Role overview
Founded in 2009, Zest AI is transforming the $17 trillion U.S. consumer credit market through AI-driven technology that helps lenders identify creditworthy borrowers overlooked by traditional methods. Our platform enables financial institutions of all sizes to harness AI to improve underwriting accuracy, expand credit access, and deliver better lending experiences.
With more than 600 active AI models and over 50 issued and pending patents, Zest AI provides solutions across marketing, underwriting, fraud detection, and lending intelligence. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Zest AI partners with financial institutions to make smarter lending decisions while strengthening the resilience of the U.S. financial system.
Data Scientists at Zest AI use the power of machine learning (ML) and statistical analysis to build, test, deploy, and monitor financial underwriting models. These models are providing fairer and transparent access to credit and have already had a substantial impact - scoring millions of Americans on over $180B in assets. By leveraging a combination of ML and vast amounts of data points, Zest seeks to challenge traditional credit scoring models, while expanding our proprietary AI-explainability technology across the fintech industry.
Why this role is exciting
Work on high-impact ML systems powering real credit decisions across $180B+ in assets
Build and deploy production machine learning models used by financial institutions nationwide
Solve complex modeling challenges involving large-scale tabular data, explainability, and regulatory constraints
Collaborate with ML engineers, product leaders, and domain experts to bring models from research → production → measurable business outcomes
What you'll work on
Translate unstructured business problems into well-defined machine learning projects
Collaborate with Engineers, Product Managers, and Data Analysts to identify high-impact opportunities for modeling
Design, train, and deploy production machine learning models used in real-world credit underwriting decisions
Develop highly generalizable models for predicting a range of financial outcomes
Incorporate modeling insights back into product development to drive continuous improvement
Build prototypes, experiments, and modeling frameworks to validate new approaches
Create demos, documentation, and internal resources to help teams effectively leverage modeling work
Take ownership of modeling implementation in real-world environments to deliver measurable customer value
We are looking for:
MS or PhD in a quantitative field such as Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related discipline (financial services experience is a plus)
Strong foundation in programming, statistics, mathematics, and classical machine learning techniques, including tree-based methods, optimization, supervised and unsupervised learning, and feature engineering
Experience designing, developing, and deploying machine learning models in production environments
Hands-on experience with machine learning frameworks such as XGBoost, Scikit-learn, or similar libraries
Solid understanding of system-level considerations for ML development, including memory usage, disk I/O, and CPU/GPU utilization
Experience with modern software engineering practices, including modular code design, version control, and maintainable codebases
Strong proficiency in Python
Passion for applying machine learning and AI to solve real-world problems and drive meaningful impact
Perks and benefits:
All Zestys experience:
The opportunity to join a mission-focused company
People – the best part of Zest
Robust medical, dental and vision insurance plans
Annual bonus plan participation
401(k) with generous match
Employee Awards and Recognition
11 company holidays
Winter break (office closed between Christmas and New Year's Day)
Unlimited vacation time
Employee Resource Groups
Generous family leave policy (12 week maternity leave / 6 week paternity leave)
Phone, internet, wellness, and professional development allowances
Employee gatherings, including Town Hall meetings
Additionally, our Burbank, CA hybrid Zestys enjoy:
Beautiful, modern, dog-friendly office with lounge areas, video games, and gigantic jigsaw puzzles
Daily catered lunches from LA’s best restaurants and a fully stocked kitchen
Complimentary manicures, pedicures, and mindfulness sessions
Company happy hours, social events, outings, and much more!
About Zest AI:
Creating a diverse and inclusive culture where all are welcomed, valued, and empowered to achieve our full potential is important to who we are and where we’re headed in the future. We know that unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives help us think bigger, spark innovation, and succeed together. Zest is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages professionals from underrepresented groups in technology and financial services to apply.
Our core values are Communication, Collaboration, Bias for Action, Client-centricity, and Heart. Learn more at Zest.ai, follow us on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/zest-ai/) or Twitter @Zest_AI, or check out our Insights blog (https://www.zest.ai/cms/insights).
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Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Information Technology and Research
Industries
Software Development and Financial Services