Senior Data Scientist

Overview

Senior Data Scientist in the Compliance Technology Operations team, building and maintaining statistical and ML/AI solutions for sanctions screening within AML and Sanctions Compliance.

What you'll do

• Perform large-scale data analysis across all stages: understand business goals, formulate analytic approaches, extract and explore data, and translate results into actionable items.
• Analyze structured and semi-structured data (names, addresses, identifiers) and assess data quality, completeness and appropriateness for sanctions screening.
• Define and test features used in matching and scoring logic, and partner with data engineering teams on data sourcing and transformations.
• Build and enhance sanctions screening models using rules-based and fuzzy matching techniques.
• Tune thresholds and scoring logic to improve detection accuracy and reduce false positives.
• Monitor model performance and implement enhancements in line with regulatory and MRM standards.
• Design and conduct experiments to evaluate model performance using appropriate metrics and statistical analysis.
• Document model logic, assumptions, and changes in an audit-ready manner, including model architecture, implementation details and methodology.
• Partner with Compliance, Model Risk Management and Technology teams on testing, validation, audits and regulatory reviews.
• Conduct user acceptance testing and support business stakeholders' ad hoc enquiries.
• Review model reports and communicate findings, insights and recommendations to technology and business stakeholders.

What you'll need

• 5+ years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor's Degree, or at least 2 years of work experience with an Advanced degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD), or 0 years of work experience with a PhD, OR 8+ years of relevant work experience.
• Bachelor's/Master's Degree in Engineering, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, or related technical discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience in data analysis, reporting, statistical analysis, research, data mining, trend analysis, etc.
• Experience in machine learning model development and implementation using tools like SAS, SQL, Python/R, Hive and/or Spark.
• Experience building predictive and descriptive statistical models using AI/ML algorithms (e.g., logistic regression, random forests, SVMs, XGBoost, CNNs/RNNs).
• Expertise in AI techniques (machine learning, natural language processing, deep learning), including exposure to Generative AI technologies and their applications.
• Experience with Python libraries such as pandas, numpy, matplotlib and scikit-learn.
• Expertise in sanctions screening and name-matching, with experience working with rules-based or statistical models.
• Understanding of global sanctions regimes, including OFAC, EU, UN and UK guidelines.
• Strong knowledge of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Financing of Terrorism (CFT) frameworks and financial crime compliance practices.
• Excellent knowledge of database management, data extraction and data manipulation.
• Superior communication, business writing and stakeholder management skills.
• Self-motivated, proactive and a quick learner, willing to work in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment with globally located teams.

Nice to have

• Experience with fuzzy matching, NLP-based n-grams methodology, phonetics, tokenization, and similarity scoring.
• Familiarity with major sanctions platforms such as Fircosoft, Comply, Advantage, World-Check, and Actimize, etc.

Details

• Location: Bengaluru, India.
• Work mode: at least 3 days in office, to be confirmed by the Hiring Manager.
• Willing to work on a flexible schedule across different time zones.