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Mastercard · 1 hour ago

Data Science Director

Arlington, VA

Full-time

Onsite

Lead/Staff

$179K/yr - $305K/yr

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry, connecting billions of consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, and businesses worldwide. They are looking for a Data Science Director to lead the development and deployment of their Graph database and Reinforcement Learning capabilities, focusing on creating intelligent, personalized experiences through AI. The role involves strategic leadership, technical excellence, and innovation in data science.

FinanceFinancial ServicesInformation TechnologyPayments

Growth Opportunities

H1B Sponsor Likely

Responsibilities

Define and execute the data science vision and roadmap for Graph database and Reinforcement Learning capabilities, aligning initiatives with business priorities and product strategy

Recruit, lead, and mentor a high-performing data science team, fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and collaboration

Partner with product, engineering, and business leaders to shape requirements and deliver data-driven capabilities that improve customer experience and reduce disputes

Build and scale Graph database and Reinforcement Learning capabilities that enrich merchant and transaction data

Guide the design and implementation of Graph database and Reinforcement Learning capabilities that leverage generative AI, multi-agent systems, NLP, and computer vision to enhance platform experiences

Monitor and continuously improve deployed models to ensure accuracy, reliability, and compliance in a regulated financial environment

Provide hands-on technical leadership in model development, deployment, and governance across cloud environments (Azure, Snowflake, Spark)

Ensure compliance with Mastercard’s data governance, security, and privacy requirements

Review and oversee code, models, and engineering components developed by the team to maintain enterprise-grade standards

Drive exploration of cutting-edge technologies, including generative AI and agentic frameworks, to strengthen the product offering and Mastercard technical competence

Represent Mastercard’s AI leadership through patents, publications, conference presentations, and academic partnerships

Incubate prototypes and proofs-of-concept to evaluate new methods before scaling into production

Qualification

Graph databaseReinforcement LearningArtificial IntelligencePythonML frameworksSQLAzureSnowflakeData governanceComplianceStakeholder engagementTechnical presentationTeam leadershipMentoring

Required

Proven experience leading data science teams and delivering enterprise-scale AI/ML solutions

Deep expertise in supervised, unsupervised, and generative AI methods, with strong understanding of their mathematical foundations

Hands-on background in building and implementing Graph database and Reinforcement Learning capabilities in real world applications

Strong track record of translating complex data problems into scalable, measurable business outcomes

Proficiency in Python, ML frameworks (Scikit-learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow), SQL, Spark, and Azure ML/Snowflake

Experience working in highly regulated industries, with an emphasis on data governance and compliance

Skilled at engaging with senior stakeholders, presenting technical results to diverse audiences, and driving alignment across functions

Master's degree required; PhD preferred

Preferred

Experience in payments, FinTech, or consumer transaction data

Prior patents or publications in AI/ML

Demonstrated success applying GenAI or multi-agent systems in production environments

Benefits

Insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance)

Flexible spending account and health savings account

Paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave)

80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time

25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire

10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays

401k with a best-in-class company match

Deferred compensation for eligible roles

Fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities

Eligibility for tuition reimbursement

56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time

Jury duty leave

On-site fitness facilities in some locations

Company

Mastercard

Glassdoor4.2

Mastercard is a financial network that processes payments between banks and cardholders.

Founded in 1966

Purchase, New York, USA

10001+ employees

http://www.mastercard.com

H1B Sponsorship

Mastercard has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)

Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship

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Trends of Total Sponsorships

2025 (540)

2024 (319)