Job Specifications
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.
The Opportunity
As a dedicated Data Scientist Principal, you will leverage technical expertise and industry experience to influence the application, scalability, and enablement of artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) at USAA. The incumbent will identify novel opportunities for advanced analytics solutions, effectively communicates with business leaders, product teams, and other key stakeholders and guides end-to-end solution development, IT implementation, and business adoption. Provides strategic guidance to executive leadership by seeking, vetting, proposing, and enabling best in class tools and technologies. Collaborates with IT Architecture and leadership to ensure data and analytics tools are consistent with USAA's strategic vision.
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, Chesapeake, VA or Tampa, FL. Relocation assistance is available for this position. What you'll do:
Identifies, researches, and defines large-scale, cross-functional AI/ML use cases in collaboration with business leaders, executive peers, and strategic partners. Guides end-to-end efforts to develop scalable, efficient, highly-performant, automated AI/ML solutions.
Applies deep expertise to amplify the impact of modeling techniques on emerging business initiatives. Collaborates with IT architects to design, implement, monitor, and scale cutting-edge AI/ML solutions that translate prototypes into novel products, services, and features.
Ensures that AI/ML solutions are built using industry best practices, and sound methodology. Works with model risk partners to promote a culture of regulatory compliance.
Designs large, complex information assets that enable applied analytics. Collaborates with engineering, data, and information architects to establish and maintain well-governed, documented, and controlled datasets from internal and external, structured, and unstructured sources.
Seeks opportunities to simplify, modernize, and standardize the model development lifecycle. Provides expert technical advice and guidance by vetting vendor acquisitions.
Actively raises the bar on talent and recruitment by leading or participating in communities of practice, talent development initiatives, and technical interview panels.
Clearly translates complex analytical and technical concepts to diverse, technical, and non-technical audiences in a way that promotes organizational data literacy and informs business priorities.
Provides technical oversight for building and maintaining a robust library of reusable, production-quality algorithms and supporting code.
Develops and maintains academic and industry relationships for research purposes. Represents USAA in key internal/external technology and advanced analytics conferences.
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 mathematics, computer science, statistics, economics, finance, actuarial sciences, science and engineering, or other similar quantitative discipline.
10 years of progressive experience in predictive analytics or data analysis, to include 6 years of experience in training and validating statistical, physical, machine learning, and other advanced analytics models.
6 years of experience in one or more dynamic scripted language (such as Python, R, etc.) with a focus on writing code that is easy to follow, well documented, and commented where necessary to explain logic (high code transparency).
Subject matter expert in the concepts and technologies associated with classical supervised modeling for prediction such as linear/logistic models, discriminant analysis, support vector machines, decision trees, forest models, etc.
Subject matter expert in the concepts and technologies associated with unsupervised modeling such as k-means clustering, hierarchical/agglomerative clustering, neighbors algorithms, DBSCAN, etc.
Deep hands-on experience building, deploying, and managing the performance of advanced analytics solutions. Proven track record of providing cutting-edge solutions that drive business adoption and value.
Extensive project management experience and can anticipate and appropriately manage project milestones, risks, and impediments. Demonstrated history of appropriately commun