needs of those underserved by traditional financial institutions. Dave’s offerings include its flagship ExtraCash product, providing members up to $500 within minutes. The company is on track to launch several new product offerings in 2026, including a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) option. Dave is focused on serving Americans who are financially vulnerable or living paycheck to paycheck. Dave is leading the charge in creating a new era of credit products that prioritizes speed, affordability, and accessibility, making it the go-to financial partner for those who need it most. ### The Opportunity We're looking for a **Lead Machine Learning Scientist** to develop and deploy advanced machine learning solutions that help Dave detect fraud, protect our members, and responsibly expand access to credit. This is a deeply hands-on role for someone who loves solving complex problems through data, experimentation, and modeling. You'll work across the full machine learning lifecycle, from exploring large datasets and developing predictive models to deploying solutions, evaluating performance, and continuously improving results. You'll have meaningful ownership of technically challenging problems, with opportunities to influence how we approach fraud detection and risk decisioning. You'll collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, and Risk Operations while remaining actively involved in the modeling and technical execution that drives our business forward. ### What You'll Build & Own - **Build and deploy advanced fraud detection models.** Personally develop, train, validate, and optimize machine learning models that identify synthetic identities, first-party fraud, account takeover, and emerging fraud patterns. - **Solve complex problems through data and experimentation.** Explore large, diverse datasets, engineer predictive features, evaluate modeling approaches, and translate findings into production-ready fraud solutions. - **Own the end-to-end ML lifecycle.** Take models from initial research and prototyping through testing, deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement, ensuring solutions deliver measurable business results. - **Apply AI to accelerate machine learning development.** Use modern AI tools and techniques to improve research, coding, feature development, experimentation, validation, and modeling workflows while maintaining strong technical rigor. - **Optimize fraud decisioning through measurable results.** Analyze model performance, fraud trends, approval rates, and portfolio outcomes to identify opportunities to improve detection accuracy, reduce losses, and support responsible growth. - **Collaborate and contribute technical expertise.** Partner with Engineering, Product, and Risk Operations to integrate models into production systems, solve implementation challenges, and share technical knowledge that strengthens the broader team. ### The Impact You'll Make Your models will help Dave make smarter, more responsible fraud and credit decisions. You'll directly contribute to reducing fraud losses, improving decision accuracy, and helping more members access the financial tools they need. ### What We're Looking For - **7+ years of hands-on machine learning experience**, with a demonstrated track record of personally developing, deploying, and optimizing predictive models in production environments. - **Deep fraud modeling expertise**, including experience building ML solutions to detect identity fraud, synthetic identities, first-party fraud, and account takeover, ideally within fintech, consumer lending, or financial services. - **Advanced proficiency in Python and SQL**, with strong experience in feature engineering, model development, experimentation, performance evaluation, and production ML systems. - **4+ years of experience with ML frameworks and cloud technologies**, including tools such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Spark, and cloud-based ML infrastructure. - **Experience leveraging generative AI and AI-assisted tools** across research, coding, analysis, experimentation, testing, and model development, with sound judgment in validating outputs. - **Strong analytical and business judgment**, with the ability to evaluate trade-offs across fraud prevention, approval rates, profitability, compliance, and member experience. - **Proven end-to-end execution**, with the ability to independently tackle complex ML problems, make sound technical decisions, and deliver measurable results. - **Strong communication and collaboration skills**, including the ability to explain technical findings, partner across functions, and mentor fellow scientists through hands-on expertise. - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent practical experience. **Bonus points:** Experience with graph databases, graph-based fraud detection, or network analytics. ### What Makes Someone Successful Here You enjoy getting into the details. You're curious about data, thoughtful in your modeling decisions, and motivated by seeing your work make a measurable difference. You take ownership from problem definition through production, balancing technical rigor with practical business outcomes. You care about building solutions that work today and continue delivering value as Dave grows. You also recognize that great models don't exist in isolation. You collaborate openly, welcome feedback, and understand how your work connects to broader product and business decisions. When new information challenges your assumptions, you're willing to rethink your approach and find a better solution. ### What to Expect You'll have the autonomy to tackle complex technical challenges while working alongside collaborative partners who care about getting the details right. Our priorities evolve as we learn, and we rely on data, experimentation, and thoughtful discussion to guide decisions. We value technical excellence, meaningful ownership, and sustainable performance. ### Why Dave? At Dave, you'll work on challenging, real-world machine learning problems where your models directly influence business outcomes and member experiences. You'll have the opportunity to experiment with emerging AI technologies, develop sophisticated fraud detection solutions, and contribute to financial products that make a meaningful difference. **Ready to build for the underdog?** **Reports to:** Director, Risk Science **Employment Type:** Full-Time | Exempt *Don’t let imposter syndrome get in the way of an incredible opportunity. We’re looking for people who can help us achieve our mission and vision, not just check off the boxes. If you’re excited about this role, we encourage you to apply. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles.* **Why you’ll love working here:** At Dave, our people are just as important as our product. Our culture reflects the values that guide who we are, how we work, and what we aspire to be. Daves are member-centric, helpful, transparent, persistent, and better together. We strive to create an environment where all Daves feel valued, heard, and empowered to do their best work. As a virtual-first company, team members can live and work anywhere in the United States, except Hawaii. **A few of our benefits & perks**: 💚 Opportunity to tackle tough challenges, learn and grow from fellow top talent, and help millions of people reach their personal financial goals 💻 Flexible hours and virtual-first work culture with a home office stipend 🏥 Premium Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance plans 👶 Generous paid parental and caregiver leave 💰 401(k) savings plan with matching contributions 📈 Financial advisor and financial wellness support 🏖️ Flexible PTO and generous company holidays, including Juneteenth and Winter Break 🎉 All-company in-person events once or twice a year and virtual events throughout to connect with your team members and leadership team Dave Operating LLC is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and is dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants and do not discriminate on any basis protected by federal, state, or local law, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance relating to an applicant's criminal history. #LI-REMOTE