AI Data Solutions Scientist

About the role

About The Company

USAA is a leading financial services organization dedicated to serving the military community and their families. Our mission is to empower our members to achieve financial security through highly competitive products, exceptional service, and trusted advice. We take pride in fostering a culture rooted in core values such as honesty, integrity, loyalty, and service, which guide our interactions with members and colleagues alike. Our commitment extends to supporting active-duty military spouses, offering flexible work arrangements including remote and hybrid options in alignment with applicable policies and business needs. USAA continually strives to be the preferred choice for the military community, providing innovative solutions that meet their unique needs and circumstances.

About The Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative AI Data Solutions Scientist to join our Technology organization at USAA. In this pivotal role, you will work within our dynamic Data Science team, collaborating closely with architecture, engineering, and product teams to revolutionize our operations and member experiences. Your expertise will be instrumental in transforming raw data into actionable insights, leveraging advanced analytics and cutting-edge AI technologies. You will focus on developing scalable, automated solutions using machine learning, simulation, optimization, and emerging AI frameworks such as generative AI, large language models, and multi-agent systems. This position offers an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of AI innovation within a highly regulated industry, contributing to impactful projects that directly benefit our members and organization.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, Engineering, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent experience. A minimum of six years of experience in predictive analytics or data analysis is required, with advanced degrees such as a Master’s or PhD preferred. Proven expertise in training, validating, and deploying complex models using Python is essential, along with strong skills in querying and preprocessing data from diverse databases using SQL, NoSQL, or HQL. Candidates should demonstrate a solid understanding of classical supervised and unsupervised modeling techniques, including regression, decision trees, clustering algorithms, and support vector machines. Experience with large language models, agent frameworks, MLOps, and cloud platforms such as AWS or GCP is highly desirable. Strong communication skills for translating technical findings into business insights and mentoring junior staff are also necessary.

Responsibilities

Gather, interpret, and manipulate structured and unstructured data to enable advanced analytical solutions that support business objectives.

Design and develop scalable, automated machine learning, simulation, and optimization solutions to generate valuable insights.

Select appropriate modeling techniques considering data limitations, application context, and business needs.

Develop and deploy models within the Model Development Control (MDC) and Model Risk Management (MRM) frameworks, ensuring compliance and quality standards.

Document technical processes and model details for knowledge sharing, risk management, and technical reviews.

Assess business needs to propose and prioritize analytical projects that add measurable value.

Collaborate with business and analytics leaders to identify and address high-impact modeling opportunities.

Build and maintain a library of reusable, production-quality algorithms, ensuring transparency and high data integrity.

Translate complex business questions into analytical problems, execute analyses, and communicate results clearly to non-technical stakeholders.

Manage project milestones, identify risks, and escalate issues proactively to ensure successful project delivery.

Develop best practices for deploying analytical solutions in collaboration with Data Engineering and IT teams, adhering to modeling and risk standards.

Stay current with emerging trends and techniques in AI and data science, continuously enhancing expertise.

Mentor junior data scientists, fostering a culture of learning and innovation within the team.

Participate in internal communities to promote the evolution of data science practices and technology adoption.

Ensure all activities comply with risk management and compliance policies, effectively monitoring and controlling associated risks.

Benefits

USAA offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, financial, and emotional well-being of our employees. Our offerings include medical, dental, and vision plans, a 401(k) retirement plan, pension options, life insurance, parental leave, adoption assistance, and paid time off including holidays and volunteer hours. We also provide wellness programs, career development opportunities, and continuing education support to help employees achieve their professional goals. Our commitment to a healthy work-life balance and employee growth underscores our dedication to creating a supportive and engaging work environment.

Equal Opportunity

USAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. We value diversity and strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve, ensuring fairness and equal opportunity for all employees and applicants.