Lead Data Scientist, R&D, AI/ML

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Lead Data Scientist, R&D, AI/ML

Mastercard Foundry is a global innovation group focused on the evolution of technology and consumer trends and how these changes impact the payments and commerce industry. Foundry is a collective of interdisciplinary teams powering Mastercard's ability to create and deliver differentiated products, services, and experiences.
Within Foundry, the global Research and Development (R&D) team conducts applied research on emerging technologies to create innovative products for Mastercard.
Foundry R&D is made up of talented, passionate developers, engineers, scientists, designers, researchers, data specialists, and program managers. We build knowledge in emerging technologies like quantum computing, spatial computing, privacy enhancing technologies, generative AI and machine learning to conceptualize and create new products and services, which we then market test with our customers.
We also bring the knowledge of cutting and bleeding edge technology to create concepts of the future which not only inspires our customers but also fosters the culture of innovation within Mastercard.
To support this range of projects we are looking for a talented Lead Data Scientist to join the Mastercard Foundry R&D team in our Dublin TechHub.
Role
This role involves working with a team of talented developers to develop high performance AI solutions.
• Responsible for the analysis, design, and development of AI solutions using ML, DL and NLP tools and techniques as per use case
• Research on new AI frameworks and technologies and apply the same to the development of POCs, Prototypes, Products and capabilities as applicable
• Use latest small and large language models (SLMs and LLMs) for building AI based solutions for relevant use cases
• Contribute to the requirements for new applications and customizations, adhering to standards, processes, and best practices
• Applies technical capabilities within own discipline to coach and develop junior employees
• Group-wide and external public speaking and other communications conveying domain level directions
• Work with cross functional teams spread across geographies on new product innovation and R&D initiatives
• Work on publishing Research papers and filing IDFs and Patents for solution concepts in the field of AI
• Identify opportunities where AI could be leveraged as a key enabler.
Skills
• Proficiency with Python and related ecosystem of Data Science tools and packages including pandas, numpy, sklearn, keras, torch, transformers, spacy and genism
• Well versed with various Machine Learning, Deep Learning and NLP concepts and models for both supervised and unsupervised learning
• Working knowledge of Python based API based frameworks like FastAPI and comfortable working with JSON objects
• Expertise in Prompt engineering and working with both external API based LLMs like GPT family and self-hosted models like Llama, dbrx, gemma and Mistral
• Expertise in creating and executing optimized SQL queries and creating stored procedures
• Expertise in creating AI solution architectures and pipelines
• Experience creating basic python based user interfaces using frameworks like streamlit
• Experience in code configuration management with frameworks like github and bitbucket
• Good working knowledge of pyspark
• Experience working with Unix commands for accessing various systems and databases and deploying and managing services / APIs
• Working knowledge of cloud platforms like Azure and using Cloud Native services
• Working knowledge of Databricks is good to have
• Working knowledge of MLOps tools like MLflow is good to have
• Experience with a UI framework such as Angular or React is a plus
• Experience with dashboarding tools like PowerBI is a plus
• Experience in composition of solutions where AI is a component part.
All About You
The ideal candidate for this position should: 

• Possess at least 7 years of relevant work experience in the field of Data Science
• Loves creating innovative solutions to problems in a collaborative fun environment
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of modern software engineering concepts and methodologies
• Passionate about code quality and coding best practices
• Show initiative and demonstrate a willingness to take on challenging opportunities
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and strong collaboration skills
• Must be driven, highly motivated and a strong team-player
• Interested in mentoring and helping grow the skills of the next generation of Data Scientists
• Ability to lead projects managing timelines, documentation and solution delivery as an individual contributor or leading small teams
• Ability to work independently without constant supervision; Proficient in solving problems and taking decisions independently

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.