Data 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 pride ourselves on fostering a culture rooted in core values such as honesty, integrity, loyalty, and service, which guide our interactions both internally and with our members. USAA is committed to creating a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion, ensuring all employees have the opportunity to thrive. We also recognize the unique needs of active-duty military spouses and offer flexible work arrangements, including remote or hybrid options, to support their employment needs.

About The Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Data Scientist to join our Property & Casualty (P&C) Underwriting Data Science team. This role involves tackling some of our most challenging analytical problems within the P&C underwriting domain. The successful candidate will experiment with data, prototype statistical models, and deploy innovative data science products into operational environments. The ideal candidate will possess a high level of curiosity, enabling them to ask insightful questions and test business hypotheses rapidly through an iterative process. The position offers a flexible work environment, requiring in-office presence four days a week, with locations available in San Antonio, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Plano, TX; Tampa, FL; or Colorado Springs, CO. Please note that relocation assistance is not available for this role.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, Economics, Finance, Actuarial Science, Science, Engineering, or a related quantitative field; or 4 years of relevant education and/or experience.

At least 4 years of experience in predictive analytics or data analysis, or an advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in a related field with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.

Minimum of 2 years experience in training and validating advanced analytics models, including machine learning and statistical models.

Proficiency in one or more scripting languages such as Python or R for statistical analysis and model development.

Experience in writing clear, well-documented, and maintainable code.

Hands-on experience querying and preprocessing data from structured and unstructured databases using SQL, NoSQL, or similar query languages.

Experience working with various data formats, including JSON, XML, text documents, images, and delimited files.

Proficiency in performing ad-hoc analytics using descriptive, diagnostic, and inferential statistics.

Understanding of regulatory implications and compliance considerations related to modeling efforts.

Knowledge of supervised modeling techniques such as linear and logistic regression, decision trees, SVMs, and ensemble methods.

Familiarity with unsupervised learning techniques like clustering algorithms (k-means, hierarchical, DBSCAN).

Strong communication skills to effectively present analytical findings and recommendations to non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Gather, interpret, and manipulate both structured and unstructured data to enable advanced analytical solutions.

Develop scalable, automated solutions utilizing machine learning, simulation, and optimization techniques to generate actionable business insights.

Select appropriate modeling techniques considering data limitations and business needs.

Develop and deploy models within the Model Development Control (MDC) and Model Risk Management (MRM) frameworks to ensure compliance and risk mitigation.

Document technical processes and models to support knowledge sharing, risk management, and technical reviews.

Assess business needs to identify and recommend analytical projects that add value.

Collaborate with business and analytics leaders to prioritize analytics initiatives and research efforts.

Contribute to building a library of reusable, high-quality algorithms and supporting code to promote transparency and efficiency.

Translate business questions into analytical tasks, execute analyses, and communicate results effectively to non-technical audiences, emphasizing business impact.

Work closely with Data Engineering, IT, and other stakeholders to deploy production-ready analytical assets aligned with organizational standards and best practices.

Stay informed about emerging techniques, tools, and methodologies in data science and analytics.

Identify, measure, monitor, and control risks associated with analytical activities in accordance with policies and regulations.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.

Pension plan and life insurance coverage.

Parental leave and adoption assistance programs.

Paid time off, including holidays and 16 paid volunteer hours annually.

Wellness programs supporting physical, emotional, and financial health.

Opportunities for professional development, career planning, and continuing education.

Equal Opportunity

USAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.