Director, Data Scientist

Why USAA?

At USAA, our mission is to empower our members to achieve financial security through highly competitive products, exceptional service and trusted advice. We seek to be the #1 choice for the military community and their families.

Embrace a fulfilling career at USAA, where our core values - honesty, integrity, loyalty and service - define how we treat each other and our members. Be part of what truly makes us special and impactful.

We are proud to support active-duty military spouses. USAA roles may offer remote or hybrid flexibility for active-duty military spouses consistent with applicable policy and business needs.

The Opportunity

As a dedicated Director, Data Scientist , you will lead a team of Data Scientists responsible for identifying, scoping, and translating business problems into applied statistical, machine learning, simulation, and optimization solutions that generate actionable business insights and drive business value through automation, revenue generation, and the reduction of expenses and risk. You will work closely with business leaders to ideate, evaluate, and scope projects that address critical business needs. You will manage the team's project portfolio and communicate progress, outcomes, and key updates to senior leadership and other business stakeholders. Additionally, you will be responsible for the team's model inventory, ensuring compliance with USAA's model risk management policies and regulatory requirements. You will influence the future of data science at USAA by researching emerging technologies, identifying opportunities for innovation, and driving the adoption of advanced analytical capabilities across the organization.

We offer a flexible work environment that requires an individual to be in the office 4 days per week. This position can be based in one of the following locations: San Antonio, TX, Plano, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Colorado Springs, CO, Charlotte, NC, or Tampa, FL. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

What you'll do:

• Acts as advanced analytics thought leader and advisor to the business to shape strategies that drive competitiveness and differentiation.
• Influences business, data, and technology leaders to invest, sustain and expand advanced analytical capabilities by actively participating in strategy, planning, and budgeting exercises.
• Leads and develops team to build and deploy various advanced analytical solutions in an agile and collaborative environment across business, data, and technology organizations. Enables team's success by simplifying processes across the model development lifecycle and driving automation.
• Identifies, scopes, and manages complex analytical projects in collaboration with business stakeholders, often translating results to non-technical business executives.
• Champions and manages efforts to deliver business insights via scalable, automated solutions using machine learning, simulation, and optimization.
• Responsible for ensuring all modeling and machine learning solutions adhere to industry standards, model risk policy, and regulatory expectations.
• Partners with enterprise analytical and IT teams to build USAA core capabilities and processes.
• Identifies additional resource needs ranging from IT investments, 3rd party support or additional analysts.
• Builds and oversees a team of Data Scientists through ongoing execution of recruiting, development, retention, coaching and support, performance management, and managerial activities.
• Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.

What you have:

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, Actuarial Sciences, Operations Research, Data and/or Business Analysis, Data Science, or a business or quantitative field; OR 4 years of relevant education and/or experience.
• 8 years in predictive modeling, model governance, machine learning and large data analysis., OR Advanced Degree (e.g., Master's, PhD) in Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, or related quantitative STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) field and 6 years in predictive modeling, model governance, machine learning and large data analysis.
• 3 years of direct management experience.
• Strong communication skills; demonstrated ability to interpret and translate complex technical information to diverse audiences.
• Experience with various languages, applications, and technologies (such as SQL, Python, R, Spark, Hadoop etc.) commonly associated with delivery of Data Science solutions.
• Experience in developing and reviewing modeling solutions based on broad range of techniques - e.g., linear and logistic regressions, time series methods, survival analysis, support vector machines, neural networks, decision trees, random forests, gradient-boosting methods, deep learning, k-means and other clustering methods, simulation methods, or other advanced techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to apply best practices in modeling and machine learning techniques to solve business problems.
• Demonstrated ability to write and review complex technical documentation, communicate modeling insights and technical details to business leaders, technical and non-technical audiences.
• A strong track record of communicating results, insights, and technical solutions to Senior Executive Management (or equivalent).
• Deep technical skills, consulting experience, and business savvy to interface with all levels and disciplines within the organization.

What sets you apart:

• US military experience gained through military service or gained as a military spouse / domestic partner.
• Financial Services industry experience.

Compensation range: The salary range for this position is: $189,370 - $361,950

USAA does not provide visa sponsorship for this role. Please do not apply for this role if at any time (now or in the future) you will need immigration support (i.e., H-1B, TN, STEM OPT Training Plans, etc.).

Compensation: USAA has an effective process for assessing market data and establishing ranges to ensure we remain competitive. You are paid within the salary range based on your experience and market data of the position. The actual salary for this role may vary by location.


Employees may be eligible for pay incentives based on overall corporate and individual performance and at the discretion of the USAA Board of Directors.

The above description reflects the details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job and should not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be performed in the job.

Benefits: At USAA our employees enjoy best-in-class benefits to support their physical, financial, and emotional wellness. These benefits include comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, 401(k), pension, life insurance, parental benefits, adoption assistance, paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours, and various wellness programs. Additionally, our career path planning and continuing education assists employees with their professional goals.

For more details on our outstanding benefits, visit our benefits page on USAAjobs.com.

Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis, this posting will remain open until the position is filled. Thus, interested candidates are encouraged to apply the same day they view this posting.


USAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.