Senior Data Scientist - Payments ACH

Plaid2 weeks ago

Location

San Francisco

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 180,000 – 250,000

Level

Senior

Role

Data Scientist

Posted

Feb 28, 2026

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

Plaid is seeking a Senior Data Scientist for their Payments ACH team to drive strategic data-driven decision-making and develop advanced machine learning models for financial technology applications. The ideal candidate will leverage deep analytical skills to improve payment systems, build scalable data pipelines, and generate insights that directly impact business outcomes in the fintech ecosystem.

What you'll do

Data Analysis and Insights: Apply quantitative analysis, data mining, and visualization techniques to generate actionable insights for improving API products

Machine Learning Model Development: Identify and develop useful signals for machine learning models, focusing on enhancing risk assessment and product performance

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Inform and influence product and engineering teams through data-driven presentations and strategic recommendations

Data Science Strategy: Contribute to long-term data science roadmap decisions and champion a data-first approach across the organization

ML System Optimization: Deep dive into model performance, triage issues, and identify opportunities for improvement in ML risk systems

What we look for

Technical

ProgrammingProficiency in Python for exploratory data analysis and independent coding

Data ToolsAdvanced SQL skills and experience with data visualization tools

Cloud TechnologiesFamiliarity with AWS stack and cloud-based data technologies

Education

Academic BackgroundBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Engineering, Economics, or related field

Experience

Industry Experience5+ years of product-focused Data Science experience

Specialized KnowledgePreferred experience in ACH risk strategy or Guaranteed ACH product development

Skills

Required skills

Machine LearningExpertise in classification, clustering, optimization, deep neural networks, and NLP techniques

Experimental AnalysisExperience conducting large-scale A/B experiments and translating results into actionable recommendations

Data PipelineAbility to build and manage data processing workflows

Nice to have

Data Engineering ToolsExperience with DBT or Airflow for data pipeline development

Financial TechnologyBackground in fintech payment systems and risk management

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 180,000 – 250,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity

Stock options as part of compensation package

Diversity and Inclusion

Commitment to building a diverse and equitable workplace

Career Growth

Opportunities for professional development in cutting-edge financial technology

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Phone or video interview with recruiter to assess initial fit
2
Technical Assessment — Data science challenge or coding assessment to evaluate technical skills
3
Onsite Interviews — Multiple rounds of interviews with team members, including technical and behavioral assessments
4
Final Interview — Meeting with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and team fit