Senior Manager Data Scientist (portfolio Management and Loss Mitigation)

SoFi SoFi · Fintech · Greenville, DE · Risk Management

Senior Manager, Data Science for Portfolio Management and Loss Mitigation at SoFi. This role leads the development, deployment, and governance of portfolio management and loss mitigation models for credit products. The candidate will transition the team to next-generation machine learning platforms, leverage emerging data sources, and ensure adherence to Model Risk Management (MRM) standards in a regulated financial environment. Requires expertise in advanced ML techniques, Python, SQL, and regulatory knowledge (SR 11-7).

What you'd actually do

  1. Directly oversee the development and deployment of Next Generation models designed to manage and mitigate portfolio losses while maintaining loss guardrails.
  2. Incorporate industry trends and advanced techniques (NLP, Graph Mining, LLMs, Deep Learning) to solve complex, high-impact risk problems where established principles may not fully apply.
  3. Spearhead the evaluation and integration of alternative data sources (Macro-Economic variables, tri-bureau, LexisNexis, cash flow data) to enhance predictive power across all credit products.
  4. Lead the current team of high-performing Staff and Senior Data Scientists. Recruit, mentor, and foster talent through deliberate interactions, succession planning, and creating a high-accountability, low-ego culture.
  5. Act as the primary owner for all models in the portfolio, ensuring robust documentation, monitoring, and successfully navigating the 2nd Line of Defense (2LOD) review and approval process (SR 11-7 familiarity is mandatory).

Skills

Required

  • 8+ years of progressive experience in credit risk, modeling, and data science within a regulated financial institution
  • at least 3 years in a people management role
  • Master’s or Ph.D. degree in a quantitative field
  • Deep expertise in advanced statistical and machine learning modeling techniques (e.g., Gradient Boosting, Deep Learning, Causal Inference)
  • Detailed working knowledge of model risk management standards (e.g., SR 11-7)
  • Expert-level proficiency in Python (PySpark, scikit-learn, TensorFlow/PyTorch)
  • Expert-level proficiency in SQL/data warehouse technologies (e.g., Snowflake, Hive)
  • Familiarity with modern MLOps platforms and cloud computing (AWS)
  • 3+ years of progressive people management experience
  • Ability to recruit, mentor, and foster talent within a team of high-performing Staff and Senior Data Scientists
  • Ability to distill highly complex analytical concepts into clear, concise, and compelling narratives for non-technical leadership

Nice to have

  • NLP
  • Graph Mining
  • LLMs
  • Deep Learning
  • Macro-Economic variables
  • tri-bureau
  • LexisNexis
  • cash flow data
  • modern MLOps platforms
  • cloud computing (AWS)

What the JD emphasized

  • rigorous adherence to Model Risk Management (MRM) standards
  • Model Risk Management (MRM)
  • SR 11-7 familiarity is mandatory
  • Detailed working knowledge of model risk management standards (e.g., SR 11-7) and the ability to operate within a highly regulated environment.

Other signals

  • transition the team from traditional modeling to next-generation machine learning platforms
  • leverage emerging data sources
  • improve portfolio performance, reduce losses
  • rigorous adherence to Model Risk Management (MRM) standards
  • deliver complex models into a regulated production environment