Lead Data Scientist
HarnhamAbout the role
Lead Data Scientist
Location: Hybrid (Tempe, AZ preferred; Dallas, TX or Atlanta, GA also considered)
Schedule: 4 days onsite per week (Monday–Thursday)
Compensation: $130-145,000 base salary + bonus eligibility
Overview
A leading organization is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to drive advanced risk and financial modeling initiatives that directly influence business performance. This is a highly visible individual contributor role for a senior-level data scientist who can independently lead complex projects, quantify business impact, and effectively communicate insights to executive stakeholders.
This team is responsible for identifying significant financial opportunities, developing predictive models, and delivering measurable outcomes. Success in this role requires strong technical expertise, business acumen, and the ability to defend models in regulated environments.
Responsibilities
Lead end-to-end data science projects from problem definition through implementation.
Develop, validate, and monitor predictive and risk models using large-scale financial and customer datasets.
Apply advanced statistical and machine learning techniques, including gradient boosting models.
Translate model outputs into actionable business recommendations and financial impact.
Present findings, model performance, and recommendations to senior leadership and executive stakeholders.
Support model governance activities, audits, and validation reviews.
Mentor and support team members while serving as a technical leader within the organization.
Required Qualifications
8+ years of experience in data science, quantitative analytics, or predictive modeling.
Strong background in finance, credit, or risk modeling within a regulated industry.
Advanced Python and SQL skills.
Strong foundation in mathematics, statistics, and predictive modeling.
Experience building and validating models used for financial or risk-related decision making.
Experience presenting technical concepts and model results to executive audiences.
Proven ability to independently own and deliver complex projects.
Experience supporting external audits and defending analytical models.
Preferred Experience
Experience in one or more of the following areas:
Credit risk modeling
Probability of Default (PD) modeling
Credit loss or loss forecasting models
Scorecard development
Payment behavior analytics
Banking, lending, mortgage, credit card, or credit bureau data
Financial impact and portfolio analysis
Education
Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, or another quantitative discipline required.
Master's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Engineering, or a related quantitative field preferred.
Why Join?
Direct ownership of high-value analytics initiatives.
Opportunity to see models implemented and tied to measurable business outcomes.
Significant executive exposure and influence.
High-impact, collaborative team where individual contributions are highly visible.
Ability to drive projects that identify and deliver multi-million-dollar business opportunities.
Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end data science projects from problem definition through implementation.
- Develop, validate, and monitor predictive and risk models using large-scale financial and customer datasets.
- Apply advanced statistical and machine learning techniques, including gradient boosting models.
- Translate model outputs into actionable business recommendations and financial impact.
- Present findings, model performance, and recommendations to senior leadership and executive stakeholders.
- Support model governance activities, audits, and validation reviews.
- Mentor and support team members while serving as a technical leader within the organization.
Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience in data science, quantitative analytics, or predictive modeling.
- Strong background in finance, credit, or risk modeling within a regulated industry.
- Advanced Python and SQL skills.
- Strong foundation in mathematics, statistics, and predictive modeling.
- Experience building and validating models used for financial or risk-related decision making.
- Experience presenting technical concepts and model results to executive audiences.
- Proven ability to independently own and deliver complex projects.
- Experience supporting external audits and defending analytical models.
Benefits
- Direct ownership of high-value analytics initiatives.
- Opportunity to see models implemented and tied to measurable business outcomes.
- Significant executive exposure and influence.
- High-impact, collaborative team where individual contributions are highly visible.
- Ability to drive projects that identify and deliver multi-million-dollar business opportunities.
Skills mentioned
About Harnham
Harnham provides specialist Data and AI recruitment and staffing services, along with bespoke training solutions, across multiple industry verticals, operating in the UK, the USA and EU - contact us today to discuss your requirements: info@harnham.com Our recruitment and talent teams cover all aspects of the data and AI pipeline, from collection to consumption, across multiple data roles and functions. Whether you need full-time staff, contract talent, specialized training, Data-qualified graduates, or C-suite executives, Harnham Group is equipped to fulfill all your data talent requirements. Our five core services: * ATD - Rockborne – our graduate development arm – deploys expertly trained data consultants, who have gone through an intensive 12-week data training programme. After two years in the scheme, your consultant could become a * Contract / C2C / Freelance: Whether you're addressing a talent shortage, augmenting a project team, or encountering resource gaps, our specialist consultants offer bespoke interim talent solutions to address your unique challenges and drive success. * Full-Time / Direct Hiring: From early career professionals to senior management, our comprehensive services enable you to unearth outstanding data talent across various specializations, ensuring your organization thrives in the data-driven era. * Executive Search: With our dedicated executive search team and an extensive network encompassing the director to C-suite level, we assist both global corporations and ambitious startups in securing top-tier leadership talent to accomplish their goals. * GenAI, Prompt, LLM Training: Elevate your team's data expertise with our all-encompassing training programs covering essential tools and technologies such as Python, SQL, Machine Learning, LLM’s and AI. Highly bespoke, customised to your team learning requirements and budgets.