Associate, Data Science, Credit Risk

Avant is adding to our Data Science team! We are looking for a self-driven candidate who is passionate about problem solving and interested in making a difference. This person will be a key member of our Data Science team and responsible for the development of numerous kinds of customer lifecycle models. If you are looking for an opportunity to join a great team where you can be yourself, deepen your skills and experiences, and find new areas of inspiration then consider a career at Avant!

What you'll do at Avant:

• Work with stakeholders throughout the company to identify opportunities for leveraging company data and third-party vendor data to drive business solutions using different modeling techniques
• Design and build predictive models to enhance customer experience, reduce risk, improve revenue generation, optimize direct mail targeting, and drive key outcomes throughout the customer lifecycle
• Design and build robust credit risk models, including application scorecards, behavioral models, loss forecasting, and risk-based pricing, to optimize underwriting decisions and drive overall portfolio performance.
• Mine and analyze data from company databases to drive optimization and improvement of product development, marketing techniques and business strategies
• Clean, process and validate data to ensure its quality and integrity for modeling and analysis
• Conduct feature engineering, select appropriate features and develop robust models using various machine learning techniques
• Perform ad-hoc analysis and present results in a clear manner to senior management. Provide timely and justified recommendations in response to ad-hoc analysis requested by internal groups
• Proactively collaborate with Data Engineering, ML Operations, Software Development, Credit Risk, Marketing, Legal & Compliance, and other internal groups to implement and monitor models across the customer lifecycle
• Develop and enhance processes and tools to monitor model performance and input and output data accuracy

Why you're a fit at Avant:

• Master's or PhD degree in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Statistics, Operations Research or a related STEM fields
• 2-3 years of professional experience in machine learning or data science within the consumer credit/lending or fintech industry
• Strong expertise in machine learning theories and practices (Generalized Linear Model, Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, Deep Learning, etc.)
• Familiarity with Object-Oriented Design (OOD) concept and functional programming with 2+ years experience writing production-level code
• Proficiency in Python with experience in the end-to-end development of machine learning models. Strong domain expertise and technical knowledge of credit risk modeling
• Advanced in SQL for querying and analyzing large datasets
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex concepts and findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences, and effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, with a keen attention to detail and data integrity
• Preferred: Experience with ML and data analytics platforms/technologies such as Databricks, AWS (including AI/ML tools) and Looker

If you are a highly motivated and detail-oriented individual with a passion for data and product management, we encourage you to apply for this position.

This role is based on our downtown Chicago Office, located in the Merchandise Mart. We highly value collaboration and our hybrid schedule (M, T, Th in-office) enables flexibility to balance work and individual priorities.

Compensation Range:

The base salary range for this job is USD $95,000 - USD $130,000 / Year

Employees new to Avant typically come in below the midpoint of the pay range. The compensation range is based on the level outlined in the job posting, and compensation decisions are dependent on each applicant's experience, skills and abilities.


[If an outstanding applicant's experience and skill level is above or below the qualifications outlined in the job posting, we reserve the right to make an offer at a different level than the one listed in this job posting, which may have a different compensation range.]

This role is eligible for additional incentives, including an annual bonus. These rewards are allocated based on level, impact and performance in the role.

Our benefits include:

• Choice of great Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Plan options
• 401(k) match
• Flexible Time Off
• Flexible Work Environment - (i.e. Mon/Tues/Thurs in-person)
• Generous Paid Parental Leave, Adoption Assistance and Post-parental leave ramp-up program
• Lunch Allowance (Fooda) and In-office Snacks
• Summer Fridays
• Fun In-Office and Virtual Social Events
• And who doesn't love the swag

Check out our Avant Blog !

We believe that a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences helps us create the most innovative solutions for our customers. We invite you to apply to our positions even if you do not meet 100% of the qualifications listed in the description. If you're passionate about our mission and aligned to our values, we hope you'll come contribute to our awesome culture.

Why Avant is the place for you:

At Avant, we believe our values make a difference:

Authenticity. We show up to work as our whole selves and make sure others can too.

Collaboration. We can only succeed when we do so as a team.

Problem-Solving. The harder the problem, the more satisfying the solution.

Customer. We are all owners of the customer experience.

Initiative. Plan. Adapt. Get Sh!t Done.

We believe that great ideas come from anyone and anywhere, that everyone is an owner who drives change, and that we have more fun when we work together. We're problem solvers who love collaborating with intelligent and highly-motivated people to reshape the face of digital banking. Avant offers terrific perks and benefits, fun social events with employees who actually like hanging out together, and a flexible growth environment where trying your hand at new projects and being the active owner of your career path is encouraged and supported.

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