Senior Data Scientist, Fraud Prevention at GoCardless

<div class="content-intro"><h3><strong>About us</strong></h3> <p>At GoCardless we believe bank payments are the best way to pay and get paid. We also believe that bank account data is a powerful tool to make better, faster decisions. We’re making it easy to use both- for businesses everywhere.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>GoCardless is used for domestic and international payments by 75,000+ organisations and counting, processing more than $30 billion across 30 countries. We’re an award-winning London based fintech, with additional offices in Riga, Paris, Melbourne and New York.</p> <p>And remember: we don’t expect you to meet every single requirement. If you’re excited by this role, <strong>we encourage you to apply!</strong></p></div><h3><strong>The role</strong></h3> <p>Fraud prevention is an ever-evolving puzzle, making it one of the most rewarding and impactful areas in fintech. At GoCardless, our Fraud Prevention team develops the intelligent systems that protect our platform, our merchants, and their customers.</p> <p>As a <strong>Senior Data Scientist</strong>, you will guide the design and delivery of models that operate in real time across our global payment network. You’ll work at the intersection of machine learning, graph-based detection, and behavioural modelling to stay ahead of changing patterns turning research into production systems that make a tangible difference in the fight against financial crime.</p> <p>You’ll collaborate closely with Engineers, Fraud Analysts, and Product Managers to help shape the technical roadmap as we expand into new markets. Our stack is centred around Google Cloud Platform and Vertex AI, using Python, SQL, and BigQuery to build and support high-performance models at scale.</p> <h3><strong>What you'll do</strong></h3> <ul> <li><strong>Contribute to the full model lifecycle</strong>, from initial discovery and feature engineering through to production, experimentation, and continuous monitoring.</li> <li><strong>Design and refine real-time ML systems</strong> that reduce false positives and ensure a smooth, secure experience for legitimate customers.</li> <li><strong>Foster a responsive feedback loop</strong>, adapting models as patterns evolve to ensure our defences remain robust and effective.</li> <li><strong>Help shape the technical direction</strong> of fraud prevention ML at GoCardless, exploring new approaches as we grow globally.</li> <li><strong>Support the team’s growth</strong> through technical mentorship, knowledge sharing, and a commitment to high-quality code.</li> </ul> <h3><strong>What excites you</strong></h3> <ul> <li><strong>Solving complex, dynamic problems:</strong> Developing systems that can adapt and respond to changing environments.</li> <li><strong>End-to-end ownership:</strong> Seeing a project through from a conceptual business need to a live, impactful solution.</li> <li><strong>Strategic influence:</strong> Contributing to the ML roadmap and helping determine what we build next, rather than just how we build it.</li> <li><strong>Holistic Data Science:</strong> Engaging in deep-dive analysis, prototyping, and live experimentation.</li> <li><strong>Modern Infrastructure:</strong> Building production-grade models on GCP and Vertex AI, with the flexibility to explore advanced architectures.</li> </ul> <h3><strong>What excites us</strong></h3> <ul> <li>You hold a degree (or PhD) in a STEM discipline, or bring equivalent depth through commercial experience.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>You have hands-on experience with modelling approaches such as deep learning, graph-based methods, or sequence models. While fintech experience is great, we value transferable skills from fields like cybersecurity or risk modelling.</li> <li>You have a track record of deploying models in production that create measurable value.</li> <li>You can translate complex ML concepts into clear, practical solutions for stakeholders across the business.</li> <li>You enjoy writing clean code and helping the team thrive through thoughtful reviews and shared learning.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Base salary range:</strong> £99,200 - £148,800</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Base salary ranges are based on role, job level, location, and market data.&nbsp; Please note that whilst we strive to offer competitive compensation, our approach is to pay between the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">minimum and the mid-point</span> of the pay range until performance can be assessed in role. Offers will take into account level of experience, interview assessment, budgets and parity between you and fellow employees at GoCardless doing similar work.</p><div class="content-conclusion"><h3><strong>(some of) The good stuff</strong></h3> <ul> <li><strong>Wellbeing </strong>- stay healthy with dedicated support and medical coverWork away scheme - gives you the option to work away from your country of residence for up to 90 days in any 12 month period</li> <li><strong>Adaptive Working</strong> - allows you to work flexibly, around your lifestyle</li> <li><strong>Equity</strong> - all permanently employed GCs get equity to help you make a valuable contribution</li> <li><strong>Parental leave</strong> - to suit everyone embarking on life's great adventureLearning Budget - lead your own development with an annual learning budget</li> <li><strong>Time off</strong> - generous holiday allowance, + 3 annual volunteer days, + 4 annual business-wide wellness days (‘GC Fridays’)</li> </ul> <h3><strong>Life at GoCardless&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h3> <p>We're an organisation defined by our&nbsp;<a href="https://gocardless.com/g/values-operating-principles/">values</a>; We <em>start with why </em>before we begin any project, to ensure it’s aligned with our mission. We<em> act with integrity</em>, always. We <em>care deeply</em> about what we do and we know it's essential that we <em>be humble </em>whilst we do it. Working this way creates the GC magic- the reason we all love showing up to work.&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>Diversity &amp; Inclusion</strong></h3> <p>We’re building the bank payment network of the future and our ambition is to move money anywhere, for anything, for anyone. If we’re going to achieve this goal, we need to build a team of ‘GeeCee’s’ that is as wonderfully diverse as the world we live in - with a multitude of perspectives, experiences &amp; backgrounds.</p> <p>We’ve got a long way to go, but here’s how we’re doing as of June 2022;</p> <p><strong>Female Employees</strong> - 46%</p> <p><strong>Ethnic background </strong>- 32%</p> <p><strong>Identify as LGBTQIA</strong> - 10%</p> <p><strong>Neurodivergent</strong> - 9%</p> <p>We’re rooting for you during your application and GoCardless aims to provide reasonable adjustments to make our recruitment process as remarkable and accessible as we can. Please speak to your Talent Partner if you need extra support.</p> <p>If you want to learn more, you can read about our Employee Resource Groups and objectives&nbsp;<a href="https://gocardless.com/about/careers/">here</a> as well as our latest <a href="https://gocardless.com/assets/40w0m41bmydz/3hqJy4SUqZqW3BmBHlESUe/d1c7932b97b8a8ebcd0fb07418432fe9/GoCardless_Diversity___Inclusion_Report_2022.pdf">D&amp;I Report</a>&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>Sustainability&nbsp;</strong></h3> <p>We’re committed to reducing our impact on the environment, leaving a more sustainable world for future generations. In 2021 we became co-founders of the&nbsp;<a href="https://techzero.technation.io/">Tech Zero coalition</a>, a group of businesses committed to taking climate action as part of the UNFCCC <a href="https://unfccc.int/climate-action/race-to-zero-campaign">Race to Zero</a>. We aim to reduce our impact and to create positive change on the natural world. Check out our sustainability <a href="https://gocardless.com/sustainability/">action plan</a> here.&nbsp;</p> <p>Find out more about Life at GoCardless via <a href="http://twitter.com/GoCardlessEng">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://instagram.com/lifeatgocardless">Instagram</a> and <a href="http://linkedin.com/company/gocardless">LinkedIn</a>.&nbsp;</p></div>