New York Life Insurance Co

Senior Associate - Lead Data Scientist

New York Life Insurance Co$124K — $177K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Advanced degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, AI, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
  • 5+ years of experience applying data science and AI/ML to real-world business problems.
  • Ability to communicate complex ideas simply to non-technical partners.
  • Proficiency in Python and SQL; knowledge of software engineering concepts (Git/GitHub, testing, logging).
  • Experience with cloud platforms (AWS/GCP) and modern data ecosystems (Snowflake, Databricks).
  • Working knowledge of LLMs, RAG architecture, and agentic frameworks.
  • Solid foundation in ML methods and best practices.

Responsibilities

  • Execute AI/ML and GenAI initiatives in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
  • Deliver business-aligned OKRs to ensure AI initiatives create enterprise value.
  • Manage major portions of Model Development Life Cycle (MDLC) from exploration to performance monitoring.
  • Develop and operate models on cloud platforms, ensuring quality and scalability.
  • Design AI-powered solutions with safety guardrails and human-in-the-loop mechanisms.
  • Implement LLM/RAG approaches to ensure reliability and optimization.
  • Collaborate with AI Engineers to make AI capabilities accessible through APIs and dashboards.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and wellness programs including leave, adoption assistance, and student loan repayment.
  • Unique offerings tailored for a modern workforce, continuously improved based on employee feedback.
Full Job Description
Location Designation: Hybrid - 3 days per week

This role will support the development of AI solutions, spanning traditional Machine Learning, Generative AI, and Agentic AI. The role focuses on building core technical solutions, following enterprise AI practices/tools, and delivering well-defined components of AI solutions. You will collaborate closely with Business stakeholders, Data Scientists, Engineers, product and technology partners while developing an understanding of model lifecycle management, responsible AI principles, and New York Life's technology ecosystem.

What You'll Do:
  • Execute AI/ML and GenAI initiatives in partnership with data, technology, product and business teams.
  • Deliver business-aligned OKRs, ensuring AI initiatives are outcome-driven and tied to enterprise value creation.


  • Deliver major portions of Model Development Life Cycle (MDLC) from data exploration and feature engineering to model training, validation, deployment, and performance monitoring.
  • Develop and help operate models using cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP) and modern data platforms (Snowflake, Databricks), ensuring quality, security, and scalability, partnering with ML engineers for large-scale production deployment and scaling.
  • Assist in designing and evaluating agentic/AI-powered solutions that automate routine business tasks with human-in-the-loop checkpoints, escalation thresholds, and safety guardrails.
  • Implement and refine LLM/RAG approaches (vector stores, embeddings, retrieval optimization, prompt orchestration) with evaluators for reliability.
  • Work with AI Engineers to ensure AI capabilities are accessible through APIs, dashboards, and integrated workflow applications used by business teams.
  • Build lightweight UI prototypes (e.g., Streamlit) to validate usability and support adoption.
  • Adhere to model governance, documentation, testing, and CI/CD best practices in partnership with MLOps.
  • Stay informed on industry trends by engaging in relevant conferences and sharing key insights with internal and external audiences as appropriate.
  • This role involves limited travel (


What You'll Bring:
  • Advanced degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, AI, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
  • 5+ years of experience applying data science and AI/ML to real-world business problems.
  • Ability to communicate complex ideas simply, presenting impact, trade-offs, and recommendations to non-technical partners.
  • Proficiency in Python and SQL; working knowledge of core software engineering concepts (version control with Git/GitHub, testing, logging).
  • Experience with cloud platforms like AWS/GCP services (e.g., SageMaker, Bedrock, Vertex AI) and modern data ecosystems (Snowflake/Databricks).
  • Working knowledge of LLMs, RAG architecture, and agentic frameworks, including safe automation design and evaluation practices.
  • Solid grounding in ML methods (supervised and unsupervised learning, gradient boosting, exposure to deep learning), feature engineering, regularization, cross-validation.
  • Ability to translate analytical findings into clear business insights and collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners.
  • Experience in mentoring junior data scientists is a plus.
  • Experience in Life Insurance industry or consumer finance domains is a plus.


