Data Science Sr Associate

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 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
• Develop predictive models to increase and optimize customer experience, reduce risk, optimize revenue generation, direct mail targeting, fraud detection and other customer lifecycle outcomes
• Mine and analyze data from company databases to drive optimization and
improvement of product development, marketing techniques and business strategies
• Process, cleanse, and verify the integrity of data used for modeling and analysis
• Conduct feature engineering, select appropriate features and develop models using various machine-learning techniques
• Perform ad-hoc analysis and present results in a clear manner to Sr. Management. Provide timely and justified recommendations in response to ad hoc analysis requests by internal groups
• Proactively collaborate with data engineers, ML operations, software development, product management, Marketing, 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 inputs and output data accuracy
Why you are a fit for Avant
• 3-4 years of on the job experience as a data scientist or an advanced degree
(Master's or PhD in machine learning and/or other quantitative fields)
• 3-4 years expertise in machine learning theories and practices, including regression models, GLM, SVM and tree-based models (e.g. Boosting, Random Forest)
• Familiarity with Object-Oriented Design (OOD) concept and functional programming with 4+ years experience writing code
• Expertise in at least one statistical programming language such as Python
(preferred) or R and ability to build statistical models in the programming language
• Proven ability to communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience with relational databases such as Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQL Server
• Experience in a data science or ML Ops role at a banking/financial institution or fin-tech is a plus
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.
Some of our benefits include:

• Choice of great Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Plan options
• 401(k) Match
• Unlimited Paid Time Off
• Flexible Work Environment
• Generous Paid Parental Leave
• Lunch Allowance (Fooda) and In-office Snacks
• WFH Stipends for our Remote Employees
• Access to LinkedIn Learning for Professional Development
• No Meeting Wednesdays - (a.k.a. planned time to Get Sh!t Done)
• Summer Fridays
• Fun In-Office and Virtual Social Events
• And who doesn't love the swag

This position may require you to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If required, you'll be asked to provide proof that you're fully vaccinated upon your start date or before working in or visiting our Chicago office. You're considered fully vaccinated two weeks after you receive the second dose of a two-dose vaccine series (e.g., Pfizer or Moderna) or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson/Janssen). Failure to provide proof of vaccination may result in termination. Subject to applicable law and requests for accommodation.