Nova Credit

Senior Data Scientist

San Francisco, US Full-time

WHO WE ARE

Nova Credit is a credit infrastructure and analytics company that enables businesses to grow responsibly through alternative credit data. As a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA), Nova Credit leverages its unique data infrastructure, compliance framework, and credit expertise to help lenders fill critical gaps in traditional credit analytics. The company transforms the fragmented universe of consumer financial data into compliant, actionable risk insights through a comprehensive platform designed to increase conversion through expanded coverage, speed, and reliability. Leading organizations, including JPMorgan Chase, PayPal, HSBC, SoFi, Scotiabank, AppFolio, and Yardi, work with Nova Credit to make smarter credit decisions through cash flow underwriting with Cash Atlas™, quickly verify income with Income Navigator, and reach new-to-country consumers with Credit Passport®. With support from investors Canapi Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, General Catalyst, and Index Ventures, as well as industry veterans from Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Citi, Nova Credit is revolutionizing the way lending is done. We were recently named in Forbes’ Fintech 50 in 2025 and Built In’s Best Places to Work, 2025.

Nova Credit offers a dynamic and inclusive work environment where you can meaningfully impact the lives of people historically excluded from the credit system. We value diversity, intellectual honesty, and innovation, and are committed to supporting our team members' professional growth and development. If you're passionate about leveraging technology to drive financial inclusion, we want to hear from you!

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Senior Data Scientist role will be part of the Data Science team at Nova Credit, where you will play a crucial role in researching, designing, and developing our global data science strategy. Applying your critical thinking and analytical skills to data, traditional statistical modeling, and modern machine learning techniques, you will serve as a conduit to bring key functions together, including: data partnerships, risk and analytics, product, engineering, and customer success, to develop and implement our core data systems. Working closely with our customer-facing teams, you will demonstrate the strength of our products and services through data analytics and insights. Ultimately, your role is to ensure that Nova Credit’s products deliver high-quality predictive risk signals; every initiative you work on will be crucial to the company’s success.

This is a full-time, hybrid role reporting directly to the Head of Data Science, based in the New York Metropolitan Area.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Research and develop credit risk predictive models based on cross-border consumer performance data or bank transaction data.
  • Research and develop bank transaction text classification models leveraging statistical models and/or large language models
  • Utilize bank transaction data to develop attributes for credit risk assessment, income verification, or other financial products.
  • Research and develop models for document processing and tampering identification.
  • Collaborate with our engineering organization to guide reliable deployments of data science products; 
  • Perform continuous research into new data sources, variables, and modeling methodologies.
  • Develop and execute model monitoring solutions.

YOUR SKILLSET:

  • 4+ Years relevant experience in data science, quantitative modeling, or machine learning.
  • Relevant PhD or MS preferred (e.g., Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Statistics, Operational Research)
  • Required - Fluency in generalized linear models & machine learning methods and tools; Preferred - Experience with hypothesis testing
  • Required - Fluency using Python and SQL; Preferred - Experience using PySpark and Pola.rs
  • Preferred - NLP and document fraud experience
  • Preferred - consumer credit risk knowledge
  • Above all, the ability to break down new and complex problems into fundamental and solvable components.

IC3: $142,800 - $173,700
IC4: $165,750 - $201,600

_The Base Salary Range for U.S.-based candidates and is dependent on individual experience, skills, education, location, and qualifications. We consider all elements of compensation as a part of the value we provide to Novans. This may include: base salary, equity grants, incentive compensation for eligible roles, professional development, flexible PTO, and tenure rewards. We offer U.S.-based Novans competitive, employer-subsidized medical, dental, and vision plans, in addition to mental health and wellness benefits and a range of other benefits & perks.

Everyone is welcome at Nova Credit. We are an equal opportunity employer where our diversity and inclusion are central pillars to our company strategy. We look for applicants who understand, embrace and thrive in a multicultural and increasingly globalized world. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status._

🚀 Y Combinator Company Info

Y Combinator Batch: S16
Team Size: 100 employees
Industry: Financial Technology and Services -> Credit and Lending
Company Description: Bridging a world of consumer-permissioned credit data

💰 Compensation

Salary Range: $142,804 - $173,700

📋 Job Details

Job Type: Full-time
Experience Level: 3+ years
Engineering Type: Data science

🛠️ Required Skills

Python SQL Machine Learning