Staff Data Scientist

As a Staff Data Scientist on TransUnion’s Financial Services Consulting team, you will lead complex analytics and AI-enabled client engagements. Reporting to a Senior Manager of Data Science & Analytics, you will provide technical leadership, translate business needs into scalable solutions, and communicate model and analytic insights to stakeholders.

Role Overview

This hybrid role is based in Chicago, IL and involves regular performance of responsibilities virtually and in-person at an assigned TransUnion office location for a minimum of two days a week. The Financial Services Consulting team is client-facing and industry recognized, rewarding an entrepreneurial spirit.

You will own analytic consulting responsibilities for assigned clients, identify strategies and opportunities to test and adopt TransUnion analytic products and services, and collaborate with Sales, Product, Technology, and vertical support teams to shape differentiated, data-driven recommendations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead complex analytic and AI-enabled consulting engagements from opportunity shaping through solution design, model development, evaluation, deployment readiness, and ongoing monitoring.
• Translate client needs into practical, scalable solutions that deliver measurable business value.
• Provide hands-on guidance across machine learning, statistical modeling, generative AI, large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, agentic workflows, model evaluation, MLOps, monitoring, and responsible AI/model governance.
• Help formalize reusable assets, documentation standards, and repeatable delivery practices.
• Deliver concise and compelling presentations covering analytic insights, model considerations, risks, and recommendations for internal and external stakeholders across technical and business backgrounds.
• Contribute to research and innovation initiatives with DSA peers and cross-functional partners, including applied AI, responsible AI, experimentation, and emerging analytic techniques.
• Identify opportunities to improve quality, efficiency, governance, and scalability of analytic delivery.
• Mentor, coach, and train junior colleagues and peers through knowledge sharing, expectation alignment, candid feedback, recognition, and support for an inclusive, high-performance culture.
• Travel 10–20% of the time.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD degree in statistics, applied mathematics, financial mathematics, computer science, engineering, operations research, or another highly quantitative field; or a Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field.
• 5+ years of demonstrated success directly supporting internal or external clients and 6+ years of professional experience performing analytic work, preferably in industries served by TransUnion.
• Aspiring leadership behaviors, including self-awareness, learning agility, inclusive collaboration, peer coaching, accountability, change leadership, and the ability to motivate and guide others toward successful team outcomes.
• Advanced programming, data engineering, and applied AI/ML skills, including proficiency with Python and/or R, SQL, cloud-based analytics environments, distributed data platforms, and modern machine learning frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex analytic and AI-enabled solution engagements under limited supervision, including solution design, model development, validation, stakeholder alignment, and delivery coordination.

Technologies

• Python, R, SQL
• Machine learning frameworks
• Generative AI, large language models
• Retrieval-augmented generation
• Agentic workflows
• MLOps
• Responsible AI/model governance
• Model evaluation, model monitoring

Preferred Skills

• Experience with generative AI, large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, agentic workflows, model evaluation, MLOps, model monitoring, and responsible AI/model governance.
• Familiarity with credit bureau data, regulated financial services environments, credit risk lifecycle use cases, fraud, insurance, or digital marketing analytics.
• Experience developing reusable analytic assets, documentation standards, governance artifacts, or scalable consulting delivery processes.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor peers, support onboarding or recruiting activities, and strengthen team culture through feedback, recognition, and inclusive collaboration.
• Evidence of strong analytical, critical, and creative thinking, with demonstrated interest in industries served by TransUnion.

Compensation and Pay Scale

The U.S. base salary range for this position is $112,500.00 to $187,500.00 annually. Regular, full-time non-sales positions may be eligible to participate in TransUnion’s annual bonus plan. Certain positions may also be eligible for long-term incentives and other payments based on applicable company guidance and plan documents.

Benefits

• Day-one eligibility for medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Supplemental plan options and eligible dependent coverage on select plans
• Tax-advantaged HSA and FSA accounts
• Company-paid basic life and AD&D
• Optional voluntary life and AD&D for you and your family
• Short- and long-term disability
• Optional legal plan, pet insurance, and travel accident coverage
• Adoption assistance and fertility planning coverage
• Caregiver support
• Dependent Care FSA (possibility of an employer match)
• Care@Work membership
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• 401(k) with employer match
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Financial wellness resources
• Career coaching
• Optional long-term care insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Flexible time off for exempt employees or paid time off for nonexempt employees
• Up to 12 paid holidays per year
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts
• Charitable gift matching
• Paid volunteer time off
• 24/7 support including professional therapy, coaching, and emotional well-being programs
• Guided meditation and resources supporting physical, mental, social, and financial wellness

Internal Job Title

Advisor, Data Science and Analytics