Principal Data Scientist – ML & AI model development

Ally and Your Career
Ally Financial only succeeds when its people do - and that’s more than some cliché people put on job postings. We love this stuff! We see our people as, well, people - with interests, families, friends, dreams, and causes that are all important to them. Our focus is on the health and safety of our teammates as well as work-life balance and diversity and inclusion. From generous benefits to a variety of employee resource groups, we strive to build paths that encourage employees to stretch themselves professionally. We want to help you grow, develop, and learn new things. You’re constantly evolving, so shouldn’t your opportunities be, too?

Work Schedule: Ally designates roles as (1) fully on-site, (2) hybrid, or (3) fully remote. Hybrid roles are generally expected to be in the office a certain number of days per week as indicated by your manager. Your hiring manager will discuss this role's specific work requirements with you during the hiring process. All work requirements are subject to change at any time based on leader discretion and/or business need.




The Opportunity

We're looking for a passionate Principal Data Scientist with ML modeling technical expertise and GenAI knowledge for our Auto Consumer Strategy & Analytics group. This candidate will report to the Data Science Director, with responsibilities of (1) preparing, preprocessing, and validating consumer data for Ally Auto Finance business, (2) utilizing data science techniques to facilitate servicing analytics & asset management strategy, and (3) supporting through-the-cycle predictive/quantitative modeling & advanced analytics for Ally Consumer Servicing Organization. The ideal candidate should be passionate about data science and consumer risk analytics for banking & financial services. Strong SQL and Python programming skills are a must. A successful candidate should have strong analytical skills and the desire to make an impact, while also be a creative and critical thinker, storyteller, learner, and innovator and want to work in an environment focused on using data science and big data tech.



The Work Itself

This role is quantitative in nature and requires the individual highly capable of interrogating and analyzing massive account-level data using Snowflake SQL and Python. The candidate will join the data science team to advance predictive analytics and modeling for consumer asset management of Ally auto finance business, with the responsibility of completing all phases of data science projects, including account-level data preparation, variable cleaning and screening, pre-processing and exploratory data analysis, data validation and documentation. This principal data scientist must be an innovative and strategic thinker, willing to challenge status quo, can learn quickly, and is self-motivated and detail oriented.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply rigorous quantitative techniques to build and/or test predictive ML & GenAI models and risk scores (internally developed or vendor sourced) for usage in account management, consumer risk, collection & servicing functions.
• Heavy emphasis on advanced modeling techniques (Regression, Clustering, Tree-based algorithms, GBM), independent data processing by Snowflake SQL and Python, and ability to create predictive and statistical models from the ground up.
• Independently prepare and analyze large, account-level consumer data from internal and external sources to identify strong risk indicators for Ally auto finance consumer’s delinquency, loss & recovery.
• Support data science projects such as customer segmentation and strategy optimization to advance servicing analytics and consumer asset management.
• Facilitate data projects with 3rd-party vendors under regulatory and compliance rules.
• Actively working with Model Risk Management to ensure the high-standards of model development, validation, performance monitoring, and regulatory review & auditing

Minimum Qualifications:

• 7+ relevant experience in a similar role focused on analytics or data science / quantitative modeling work, with hands-on experience working with large account-level datasets using SQL and Python programming packages
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Operations Research, Statistics, Economics or Quantitative/Technical Discipline (Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science/Analytics, Economics)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Deep expertise in statistics and exploratory data analysis (EDA), paired with the ability to establish trustworthy benchmarks and operational performance monitoring for deployed models
• Strong knowledge in programming languages of Python, Snowflake SQL
• Solid written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to effectively present data analytics results to internal and external stakeholders
• Highly self-motivated, with the ability to work effectively in fast paced environment
• Experience in loan-level predictive data mining for consumer finance industry
• Experience with machine learning techniques (e.g., gradient boosting, regression, decision trees, cluster analysis)
• Experience with GitHub and repositories
• Master's degree or PhD in a quantitative field





How We'll Have Your Back
Ally's compensation program offers market-competitive base pay and pay-for-performance incentives (bonuses) based on achieving personal and company goals. Our Total Rewards program includes industry-leading compensation and benefits plus additional incentives that are designed to meet your needs and those of your family so you can get the most out of your career and your life, including:

Time Away: Program starts at 20 paid time off days in addition to 11 paid holidays and 8 hours of volunteer time off yearly (time off days are prorated based on start date and program varies based on full or part-time status and management level).

Planning for the Future: plan for the near and long term with an industry-leading 401K retirement savings plan with matching and company contributions, student loan pay downs and 529 educational save up assistance programs, tuition reimbursement, employee stock purchase plan, and financial learning center and financial coach access.

Supporting your Health & Well-being: flexible health and insurance options including medical, dental and vision, employee, spouse and child life insurance, short- and long-term disability, pre-tax Health Savings Account with employer contributions, Healthcare FSA, critical illness, accident & hospital indemnity insurance, and a total well-being program that helps you and your family stay on track physically, socially, emotionally, and financially.

Building a Family: adoption, surrogacy and fertility assistance as well as paid parental and caregiver leave, Dependent Day Care FSA back-up child and adult/elder care days and childcare discounts.

Work-Life Integration: other benefits including Mentally Fit Employee Assistance Program, subsidized and discounted Weight Watchers® program and other employee discount programs.

Other Compensations: depending on the role for which you are considered, you may be eligible for travel allowances, relocation assistance, a signing bonus and/or equity.

To view more detailed information about Ally’s Total Rewards, please visit this link: https://www.ally.com/content/dam/pdf/corporate/ally-total-rewards-snapshot.pdf




Who We Are:
Ally Financial is a customer-centric, leading digital financial services company with passionate customer service and innovative financial solutions. We are relentlessly focused on "Doing it Right" and being a trusted financial-services provider to our consumer, commercial, and corporate customers. For more information, visit www.ally.com.

Ally is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy status, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic disposition or any other reason protected by law.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if after review of the position expectations, you believe that you may need a medical accommodation to fulfill the duties of this role, please email hrpolicy@ally.com with details of your accommodation request.




Base Pay Range

$110,000.00 - $180,000.00


An individual's position in the range is determined by the specific role, the scope and responsibilities of the role, work experience, education, certification(s), training, and additional qualifications. We review internal pay, the competitive market, and business environment prior to extending an offer.




Incentive Compensation:

This position is eligible to participate in our annual incentive plan.