Senior Data Scientist, Methodologies

Job description

JOIN THE TILT TEAM At Tilt, we see a side of people that traditional lenders miss. Our mobile-first products and machine learning-powered credit models look beyond credit scores, using over 250 real-time financial signals to recognize real potential. With millions of customers worldwide, we're not just changing how people access financial products — we're creating a new credit system that backs the working, whatever they're working toward. THE OPPORTUNITY: At Tilt, we don’t just see numbers on a spreadsheet; we see the people behind them. As The People’s Credit Company, we’re on a mission to kick down the doors of traditional finance. To do that, we need more than just technical expertise—we need a Senior Data Scientist who blends analytical grit with deep emotional intelligence. You’ll join our Methodologies group, the team responsible for building the foundational models that power our "people-first" philosophy. While others might play it safe with legacy credit scoring, you’ll be in the trenches using deep learning to find the truth in financial behavior. You’ll explore how neural networks, embeddings, and transformers can turn complex data into fair, accessible credit for everyone. As a Senior member of the team, you are a high-impact contributor who has moved beyond executing tasks to mastering the influence of the work. You are a bridge-builder—bold enough to challenge the status quo and thoughtful enough to bring your cross-functional partners along with you. HOW YOU'LL MAKE AN IMPACT - Architecting the Future: You won't just run experiments; you’ll own the development and testing of deep learning architectures (transformers, embeddings, and NNs) that define how Tilt understands risk. - Driving Strategy Across Teams: You’ll partner with peers in Engineering and Product to ensure our models aren't just "smart" in a lab, but effective and scalable in the real world. - Translating Insights into Solutions: You’ll look past the symptoms of a data problem to find the root cause. You’ll define trade-offs and turn complex findings into clear, actionable solutions for our lending platform. - Owning the Workstream: With general direction from leadership, you will take full ownership of your projects—from initial hypothesis to measuring the outcome for our customers. - Elevating the Craft: You’ll share your findings and mentor others, helping the team grow its deep learning capability and ensuring we stay at the cutting edge of the industry. - Measuring What Matters: You’ll define success not just by model accuracy, but by how your work improves financial outcomes for Tilt’s customers and partners. WHY YOU'RE A GREAT FIT - Technical Depth: You have a proven track record of building and deploying deep learning models (Neural Networks, Embeddings, or Transformers) using modern frameworks like PyTorch or TensorFlow. - Applied Experience: You’ve applied machine learning to complex, real-world problems, ideally within financial services (credit, lending, or payments). - First Principles Thinking: You are an expert at breaking down problems. You don't just apply a model because it's popular; you apply it because you’ve considered the trade-offs and the "why." - Unwavering Clarity: You cut through the noise. You can explain a complex technical concept to a non-technical partner with the same ease and respect you’d use with a fellow scientist. - Soulful Intent: You’re driven by a purpose. You want your intelligence to serve a mission—helping more people get the "Yes" they deserve. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE We don’t believe in hand-holding; we believe in partnership. Your benchmark for success is defining the path forward rather than waiting for a roadmap. - In your first 30 days: You will immerse yourself in our current data architecture and the "Methodologies" mission. You’ll build a deep understanding of our existing credit models and identify the first meaningful "Deep Learning" gap where you can add value. - In your first 60 days: You will have stood up your own ML infrastructure (compute, pipelines, and data handling) and begun training the first iterations of a new model. You’ll be operating with high autonomy, providing updates at key milestones rather than seeking daily direction. - By day 90: You will have delivered a functional prototype and the first version of a production-ready model. Success is defined by your ability to drive this project from hypothesis to a tangible version independently, demonstrating the "Big Brain" competence and high energy required to scale our methodology globally. YOU’LL KNOW YOU’RE THRIVING IF: - You are telling us what should be done next based on your first-principles analysis. - You’ve moved past the "theory" and have code running in a production-ready environment. - The team views you as an "AI-first builder" who creates momentum rather than waiting for it. Don’t meet every qualification? We care about potential over your past. If you're bringing ambition and drive to what we're building, we want to hear from you. WHAT YOU'LL GET AT TILT - Virtual-first teamwork: The Tilt team is collaborating across 14 countries, 12 time zones, and counting. You’ll get started with a WFH office reimbursement. - Competitive pay: We're big on potential, and it's reflected in our competitive compensation packages and generous equity. - Complete support: Find flexible health plans at every premium level, and substantial subsidies that stand up to global standards. - Visibility is yours: You can count on direct exposure to our leadership team — we’re a team where good ideas travel quickly. - Paid global onsites: Magic happens IRL: we gather twice yearly to reconnect over shared meals or kayaking adventures. (We’ve visited Vail, San Diego, and Mexico City, to name a few.) - Impact is recognized: Growth opportunities follow your contributions, not rigid promotion timelines. THE TILT WAY We're looking for people who chase excellence and impact. Those who stand behind their work, celebrating the wins and learning from the missteps equally. We foster an environment where every voice is valued and mutual respect is non-negotiable — brilliant jerks need not apply. We're in this together, working to expand access to fair credit and prove that people are incredible. When you join us, it's not just another day at the [virtual] office, you're helping millions of hardworking people reach better financial futures. You’re pushing ahead in your career? We can get behind that. Join us in building the credit system that people deserve.