Senior Data Scientist

At Newrez, we bring big thinkers and caring doers together to make home happen. We’re a team built on heart and hustle, united by a commitment to show up for our customers, our communities, and each other. We believe that when our people thrive, homeowners thrive - and that’s why we invest in your growth, wellbeing, and ability to make an impact.

Every day, we work to exceed the expectations of our residential mortgage borrowers and business partners through superior service, simple processes, and clear communication. We do this by empowering our employees, encouraging innovative solutions and recognizing great performance.

The Senior Data Scientist leads the company’s data science and AI roadmap using strong mortgage‑industry expertise. The role develops and deploys advanced machine learning and Generative AI solutions that support underwriting, risk management, marketing, and servicing. It also designs scalable data pipelines and automated workflows in partnership with data engineering. The position ensures all models meet governance, validation, and regulatory requirements. The Sr Data Scientist mentors team members and promotes a culture of technical excellence. Overall, the role provides strategic and technical leadership that drives measurable business impact.

Essential Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities

• Drive the data science and AI roadmap using extensive mortgage industry domain knowledge. Identify high-impact opportunities to optimize P&L, enhance efficiency, and manage risk effectively within regulatory constraints. 
• Lead the end-to-end architecture, development, and validation of sophisticated machine learning models and Generative AI solutions to revolutionize underwriting automation, risk assessment, precision marketing, and servicing operations. 
• Act as a technical expert in designing robust data pipelines, feature stores, and automated deployment workflows. Partner closely with data engineering teams to ensure scalability and reliability for both structured data and unstructured AI content needs. 
• Establish and enforce comprehensive governance frameworks for model validation and performance monitoring, ensuring strict adherence to all financial regulatory standards (e.g., Fair Lending, UDAAP) with transparent reporting for executive and regulatory oversight. 
• Mentor more junior data scientists, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous learning across the organization. 
• Ability to effectively and accurately convey information to others.
• Performs related duties as assigned by management.  

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• Master’s or Ph.D. in a quantitative discipline. 
•  8+ years of data science experience in financial services or the mortgage industry; experience in online lending is a plus. 
• Comprehensive knowledge of the mortgage lifecycle, including credit risk, underwriting, and servicing. 
• Expert-level proficiency in Python and sophisticated SQL programming for complex data manipulation and analysis. 
• Demonstrated success in building and maintaining production ML models; experience leading the hands-on transition of emerging AI (LLMs, RAG, Agentic Workflows) from initial PoC to stable, compliant production environments. 

Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge:

• Strong practical experience with data engineering principles, big data technologies, and cloud platforms.

• Strong verbal communication skills; strong writing and composition abilities.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and maintain effective and professional relationships across the organization and with customers. 

• Strong influencing and negotiation skills; consultative and collaborative work style.

• High learning agility with the ability to learn and integrate business variables and learn new systems and platforms. 

• Strong analytical skills & problem-solving abilities; solid decision-making abilities coupled with sound judgment. 

• Effective at managing multiple priorities under tight deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. 

• Strong project management and time management capability. 

• Self-directed and comfortable working with ambiguity and uncertainty.

• High degree of professional maturity, integrity, ability to maintain confidential data and information. 

• High degree of business acumen; strong technical aptitude.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

• Working on-site at assigned office location. 

• Regular and punctual attendance adhering to schedule established by leadership. 

• Flexibility to work occasional adjusted work schedules, overtime, and evening and/or weekend hours to meet deadlines or as business needs demand. 

• Working in a cubicle hub, maintaining focus on phone calls in a noisy environment within earshot of multiple other conversations. 

• Sedentary work in a stationary position at a cubicle for prolonged periods of time. 

• Constant repetitive motions required for operating a computer, such as typing and managing phone calls. 

• Constantly communicating effectively verbally in English, including accurately exchanging information with others following identification of correct procedures. 

Additional Information:

While this description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position’s requirements, it in no way implies/states that these are the only job responsibilities. Management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and request other duties, as necessary.

All employees are required to have smart phones that meet Company security standards with the ability to install apps such as Microsoft Authenticator. Employment will be contingent on this requirement.

Why Newrez

We’re a great place to work because we invest in what matters: your career, your community, your wellbeing, and your future. Our total rewards package is designed to support your whole self.

Company Benefits:

We offer benefits, programs, and perks that support you in every aspect of your life.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Health Savings Account with employer contribution

• 401(k) Retirement plan with employer match

• Paid Maternity Leave/Parental Bonding Leave/Caregiver Leave

• Adoption Assistance

• Tuition & Certification reimbursement

• Employee Mortgage Loan Program

• The Newrez Employee Emergency and Disaster Fund is a program to support our team members experiencing hardships

Newrez NOW:

Through Newrez NOW, our Corporate Social Responsibility program, you’ll have opportunities to give back, lead, and make a difference.

• 1 company-paid Volunteer Time Off day (with over 40,000 volunteer hours contributed since our inception)

• Matching Gifts Program - dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000

• Access to grants, nonprofit resources, and volunteer opportunities

• More than $6,000,000 donated since 2020

• 1 in 5 employees participates in at least one Employee Resource Group (ERG)
  

Equal Employment Opportunity 

We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer- and celebrate our employees' differences, including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, and Veteran status. Different makes us better.

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