Principal Data Scientist (m/f/d)

<h2><strong>About the Job</strong></h2> <p>As a key growth accelerator, A11 partners with Europe’s most ambitious startups and scaleups, corporates and SMBs to connect them with top-tier talent ready to make an impact.&nbsp;</p> <p>We’re looking for a <strong>Principal Data Scientist (m/f/d)&nbsp;</strong>to take ownership of a newly built SmartRisk engine in the Credit &amp; Risk department at of one of Europe’s leading B2B mobility and payment platforms. &nbsp;</p> <p>Our partner company serves customers across more than 50 countries. Built on over 90 years of continuous growth and innovation, the company has evolved into a market-leading platform with around 2,700 employees, processing €19 billion in transaction volume. As the business enters its next phase of development, it is investing heavily in data, AI, and technology-enabled commercial excellence to strengthen its market position and unlock new opportunities at scale.</p> <p>In this role, you will own a risk model, the SmartRisk engine end to end. From feature strategy and model training to calibration, backtesting, drift monitoring, and explainability. This is a hands-on role, which means you will design data-driven use cases such as early-warning systems, loss databases, limit and exposure steering, and portfolio insights.</p> <p>With direct exposure to senior decision makers, real influence over how risk is quantified and managed at scale, this role offers a rare opportunity to shape a business critical capability from the inside.&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>In this role, you’ll:</strong></h2> <ul> <li>Take full ownership of data-driven analyses, independently deriving actionable recommendations to maximise business value</li> <li>Develop and apply advanced statistical methods (regression models, time series analyses, ML/AI algorithms) and translate results into clear, compelling business insights</li> <li>Design and maintain robust end-to-end ML pipelines (data, features, models, scoring), including testing, versioning, documentation, and MLOps standards such as CI/CD, model registry, monitoring, data-quality checks, and incident handling</li> <li>Collaborate closely with stakeholders and management</li> <li>Own the SmartRisk Engine within Credit &amp; Risk Management: feature strategy, training/retraining, calibration, backtesting, drift monitoring, and explainability via SHAP/Reason Codes</li> <li>Build data-driven use cases such as loss databases, early-warning systems, limit/exposure steering, clustering, and portfolio insights</li> <li>Develop new cloud-based Data Science solutions, primarily in Python and SQL, to drive measurable business value</li> <li>Mentor and guide other Data Scientists, encourage innovative thinking, and actively support the team's professional growth</li> <li>Ideally, you bring knowledge in credit risk (e.g., PD, EAD, LGD, rating, IFRS 9/ECL) and experience with SAP and Power BI</li> </ul> <h2><strong>Your Profile:&nbsp;</strong></h2> <ul> <li>5-8 years of experience in Data Science and Machine Learning, confidently applying statistical methods, regression models, time series analyses, classical ML, and modern AI algorithms</li> <li>Highly proficient in Python and SQL</li> <li>Ability to independently develop value-adding, cloud-based solutions, including Generative AI use cases such as LLMs, RAG systems, or"talk-to-your-data" interfaces (AI agents or chat interfaces)</li> <li>Proven track record building robust end-to-end ML pipelines and maintaining MLOps standards (CI/CD, model registry, monitoring, quality checks)</li> <li>Experience with hands-on ownership of machine learning models (feature strategy, training, calibration, backtesting) and explainability methods like SHAP or Reason Codes</li> <li>You communicate clearly, presenting complex analytical results to business units, IT, and management and translating them into actionable results&nbsp;</li> <li>Experience mentoring and guiding other Data Scientists is an advantage</li> <li>Fluent in German and English</li> </ul> <p>Please note that this position is <strong>based close to Düsseldorf.</strong>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Benefits and Perks:</strong></h2> <ul> <li>Full ownership from day one. You will be the one owning the engine, not coordinating from the sidelines.</li> <li>Close collaboration with senior leadership and visibility to C-level stakeholders.</li> <li>An international, diverse environment spanning HQ strategy teams to field sales organisations across European markets.</li> <li>Flexible hybrid working, company health management, Jobrad eBike leasing, and parent-child offices</li> </ul> <p><em>If you’re eager to join the A11 Ecosystem and shape what’s next, we want to hear from you!</em></p> <h2>Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion</h2> <p><em>A11 is committed to diverse and equal opportunities hiring for all – applicants, candidates, and employees alike. We value humans – with all our glorious multifaceted backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences – and look forward to your application.</em></p>