Capital One Financial Corporation

Principal Associate, Data Scientist - Bank Customer Protection Debit & Claims

Capital One Financial Corporation$161K — $184K *
Finance & Insurance
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in a quantitative field; PhD preferred
  • 5+ years of data analytics experience for Bachelor’s; 3+ years for Master’s
  • Expertise in machine learning for predictive tasks, especially fraud detection
  • Proficiency in Python and SQL, with additional skills in Spark preferred
  • Experience in building and tuning gradient boosting models, deploying in production

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with a team to enhance customer safety from fraud
  • Utilize technologies such as Python, AWS, and SQL for data analysis
  • Develop machine learning models through their full lifecycle
  • Communicate complex findings into actionable business goals

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and financial benefits
  • Performance-based incentives including bonuses
  • Inclusive benefits supporting overall well-being
Full Job Description
Principal Associate, Data Scientist - Bank Customer Protection Debit & Claims

Team Description

TheBank Customer Protection Debit & Claims Data Scienceteam builds the machine learning models that help our customersspend safely and get back on track if an issue does occur with their payments. We are constantly looking for ways to get ahead of fraudulent actors and scams before they have a negative impact on customers by analyzing historical transaction activity, account usage, merchant patterns and other data for signals that something is amiss. We use a variety of techniques, including representation learning and gradient boosting machines, to build purpose-built models that power our real-time decision systems and adapt quickly to emerging attack patterns. This role will bring these methodologies to bear on the debit authorization fraud side of our team - stopping debit fraud in real time as each transaction is authorized - spanning the full modeling spectrum, from proven techniques like gradient boosting to the frontier-AI approaches, such as graph and sequence learning, that are shaping the next generation of fraud detection.

Role Description

In this role, you will:

  • Partner with a cross-functional team of data scientists, analysts, software engineers, and product managers to deliver a product that measurably keeps our customers safe from fraudulent activities.

  • Leverage a broad stack of technologies 1 Python, Conda, AWS, H2O, Spark, SQL and more 1 to reveal the insights hidden within huge volumes of numeric and textual data

  • Build machine learning models through all phases of development, from design through training, evaluation, validation, and implementation

  • Flex your interpersonal skills to translate the complexity of your work into tangible business goals

The Ideal Candidate is:

  • Customer first. You love the process of analyzing and creating, but also share our passion to do the right thing. You know at the end of the day its about making the right decision for our customers.

  • Creative. You thrive on bringing definition to big, undefined problems. You love asking questions and pushing hard to find answers. Youre not afraid to share a new idea.

  • Statistically-minded. Youve built models, validated them, and backtested them. You know how to interpret a confusion matrix or a ROC curve. You have experience with clustering, classification, sentiment analysis, time series, and deep learning.

  • A data guru. Big data doesnt faze you. You have the skills to retrieve, combine, and analyze data from a variety of sources and structures. You know understanding the data is often the key to great data science.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining one of the following with an expectation that the required degree will be obtained on or before the scheduled start date:

    • A Bachelors Degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) plus 5 years of experience performing data analytics

    • A Masters Degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) or an MBA with a quantitative concentration plus 3 years of experience performing data analytics

    • A PhD in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field)

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Masters Degree in STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) plus 3 years of experience in data analytics, or PhD in STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics)

  • At least 3 years experience with machine learning for predictive tasks, especially classification on large, highly imbalanced datasets (fraud, risk, or anomaly detection)

  • At least 3 years experience in Python and SQL. Preferred: production-quality, tested Python (pytest, mypy, linting, CI/pre-commit) and experience processing large-scale data with Spark (Polars, Snowflake/Snowpark)

  • Experience building and tuning gradient boosting models (XGBoost, LightGBM, or H2O) and deploying them into real-time or production decision systems

  • Experience building automated modeling pipelines  orchestrating training, evaluation, and deployment as reproducible workflows with Kubeflow Pipelines (KFP) on Kubernetes (or comparable pipeline/MLOps tooling)

  • Experience with model backtesting, validation, and performance measurement - precision/recall and capture rates at low decline/alert volumes

  • Experience coordinating data science projects in cross-functional teams

Capital One will consider sponsoring a new qualified applicant for employment authorization for this position.

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

McLean, VA: $161,800 - $184,600 for Princ Associate, Data Science











Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidates offer letter.

This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or non discretionary depending on the plan.

Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at theCapital One Careers website. Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level.

This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.

About Capital One Financial Corporation

Chevy Chase Bank is the greater Washington region's largest locally-owned banking institution providing a complete array of financial products and services to consumers and businesses in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The Bank, which is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, has approximately 250 branches and over 1,000 ATMs, more than anyone else in the greater Washington market. Chevy Chase Bank currently has over $16 billion in assets and services over 1 million customers. For more information about Chevy Chase Bank, please visit chevychasebank.com.

Capital One Financial Corporation Careers

Join the vibrant team at Capital One Financial Corporation, a leader in the financial services industry, where innovation meets purpose-driven leadership. As one of the most forward-thinking companies in banking, Capital One is the perfect place to jumpstart or advance your career with a myriad of job opportunities in various fields.

Work You’ll Do

At Capital One, we are committed to excellence and setting our team members up for success. By joining our dynamic team, you will engage in meaningful work that makes a real difference. From developing cutting-edge technology to crafting personalized financial solutions, every position at Capital One is geared towards redefining the future of banking.

Innovate and Lead

Capital One is not just a company; it's a hub of innovation and leadership. We empower our professionals to lead with their ideas and see them come to life. Our culture thrives on diversity and the unique perspectives each team member brings. Here, your skills in networking, problem-solving, and leadership will not only be valued but also nurtured through professional development and diversity training.

Grow Your Career

Capital One is deeply invested in the growth and development of its employees. With robust training programs, mentorship, and resources for professional enhancement, we ensure that your career trajectory aligns with your personal and professional goals. Whether it’s rising through the ranks or switching tracks via internal job opportunities, your growth is our priority.

Internship and Employment Opportunities

For those starting their journey, Capital One offers enriching internship programs that provide a glimpse into the culture and work ethic that drives our success. Interns gain hands-on experience, valuable insights, and the opportunity to network with leaders across the company. For seasoned professionals, we offer positions that challenge your expertise while encouraging balance and innovation.

Benefits and Culture

Choosing to work at Capital One means opting for a lifestyle where your well-being is prioritized. Our benefits package is designed to support you both at work and in your personal life, encompassing health, finance, and family. The inclusive culture at Capital One ensures that everyone, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive.

Join Our Team

Explore the various career paths available at Capital One and discover how your skills and passions can align with our mission. We are continuously hiring across multiple disciplines, eager to welcome curious, creative, and driven individuals to our team.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest in career opportunities and company news by joining our network. Tailor your job alerts to match your career preferences and get insider tips that can transform your application process, from crafting your resume to acing your interview.

Search Capital One Jobs

Ready to take the next step in your career? Search open positions that match your skills and interests. At Capital One, your next job opportunity could be the gateway to a fulfilling and prosperous career.

Read Careers Blog

Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. Capital One Financial Corporation is not just a company—it's a place where you can make an impact. Discover the opportunities waiting for you in a career at Capital One. Join us and shape the future of banking with your vision, skills, and enthusiasm.
Learn more about Capital One Financial Corporation
Size
51,500 employees
Market Cap
$34.1 billion
Industry
Net Income
$2.7 billion
Founded
1994
5 Year Trend
+2.4%
NASDAQ

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