Data Scientist II

Our Story Hello there. We’re Zopa. We started our journey back in 2005, building the first ever peer-to-peer lending company. Fast forward to 2020 and we launched Zopa Bank. A bank that listens to what our customers don’t like about finance and does the opposite. We’re redefining what it feels like to work in finance. Our vision for a new era of banking puts people front and centre — we’ve built a business that empowers everyone to aim high, every day, to move finance forward. Find out more about our fantastic offerings at Zopa.com! 
We’re incredibly proud of our achievements and none of it would be possible without the amazing team here. It’s not just industry awards we’re winning, we’ve also been named in the top three UK’s Most Loved Workplaces. 
If you embrace unconventional challenges, are unafraid to think differently and are driven to make an outsized impact, you’ll thrive here at Zopa, so join us, and make it count. Want to see us in action? Follow us on Instagram @zopalife
At Zopa, data and the application of machine learning is at the heart of what we do and the products we bring to market. Within consumer financial services we have pioneered modern data science techniques using advanced ML models for more than 7 years. Today more than 98% of our lending decisions are driven by ML models - so it's safe to say it is seriously impactful work!

A day in the life...

• Lead high-impact projects related to data and modelling, with a specific focus on impairment.
• Own the full lifecycle of your project, including the discovery of business opportunities through statistical analysis, data curation and processing, feature engineering, development of machine learning models, deployment to production, and model monitoring.
• Conduct regular analysis of model performance, including tracking key metrics, identifying anomalies, and diagnosing potential issues to ensure models remain robust and effective.
• Monitor model results and business impact, proactively identifying risks and implementing improvements when necessary.
• Engage with senior stakeholders across the company, influence critical business decisions, and drive projects that impact on our products and millions of customers.
• Work closely with product managers, analysts, data engineers, and software engineers to advance your projects.
• Support other data scientists through knowledge sharing, code review, collaboration on common utilities, and analytical infrastructure.

About you...

• You are proficient in Python and SQL, with a good understanding of best practices in software engineering.
• You have in-depth knowledge of machine learning algorithms (e.g., logistic regression, random forest, gradient boosted trees, neural networks, k-means, etc.) and statistics (e.g., Monte Carlo, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, maximum likelihood, bootstrap, Bayesian inference).
• You have a strong understanding of effective MLOps processes, ensuring robust and scalable machine learning model deployment, monitoring, and maintenance.
• You love data. You are passionate about tackling real-world problems with data and have a proven track record of solving complex data problems that deliver business value.
• You are a scientist—curious, eager to learn, and willing to challenge the status quo. You embrace innovation for the benefit of our customers and the world.
• You are a great communicator who enjoys influencing decision-makers with insights from data. You can foster mutual understanding and trust with stakeholders from different backgrounds.
• You are a team player, striving for the success of the team and collaborating with an open mind. You have a can-do attitude and a strong commitment to getting the job done.
• You have working knowledge of Git, Docker, CI/CD, and REST APIs.

#LI-HS1
Flexible working? Yes please! At Zopa we value flexible ways of working. We understand the benefits of face-to-face collaboration and the importance of a good work-life balance. Our teams work in a hybrid manner, from our vibrant UK offices and the comfort of their own homes, at a frequency that suits the team and the work they do. Not only that – you'll also have the option of working from abroad for up to 120 days a year!* But no matter where you are, we’ll make sure you’ve got everything you need to thrive, both in your work and home life, from day one.
*Subject to having the right to work in the country of choice
Diversity Statement
Zopa is proud to offer a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds leads to better products for our customers and a unique company culture for our people. We are made up of nearly 50 nationalities, have a DE&I forum made up of Zopians wanting to make a difference and we are proud of our culture where everyone can bring their full self to work. Our approach to DE&I is reflected in our hiring process so please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments.