Lead Machine Learning Scientist

Dave Inc.

Job Overview

Location

United States

Job Type

Full-time

Full Job Description

📋 Description

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of production-grade machine learning models that drive marketing acquisition, engagement, retention, and monetization across Dave’s multi-product financial ecosystem.
• Architect and own the ML roadmap for Marketing and Growth teams, proactively identifying high-impact opportunities for machine learning to deliver step-function improvements—not just respond to requests.
• Build and scale core predictive models including propensity (conversion, engagement), churn prevention and intervention, customer lifetime value (LTV) models co-developed with Finance, and cross-sell/next-best-action models across Dave’s products.
• Optimize onboarding, targeting, personalization, and segmentation at scale using ML-driven insights to improve user experience and business outcomes.
• Design and implement agentic engineering workflows that accelerate the full modeling lifecycle: from problem formulation and training to calibration, monitoring, and iterative improvement in production.
• Analyze large, complex datasets to identify and evaluate high-leverage internal and external data sources, and lead business cases for new data acquisition and onboarding efforts.
• Ensure all models are scalable, measurable, and tightly integrated into marketing workflows and decision systems to enable real-time optimization.
• Continuously evaluate and improve marketing spend efficiency by identifying cost inefficiencies across models and pipelines, and by optimizing reward and incentive strategies (e.g., referral programs, promotional offers).
• Develop models to determine optimal reward levels and targeting that maximize user acquisition, activation, and retention while balancing incremental cost and ROI.
• Evaluate the incrementality of marketing incentives using experimentation techniques such as A/B testing and uplift modeling to ensure promotions drive true behavioral change, not just subsidize existing demand.
• Set and enforce technical standards for model development, experimentation design, validation, and documentation across the ML team.
• Promote adoption of modern machine learning techniques, including leveraging pre-trained models and effective application of AI/LLMs where appropriate to enhance model performance and development speed.
• Partner closely with Marketing, Product, and Finance leadership to align ML investments with business priorities, translating technical capabilities into business impact and vice versa.
• Communicate complex technical findings to non-technical stakeholders with clarity, driving alignment on model assumptions, metrics, and business implications.
• Maintain end-to-end ownership of ML initiatives from concept to production, ensuring models are robust, ethical, and aligned with Dave’s mission of financial accessibility and transparency.

🎯 Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in machine learning, data science, or a related field
• Proven experience building and scaling ML models in production environments
• Strong experience with marketing-related models (propensity, churn, LTV, targeting, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, ambiguous, cross-functional projects
• Strong programming skills (Python, SQL) and experience with ML frameworks (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch)
• Familiarity with Marketing KPIs (CAC, ROAS, etc.)

🏖️ Benefits

• Opportunity to tackle tough challenges, learn and grow from fellow top talent, and help millions of people reach their personal financial goals
• Flexible hours and virtual-first work culture with a home office stipend
• Premium Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance plans
• Generous paid parental and caregiver leave
• 401(k) savings plan with matching contributions
• Financial advisor and financial wellness support
• Flexible PTO and generous company holidays, including Juneteenth and Winter Break
• All-company in-person events once or twice a year and virtual events throughout to connect with your team members and leadership team

Skills & Technologies

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

Senior

Remote

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Dave Inc.

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About Dave Inc.

Dave is a financial technology company that offers a mobile application designed to help users manage their finances. Its core services include early access to paychecks, overdraft protection, and budgeting tools, aiming to reduce financial stress and avoid costly bank fees. The company partners with employers to provide financial wellness benefits to their employees. Dave operates in the fintech industry, focusing on consumer banking and financial management solutions through a subscription-based model and interchange fees.

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