Research Scientist, Upstart

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific or quantitative discipline (e.g., Math, Physics, Computer Science, Statistics, Economics, Operations Research)
• 2+ years of experience in Machine Learning or a similar field
• Proficiency in Python or other programming languages
• Strong understanding of statistical, probability, and machine learning theory
• Full-stack expertise in the modeling process from ideation to production, OR deep expertise in either statistical modeling or machine learning
• Ability to break down complex tasks into smaller steps and make the right tradeoffs to deliver projects on time
• Ability to communicate technical concepts effectively to non-technical stakeholders
• Strong sense of intellectual curiosity, humility, and teamwork

Desirable

• At Upstart, our mission is to expand access to credit using advanced machine learning models that better evaluate true risk
• As part of this, our teams focus on developing models across various verticals, including Growth marketing, Auto Loans, and Personal Loans Underwriting
• These teams are critical to the success of Upstart, directly impacting our customer acquisition efforts and revenue generation through predictive modeling, innovative algorithms, and cross-functional collaboration
• Our Machine Learning (ML) Teams work on creating and deploying production models that power key aspects of Upstart’s business:
• Growth: Models that predict conversion probabilities and prioritize high-potential prospects for outbound marketing
• Auto Loans: Models that underwrite all auto loans, assessing true borrower risk based on innovative features and methodologies
• Personal Loan Underwriting: Models that evaluate every applicant’s risk, having a direct impact on Upstart’s core business
• As a Research Scientist, you will have the opportunity to work in one of these highly specialized teams, contributing to the development and deployment of business-critical models, optimizing marketing strategies, underwriting processes, and enhancing business metrics
• Research and develop new machine learning models to enhance the accuracy of predictions in borrower risk, marketing conversions, or underwriting processes
• Design, prototype, and deploy models to production, ensuring robust and scalable implementations
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineers, product managers, and marketing specialists to experiment with and optimize models for business outcomes
• Evaluate the performance of models, interpret their impact on business metrics, and present actionable insights to stakeholders
• Continuously explore novel algorithms and methodologies to keep Upstart’s ML systems at the cutting edge of technology
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to the development of a high-quality, production-ready codebase