Lead Machine Learning Scientist, Fraud

Varo is an entirely new kind of bank. All digital, mission-driven, FDIC insured and designed for the way our customers live their lives. A bank for all of us.
About the opportunity
Varo represents a new generation of fintech built on technology and innovation to empower consumers. We serve millions of Americans with our mobile app to make digital banking easy, convenient, and personalized. 
At Varo, we believe the future of fraud detection in fintech lies with Machine Learning. We are innovating models that dynamically calculate fraud risk scores and predict customer transaction behavior. You’ll lead Machine Learning in Fraud at Varo, working on models that protect customers from fraudsters while growing Varo’s customer base and enabling product features to be more accessible to all.
The Lead Machine Learning Scientist in Fraud will be responsible for developing the machine learning models that will underlie Varo’s fraud detection system. You will own the development and training of these models, as well as contribute to the design of architecture that serves the models.
About The Data Science Team
Varo’s Data Science Team develops Machine Learning models that make it easier for the right people to get access to funds, help protect customers from fraudsters, and transform the in-app experience with real-time recommendations. Unlike some organizations where data takes a support role, here at Varo data science is front and center. Since we are in hyper-growth mode, you will get to work on the most impactful data science problems from day one. We rely on advanced techniques in machine learning, cloud platforms, and data technology. We’re a team of PhDs and ex-academics with a collegial work atmosphere. If you are interested in working with an impressive team of Data pros who collaborate and challenge each other and want to solve interesting problems to propel the company’s growth, apply now!

What you'll be doing

• Lead efforts within the organization to drive the design, development, optimization, and productionization of ML-based fraud models
• Enable customers to have broader access to risky product features by designing a fraud system that balances the precision of detection with customer experience and growth
• Work with stakeholders in the fraud organization to identify opportunities for driving business value with ML
• Collaborate cross-functionally with the engineering team to deploy models and monitor outcomes
• Guide and mentor junior machine learning scientists and engineers

You’re a person who…

• Is passionate about building end-to-end ML solutions that drive business value
• Is curious and loves learning new and cutting-edge techniques coming out of industry and academia
• Strong problem-solving skills with an emphasis on translating real-life problems into a concrete model development strategy. Blend academic rigor with a sense of pragmatism for rapidly prototyping and delivering solutions.
• Loves building things from the ground up

You’ll bring the following required skills and experiences

• 5+ years of expertise in developing ML industry applications for fraud or risk applications
• Demonstrated experience and/or interest in building fraud detection machine learning models
• Ph.D. or equivalent in Computer Science, Statistics, or related field
• Strong bias for action and team player
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Preferred: Familiarity with Sagemaker, Spark, TensorFlow, Keras, and PyTorch

We recognize not everyone will have all of these requirements. If you meet most of the criteria above and you’re excited about the opportunity and willing to learn, we’d love to hear from you.
About Varo
Varo launched in 2017 with the vision to bring the best of fintech into the regulated banking system. We’re a new kind of bank – all digital, mission-driven, FDIC-insured, and designed around the modern American consumer. 
As the first consumer fintech to be granted a national bank charter in 2020, we make financial inclusion and opportunity for all a reality by empowering everyone with the products, insights, and support they need to get ahead. Through our core product offerings and suite of customer-first features, we aim to address a broad range of consumer needs while profitably serving underserved communities that have been historically excluded from the traditional financial system.
We are growing quickly in our hub locations of San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Charlotte along with colleagues located across the country. We have been recognized among Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, Forbes’ Fintech 50, and earned the No. 7 spot on Inc. 5000’s list of fastest-growing companies across the country.
Varo. A bank for all of us.
Our Core Values- Customers First- Take Ownership- Respect- Stay Curious- Make it Better

Varo is an equal opportunity employer. Varo embraces diversity and we are committed to building teams that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
Learn more about Varo by following us:Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/varomoneyInstagram - www.instagram.com/varobankLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/varobankTwitter - https://twitter.com/varobankEngineering Blog - https://medium.com/engineering-varoSoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/varobank
Beware of fraudulent job postings!Varo will never ask for payment to process documents, refer you to a third party to process applications or visas, or ask you to pay costs. Never send money to anyone suggesting they can provide work with Varo.  If you suspect you have received a phony offer, please e-mail careers@varomoney.com with the pertinent information and contact information.
CCPA Notice at Collection for California Employees and Applicants: https://varomoney.box.com/s/ylg3yvjgdtqollctztvhujaa30z5ofi6