At NerdWallet, we’re on a mission to bring clarity to all of life’s financial decisions and every great mission needs a team of exceptional Nerds. We’ve built an inclusive, flexible, and candid culture where you’re empowered to grow, take smart risks, and be unapologetically yourself (cape optional). Whether remote or in-office, we support how you thrive best. We invest in your well-being, development, and ability to make an impact because when one Nerd levels up, we all do.
Staff Data Scientist leads machine learning and decisioning systems powering personalization, lifetime value (LTV) prediction, and real-time commercial optimization across our marketplaces. This role is responsible for designing and scaling causal measurement and personalization systems that determine how we serve users while balancing customer value, partner economics, and long-term trust. As a senior individual contributor, you will drive high-impact modeling initiatives and shape the technical direction of data science across the organization.
You are a technical expert and strategic partner who operates with significant autonomy and influence. As a Staff Data Scientist, you set the standard for scientific rigor, mentor senior ICs, and guide cross-functional teams without formal authority. You partner closely with Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Finance to align data science investments with business strategy, while shaping long-term vision for AI-driven personalization and marketplace optimization.
This role reports to the VP, Data & Analytics.
Where you can make an impact:
Lead the design and implementation of causal inference frameworks (e.g., uplift modeling, DML, IVs, DiD, synthetic control) to measure true incremental impact across personalization, marketing, and lifecycle interventions
Establish and standardize methodologies for incrementality, experimentation, and measurement across channels and product surfaces
Build and scale LTV models (user-level and cohort-based), including churn-adjusted and horizon-specific approaches, for real-time decisioning
Develop and deploy personalization models that influence ranking, offer selection, content sequencing, and monetization strategies at the moment of user intent
Ship production-grade machine learning models that directly drive revenue outcomes, including marketplace optimization, partner routing, and budget allocation
Translate predictive outputs (e.g., conversion propensity, incremental CPA, expected LTV) into decision-ready signals for real-time systems
Partner with Data Engineering and Platform teams to define data instrumentation, feature stores (batch and streaming), and model monitoring frameworks (drift, bias, stability)
Influence architectural decisions across modern data and ML platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, Spark, real-time inference systems)
Provide technical leadership across teams by setting best practices for experimentation, modeling, code quality, and reproducibility
Mentor and develop senior and mid-level data scientists, raising the overall technical bar across the organization
Communicate complex analytical insights and trade-offs to executive stakeholders, translating findings into actionable business strategies
Shape long-term strategy for personalization, experimentation, and AI-driven growth at NerdWallet
Your experience:
8+ years of experience in applied machine learning, causal inference, experimentation, or related quantitative fields
Deep expertise in causal inference methodologies (e.g., uplift modeling, doubly robust learners, instrumental variables, difference-in-differences, synthetic control, Bayesian time series)
Proven experience building and operationalizing LTV models for real-time or near-real-time applications
Strong software engineering and production ML experience, including Python (pandas, numpy, scikit-learn, LightGBM/XGBoost) and PySpark, Advanced SQL
Experience with distributed systems and modern data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, Spark, AWS/GCP/Azure), Version control and ML lifecycle tools (e.g., Git, MLflow)
Hands-on experience with experimentation frameworks, A/B testing, and statistical diagnostics (e.g., power analysis, bias detection)
Demonstrated success deploying models that materially impact revenue, efficiency, or user experience
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence Product, Marketing, Finance, and executive stakeholders
Strong strategic thinking and ability to operate in ambiguous, high-impact problem spaces
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with marketplace optimization, ranking systems, or auction-based environments
Familiarity with contextual bandits, reinforcement learning, or sequential decision-making systems
Knowledge of streaming data architectures (e.g., Kafka, Kinesis), orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow, DBT), and feature stores (e.g., Tecton, Feast)
Domain experience in fintech, marketplaces, growth, or performance marketing
Where:
This role will be remote (based in the U.S.).
We believe great work can be done anywhere. No matter where you are based, NerdWallet offers benefits and perks to support the physical, financial, and emotional well being of you and your family.
What we offer:
Work Hard, Stay Balanced (Life’s a series of balancing acts, eh?)
Industry-leading medical, dental, and vision health care plans for employees and their dependents
Rejuvenation Policy – Flexible Vacation Time Off + 11 holidays + holiday company shutdown
New Parent Leave for employees with a newborn child or a child placed with them for adoption or foster care
Mental health support
Paid sabbatical after 5 years for Nerds to recharge, gain knowledge, and pursue their interests
Health and Dependent Care FSA and HSA Plan with monthly NerdWallet contribution
Monthly Wellness Stipend, Cell Phone Stipend, and Wifi Stipend (Only remote Nerds are eligible for the Wifi Stipend)
Work from home equipment stipend and co-working space subsidy (Only remote Nerds are eligible for these stipends)
Have Some Fun! (Nerds are fun, too)
Nerd-led group initiatives – Employee Resource Groups for Parents, Diversity, and Inclusion, Women, LGBTQIA, and other communities
Hackathons and team events across all teams and departments
Company-wide events like NerdLove (employee appreciation) and our annual Charity Auction
Our Nerds love to make an impact by paying it forward – Take 8 hours of volunteer time off per quarter and donate to your favorite causes with a company match
Plan for your future (And when you retire on your island, remember the little people)
401K with 4% company match
Be the first to test and benefit from our new financial products and tools
Financial wellness, guidance, and unlimited access to a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) through Northstar
Disability and Life Insurance with employer-paid premiums
If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents linked here.
NerdWallet is committed to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, so all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.
NerdWallet will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act and the San Francisco Fair Chance Act, which requires this notice, as well as the Los Angeles Fair Chance Act, which requires this notice.
NerdWallet participates in the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services E-Verify program for all US locations. For more information, please see:
E-Verify Participation Poster (English+Spanish/Español)
Right to Work Poster (English) / (Spanish/Español)
#LI-Remote
Compensation Range: $152K - $282K