Pay Transparency

Salary Range: $124,000-$177,000

Overtime eligible: Exempt

Discretionary bonus eligible: Yes

Sales bonus eligible: No

Actual base salary will be determined based on several factors but not limited to individual's experience, skills, qualifications, and job location. Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition to base salary, employees may also be eligible to participate in an incentive program.

Our Benefits

We provide a full package of benefits for employees - and have unique offerings for a modern workforce, including leave programs, adoption assistance, and student loan repayment programs. Based on feedback from our employees, we continue to refine and add benefits to our offering, so that you can flourish both inside and outside of work.Click hereto discover more about our comprehensive benefit options or visit our NYL Benefits Site.

Job Requisition ID: 93586

About New York Life Insurance Co

New York Life Insurance Company is a mutual life insurance company in the United States and one of the life insurers in the world, ranking #88 on the 2014 Fortune 500 list with over $540 billion in total assets under management, and more than $19 billion in surplus and AVR. New York Life and its subsidiaries provide insurance, investment, and retirement solutions. For 175 years, the company has been helping people put their love into action. It was founded in 1845 and is headquartered in New York.

New York Life Insurance Co Careers

Join the esteemed team at New York Life Insurance Co, a leader in the insurance industry, and propel your career to new heights with unparalleled job opportunities. As one of the most respected names in life insurance, we offer a platform where professionalism meets innovation, creating an environment ripe for personal and professional growth.

Work You’ll Do

At New York Life Insurance Co, you will be part of a culture that cherishes diversity and fosters leadership. Our team is composed of skilled professionals dedicated to providing financial security and peace of mind to our clients. By joining us, you will collaborate with top-tier experts in finance and insurance, leveraging your skills to make a meaningful impact.

Explore Career Paths

Whether you are seeking an internship, a full-time position, or a leadership role, New York Life Insurance Co provides a variety of career paths to help you achieve your professional goals. Our commitment to career development is evident through extensive training programs and continuous learning opportunities that ensure our team remains at the forefront of the industry.

Innovate and Lead

Embrace the opportunity to lead projects that drive innovation within the company and the insurance industry. New York Life Insurance Co is at the intersection of tradition and innovation, where we constantly strive to develop solutions that anticipate the needs of our clients.

Be Part of a Great Team

Our team at New York Life Insurance Co is our greatest asset. We thrive on collaboration and respect each other’s contributions, creating a supportive and inclusive workplace. Here, networking and mentorship go hand in hand with day-to-day operations, providing a robust support system for career advancement.

Future-Proof Your Career

With New York Life Insurance Co, your career is future-proofed with endless opportunities for advancement. Our comprehensive benefits package supports your life both inside and outside of work, while our leadership and diversity training prepare you to take on new challenges.

Join Our Team

Search for open positions that match your skills and interests. We are hiring creative, curious, and motivated individuals who are ready to drive their careers forward. Explore our job opportunities and find out how your talents can make a difference at New York Life Insurance Co.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest industry trends, career tips, and company news through our Careers Blog. Personalize your experience by subscribing to job alert emails, tailored to your preferences, and discover the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at New York Life Insurance Co.

Prepare for Your Interview

Ready to join us? Prepare your resume and sharpen your interview skills to become part of a company that values vision, leadership, and a commitment to excellence. At New York Life Insurance Co, we are not just offering a job; we are offering a pathway to success.

New York Life Insurance Co – A Place Where Careers Are Made

From fostering innovation to encouraging diversity, New York Life Insurance Co is where you can pursue your passions and grow your career. Join us and make a difference in the lives of our clients and communities every day.
Learn more about New York Life Insurance Co
Size
11,960 employees
Industry
Founded
1845

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at New York Life Insurance Co

More Finance & Insurance Jobs

Find similar Senior Associate - Lead Data Scientist jobs: