Head of Data Science, Compliance Products

The role

You will set the data science vision and lead execution for AI-powered compliance products. This includes leading teams to deliver models for KYC, AML, and watchlist screening.

What you will do

• Define and own the data science strategy and roadmap for Compliance Products.
• Lead, grow, and develop a high-performing team of data scientists and applied researchers.
• Advance machine learning and decisioning across KYC and International KYC.
• Improve Advanced Prefill through data selection, validation, and ranking.
• Develop and improve deceased-person detection and associated risk signals.
• Build and scale Global Watchlist Screening and Monitoring capabilities.
• Advance AML and compliance risk models.
• Establish rigorous evaluation practices including monitoring and drift detection.
• Own the end-to-end model lifecycle from data strategy to continuous improvement.
• Ensure models are explainable, auditable, and reliable for compliance requirements.

Required qualifications

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in data science and machine learning.
• Record of delivering production systems at scale.
• Significant experience in compliance, KYC/AML, watchlist screening, identity verification, fraud prevention, or risk modeling in financial services, fintech, or an adjacent domain.
• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing data science teams.
• Strong understanding of modern machine learning, statistical modeling, entity matching, information extraction, and decision systems.
• Experience working with heterogeneous and large-scale data, including structured data, text, and third-party data sources.
• Ability to move ambiguous, high-impact problems from discovery to production.
• Hands-on experience with Python and modern ML frameworks such as PyTorch.
• Experience with Apache Spark or comparable distributed data systems.
• Practical understanding of model evaluation, monitoring, explainability, governance, and responsible deployment in regulated or high-stakes settings.
• Excellent communication skills.

Nice to have

• MS or PhD preferred
• Experience in customer-facing technical discussions, executive briefings, or public speaking is preferred

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Equity
• Benefits

Before you apply

• Can only hire within ~45 miles of San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Miami
• Unable to provide sponsorship support now or in the future

About the company

Socure is building the identity trust infrastructure for the digital economy by verifying identities in real time and stopping fraud.