Data Scientist

Why USAA?

Let’s do something that really matters.

At USAA, we have an important mission: facilitating the financial security of millions of U.S. military members and their families. Not all of our employees served in our nation’s military, but we all share in the mission to give back to those who did. We’re working as one to build a great experience and make a real impact for our members.

We believe in our core values of honesty, integrity, loyalty and service. They’re what guides everything we do – from how we treat our members to how we treat each other. Come be a part of what makes us so special!

The Opportunity

We are the Data Science team for the Enterprise Data Science organization specializing in Natural Language Processing (NLP) AI models. As a member of our dynamic community of innovators, you will tackle a broad and evolving spectrum of business targets to provide outstanding impacts for our membership, leveraging both structured and unstructured data through machine-learning techniques, as well as a heavy emphasis on cutting-edge technologies with generative AI and large language models. This team is part of the backbone of the next generation of AI modeling at USAA!

Translates business problems into applied statistical, machine learning, simulation, and optimization solutions to inform actionable business insights and drive business value through automation, revenue generation, and expense and risk reduction. In collaboration with engineering partners, delivers solutions at scale, and enables customer-facing applications. Leverages database, cloud, and programming knowledge to build analytical modeling solutions using statistical and machine learning techniques. Collaborates with other data scientists to improve USAA’s tooling, expanding the company’s library of internal packages and applications. Works with model risk management to validate the results and stability of models before being pushed to production at scale.

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 or Plano, TX. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

What you'll do:

• Gathers, interprets, and manipulates structured and unstructured data to enable analytical solutions for the business.
• Selects the appropriate modeling technique and/or technology with consideration to data limitations, application, and business needs.
• Develops and deploys models within the Model Development Control (MDC) and Model Risk Management (MRM) framework.
• Composes technical documents for knowledge persistence, risk management, and technical review audiences. Consults with peers for guidance, as needed.
• Translates business request(s) into specific analytical questions, executing on the analysis and/or modeling, and communicating outcomes to non-technical business colleagues.
• Consults with Data Engineering, IT, the business, and other internal stakeholders to deploy analytical solutions that are aligned with the customer’s vision and specifications and consistent with modeling best practices and model risk management standards.
• Seeks opportunities and materials to learn new techniques, technologies, and methodologies.
• 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; OR 4 years of experience in statistics, mathematics, quantitative analytics, or related experience (in addition to the minimum years of experience required) may be substituted in lieu of degree.
• 2 years of experience in predictive analytics or data analysis OR Advanced Degree (e.g., Master’s, PhD) in mathematics, computer science, statistics, economics, finance, actuarial sciences, science and engineering, or other similar quantitative discipline
• Experience in training and validating statistical, physical, machine learning, and other advanced analytics models.
• Experience in one or more dynamic scripted language (such as Python, R, etc.) for performing statistical analyses and/or building and scoring AI/ML models.
• Ability to write code that is easy to follow, well documented, and commented where necessary to explain logic (high code transparency).
• Experience in querying and preprocessing data from structured and/or unstructured databases using query languages such as SQL, HQL, NoSQL, etc.
• Experience in working with structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data files such as delimited numeric data files, JSON/XML files, and/or text documents, images, etc.
• Familiarity with performing ad-hoc analytics using descriptive, diagnostic, and inferential statistics.
• Experience with the concepts and technologies associated with classical supervised modeling for prediction such as linear/logistic regression, discriminant analysis, support vector machines, decision trees, forest models, etc.
• Experience with the concepts and technologies associated with unsupervised modeling such as k-means clustering, hierarchical/agglomerative clustering, neighbors algorithms, DBSCAN, etc.
• Ability to communicate analytical and modeling results to non-technical business partners.

What sets you apart:

Working experience with the following: NLP Modeling, Python, Tableau, Generative AI Advanced Degree (e.g Master's, PhD) The above description reflects the details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job and should not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be performed in the job.

What we offer:

Compensation: USAA has an effective process for assessing market data and establishing ranges to ensure we remain competitive. You are paid within the salary range based on your experience and market data of the position. The actual salary for this role may vary by location. The salary range for this position is: $89,990-$172,000.

Employees may be eligible for pay incentives based on overall corporate and individual performance and at the discretion of the USAA Board of Directors.

Benefits: At USAA our employees enjoy best-in-class benefits to support their physical, financial, and emotional wellness. These benefits include comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, 401(k), pension, life insurance, parental benefits, adoption assistance, paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours, and various wellness programs. Additionally, our career path planning and continuing education assists employees with their professional goals.

For more details on our outstanding benefits, please visit our benefits page on USAAjobs.com.

Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis, this posting will remain open until the position is filled. Thus, interested candidates are encouraged to apply the same day they view this posting.

USAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.