Staff Data Scientist, Credit Policy (Square Financial Services)
What You'll Be Doing
Apply a rigorous, scientific approach to underwriting new customer segments, including evaluating alternative external data sources and designing new policy strategies that expand access while protecting the portfolio.
Own credit policy governance and reporting — maintaining policy documentation, change logs, and approval records, and delivering recurring portfolio performance and policy-impact reports to credit risk committees, senior leadership, and bank oversight functions.
Propose and design experiments for credit products, such as champion/challenger tests, randomized holdouts, and staged rollouts across approval, limit, and pricing strategies, with clear hypotheses, success metrics, guardrails, and loss-exposure budgets.
Review experiment designs proposed by partner teams, assessing statistical rigor, sample sizing, risk exposure, fair lending considerations, and alignment with credit policy and regulatory requirements before launch.
Develop policy guidelines and frameworks — including risk appetite thresholds, approval and limit standards, and concentration limits — that let credit portfolios scale responsibly while meeting growth, loss, and profitability goals.
Partner with Risk Management, Compliance, and Internal Audit to ensure policy changes meet governance standards and remain well documented and exam-ready.
Support team members with ad-hoc and scheduled updates to existing policies and strategies, and help troubleshoot issues in real-time production environments.
Operate within the framework of a regulated bank (SFS), balancing rapid innovation with requirements for safety, soundness, and compliance.
What We're Looking For
8+ years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 6+ years with a Master's degree; or a PhD with 3+ years of experience; or equivalent experience.
A degree in a technical field such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or Engineering, with a strong preference for candidates with a track record of scientific research or an advanced degree.
Demonstrated experience in credit policy governance at a bank, fintech, or consumer/small business lender, including documenting and approving policy changes, preparing materials for credit or risk committees, and supporting regulatory exams and internal audits.
Hands-on experience proposing, designing, and reviewing experiments for credit products (e.g., champion/challenger tests, randomized holdouts, staged rollouts on approval, line assignment, or pricing), including power and sample sizing, loss-exposure guardrails, and decision-ready readouts.
A track record of building and owning portfolio monitoring and reporting — KPIs, early-warning indicators, vintage and roll-rate analysis — used to steer credit policy and communicate performance to leadership.
Experience translating business objectives into credit policy guidelines, such as risk appetite thresholds, approval and limit standards, and concentration limits, that allow portfolios to scale within loss and profitability targets.
Strong quantitative intuition and data visualization skills, with a proven ability to conduct sophisticated ad-hoc and exploratory analysis.
The versatility to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences, particularly on high-visibility projects involving senior stakeholders.
A pragmatic approach to problem-solving, using whichever tool is most appropriate while balancing business, technical, and regulatory constraints.
Bonus Points
Familiarity with regulatory expectations for credit products.
Strong proficiency in SQL and Python, including the ability to contribute across the analytical stack — from data pipelines to production-ready policy logic.
About Block Labs
Block Labs is a pioneering European blockchain development firm at the forefront of Web3 innovation. We specialize in architecting, building, and scaling decentralized solutions that are reshaping industries worldwide. From foundational layer-1 protocols to intricate DeFi applications and robust NFT platforms, our mission is to unlock the full potential of distributed ledger technology, fostering a more transparent, efficient, and equitable digital future. We pride ourselves on delivering cutting-edge, secure, and user-centric products that push the boundaries of what's possible in the crypto space. Our culture at Block Labs is defined by a relentless pursuit of excellence, collaborative problem-solving, and a deep-seated passion for blockchain technology. We cultivate an environment where curiosity is encouraged, ideas are celebrated, and continuous learning is paramount. Our diverse team of engineers, researchers, and strategists are united by a shared vision to build the infrastructure of Web3. We value open communication, intellectual rigor, and the freedom to experiment with novel solutions. Join Block Labs and contribute to shaping the next generation of the internet. If you are a visionary technologist, a blockchain enthusiast, or simply someone driven to make a significant impact in the Web3 ecosystem, we offer unparalleled opportunities for growth, innovation, and direct influence on transformative projects. Work alongside industry leaders, tackle complex challenges, and leverage state-of-the-art tools within a dynamic, supportive, and intellectually stimulating European setting. Elevate your career by building the future with Block Labs.
Ready to Apply?
To submit your application for this position, please visit Block Labs's official website and follow their application process.