Staff Data Scientist

Join to apply for the Staff Data Scientist role at Neo Financial Join us to build a more rewarding financial future for all Canadians. At Neo, we’re on a mission to build a more rewarding financial future for all Canadians. Life at a rapidly expanding tech startup isn’t for everyone. It’s complex, fast-paced, high‑pressure, but also incredibly fulfilling. Since its founding in 2019, Neo has gained incredible traction and is one of the fastest‑growing fintech companies in Canada. #1 Fastest Growing Company in Canada for 2024 by Globe & Mail Deloitte’s Fast 50 in Canada Winner for 2023 and 2024 LinkedIn’s Top Startup in Canada for 2022 and 2023 Top‑ranked mobile apps and credit cards Team of 700+ people 1M+ customers 10K+ retail partners The Role Neo Financial seeks an experienced and strategic Staff Data Scientist to provide technical leadership and mentorship to our Data Science team. You will be key in shaping Neo’s data science vision and guiding the technical development of a team building a better financial future for all Canadians. This role offers a unique opportunity to apply your expertise to complex, high‑impact business challenges in a fast‑paced fintech environment. You will guide technical strategy, mentor data scientists, and champion best practices, embodying Neo’s core values of Teamwork, Ownership, and Professional Integrity. What You’ll Be Doing Spearheading technical strategy and end‑to‑end delivery of sophisticated ML models across marketing and loyalty. Managing the technical development of data scientists, guiding complex projects, fostering skill growth, and ensuring high‑quality model implementation. Championing and evolving model explainability and business trust via advanced SHAP insights, validation reports, and clear cross‑functional communication with senior stakeholders. Architecting and enhancing MLOps infrastructure, including automating model pipelines, implementing advanced versioning/drift detection, and streamlining auto‑retraining. Establishing and enforcing rigorous model validation frameworks (e.g., advanced OOT validation, sophisticated temporal splits, comprehensive cross‑validation) for exceptional model quality, generalization, and compliance. Mentoring and developing data scientists at all levels, leading technical design, reviewing code/model logic, and spearheading knowledge‑sharing. Collaborating with executive and business leaders to identify and prioritise high‑value data science initiatives, ensuring models address strategic problems and deliver commercial impact. Staying current with data science, ML, and MLOps advancements, and driving adoption of innovative technologies within the team. Who We Are Looking For A distinguished Staff Data Scientist with 10+ years of experience deploying impactful ML models in production, driving commercial outcomes, and leading technical teams. Profound technical expertise in Python (pandas, scikit‑learn), XGBoost (tuning, custom objectives, SHAP), and AWS (SageMaker, ECS). Exceptional ML validation skills, including mitigating data leakage, rigorous OOT testing, and robust back‑testing framework design. Extensive hands‑on experience with Snowflake / Databricks; strong familiarity with MLflow & dbt, with proven ability to architect and optimise data workflows. A strategic, business‑centric mindset; adept at navigating ambiguity, prioritising in a fast‑paced environment, and delivering high‑value solutions on tight timelines. Demonstrated experience managing the technical development of data science teams of 5+ members, including mentoring staff and fostering a culture of technical excellence. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, able to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, including executive leadership. Working At Neo The people who thrive at Neo are resourceful, growth‑oriented, and driven to win. We hold ourselves to high standards because we’re on a mission that matters: to build a more rewarding financial future for all Canadians. As individuals and as a team, we constantly challenge ourselves and each other to do our best work for our customers. Our commitment to customer success drives everything we do, from building intuitive products to providing exceptional support at every step of their journey. If this resonates with you, keep reading. We trust, respect, and support each other. This means honest conversations, constructive input, and continuous support. You’ll be surrounded by people who push you to be your best. We primarily collaborate in person across our Calgary, Winnipeg, and Toronto offices. As we evolve rapidly, we’re looking for change‑makers who thrive on challenge—people who would rather blaze a trail through uncertainty than follow a well‑paved path. All team members have a stake in Neo’s success and earn meaningful equity through stock options. This ownership mindset is at the heart of everything we do—when Neo grows, we all grow. If you’ve heard that Neo employees work hard, it’s true. We hold ourselves accountable for delivering on our commitments to our customers, partners, and each other. Working at Neo means taking ownership of your work and driving results, knowing that your contributions directly impact the company’s success. Apply With Us We believe in equal opportunity and are committed to creating an inclusive climate where everyone can thrive. Customers trust us with their finances, so successful candidates for this position will be required to undergo a security screening, including a criminal records check and a credit check. 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