Job Summary
What you need to know about the role-
Data scientists are highly motivated team players with strong analytical skills who specialize in creating, driving and executing initiatives to mitigate fraud on PayPal s platform and improve the experience for PayPal s hundreds of millions of customers, while guaranteeing compliance with regulations. Meet our team Data scientists in the Fraud Risk team are problem solvers suited to approach varied challenges in complex big data environments. Our core goals are to enable seamless and delightful experiences to our customers, while preventing threat actors from accessing customers financial instruments and personal information. As part of our day-to-day job, we are collaborating with a wide variety of partners product owners, data scientists, security experts, legal consults, and engineers, to bring our data science insights to life, impacting the experience and security of millions of customers around the globe.
Job Description
Your way to impact
Data scientists deeply understand PayPal s business objectives, as their impact on PayPal s top and bottom lines is immense. As a data scientist, you will develop key AIML capabilities, tools, and insights with the aim of adapting PayPal s advanced proprietary fraud prevention and experience mechanisms and enabling growth.
Your day to day
Day-to-day duties include data analysis, monitoring and forecasting, creating the logic for and implementing risk rules and strategies, providing requirements to data scientists and technology teams on attribute, model and platform requirements, and communicating with global stakeholders to ensure we deliver the best possible customer experience while meeting loss rate targets.
What do you need to bring-
- Strong proficiency in Python for data analysis, machine learning, and automation.
- Solid understanding of supervised and unsupervised AI/machine learning methods (e.g., XGBoost, LightGBM, Random Forest, clustering, isolation forests, autoencoders, neural networks, transformer-based architectures).
- Experience in payment fraud, AML, KYC, or broader risk modeling within fintech or financial institutions.
- Experience developing and deploying ML models in production using frameworks such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar.
- Hands-on experience with LLMs (e.g., OpenAI, LLaMA, Claude, Mistral), including use of prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and agentic AI to support internal automation and risk workflows.
- Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, product, compliance, and operations teams.
- Proven track record of translating complex ML insights into business actions or policy decisions.
- BS/BA degree with 5+ years of related professional experience or master s degree with 4+ years of related experience.
**We know the confidence gap and imposter syndrome can get in the way of meeting spectacular candidates. Please dont hesitate to apply.
Preferred Qualification
Subsidiary
PayPal
Travel Percent
0
For the majority of employees, PayPals balanced hybrid work model offers 3 days in the office for effective in-person collaboration and 2 days at your choice of either the PayPal office or your home workspace, ensuring that you equally have the benefits and conveniences of both locations.
Our Benefits
We have great benefits including a flexible work environment, employee shares options, health and life insurance and more. To learn more about our benefits please visit https//www.paypalbenefits.com .
Who We Are
Click Here to learn more about our culture and community.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
PayPal provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. In addition, PayPal will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at talentaccommodations@paypal.com .
Belonging at PayPal
Our employees are central to advancing our mission, and we strive to create an environment where everyone can do their best work with a sense of purpose and belonging. Belonging at PayPal means creating a workplace with a sense of acceptance and security where all employees feel included and valued. We are proud to have a diverse workforce reflective of the merchants, consumers, and communities that we serve, and we continue to take tangible actions to cultivate inclusivity and belonging at PayPal.
Any general requests for consideration of your skills, please Join our Talent Community .
We know the confidence gap and imposter syndrome can get in the way of meeting spectacular candidates. Please don t hesitate to apply.
