Lead Data Scientist / Gen AI Lead

TIAA is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to join our Fraud Data Analytics and AI Strategy team. In this role, you will sit at the intersection of advanced analytics, generative AI development and fraud prevention & detection, working to protect our customers and the institution from ever evolving fraud threats. You will be responsible for deep-dive analysis of fraud data, evaluation and optimization of existing fraud prevention and detection systems, and the development of innovative analytical and generative / agentic AI solutions on the latest technologies. The ideal candidate is a fast learner who thrives in a collaborative environment, can translate complex data findings into actionable business recommendations, and is eager to explore frontiers of agentic and generative AI applications in financial services. You will work closely with fraud operations and technology teams, serving as an analytical bridge between business strategy and technical execution.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Analyze large, complex fraud datasets to identify patterns, trends, and anomalies that inform detection strategies and business decisions

Evaluate existing static, rule-based fraud detection systems through data-driven assessments of their performance and coverage, and deliver clear, prioritized recommendations for rule updates, retirement, or new rule creation

Partner with fraud operations teams to understand frontline detection challenges and translate operational insights into analytical hypotheses and actionable solutions

Utilize AI-assisted development tools such as Amazon Q and Kiro to accelerate analytical workflows and solution delivery

Prototype and contribute to the development of agentic AI applications leveraging AWS AgentCore and generative AI solutions that advance the team's fraud strategy capabilities

Collaborate with fraud technology teams to ensure models, rules, and AI-driven outputs are implemented accurately and monitored effectively within the AWS production environment

Design, build, and validate machine learning and statistical models to enhance fraud detection capabilities, improve precision and recall, and reduce false positive rates

Monitor deployed models and fraud rules on an ongoing basis, identifying performance degradation or emerging detection gaps that require intervention

Communicate findings, model results, and strategic recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Stay current with emerging trends in fraud typologies, financial crime, and AI and machine learning developments within the AWS ecosystem, and bring relevant innovations back to the team

Educational Requirements

University (Degree) Preferred

Work Experience

5+ Years Required; 7+ Years Preferred

Physical Requirements

Physical Requirements: Sedentary Work

Career Level

8IC

Required Skills:

5+ years of hands-on experience in data science, analytics, or a closely related quantitative discipline

Strong proficiency in Python or R for statistical analysis and model development

Solid command of SQL and experience working with large-scale structured and unstructured datasets

Demonstrated expertise in statistical modeling and machine learning techniques including classification, regression, clustering, and anomaly detection

Ability to manage relationships across multiple stakeholder groups including operations and technology teams

Proven ability to learn new domains, tools, and methodologies quickly and independently

Solid understanding of model evaluation metrics for imbalanced classification problems (e.g., precision, recall, AUC, F1)

Preferred Skills:

Familiarity with Model Risk Management frameworks and model documentation standards in a regulated financial services environment is a plus

Familiarity with agentic AI frameworks with exposure to AWS AgentCore being a strong advantage

Experience in financial services, fraud detection, or financial crime analytics is a strong plus

Experience with AI-assisted development tools such as Amazon Q and Kiro is a plus

Related Skills

Business Acumen, Data Preprocessing, Data Science, Innovation, Machine Learning (ML), Market/Industry Dynamics, Predictive Modeling, Programming, Statistics

Anticipated Posting End Date:

2026-07-30

Base Pay Range: $118,000/yr - $149,000/yr

Actual base salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, time in role, base salary of internal peers, prior performance, business sector, and geographic location. In addition to base salary, the competitive compensation package may include, depending on the role, participation in an incentive program linked to performance (for example, annual discretionary incentive programs, non-annual sales incentive plans, or other non-annual incentive plans).

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Company Overview

Every worker deserves a secure retirement. For more than 100 years, TIAA has delivered it for millions of people. Founded to help educators retire with dignity, today weʼre a market-leading retirement company fueled by world-class asset management. But weʼre not just another legacy financial services firm. Weʼre fighting harder than ever before for our clients and the many Americans who need us.

Our Culture of Impact

At TIAA, we're on a mission to build on our 100+ year legacy of delivering for our clients while evolving to meet tomorrow's challenges. We equip our associates with future-focused skills and AI tools that enable us to advance our mission. Together, we are fighting to ensure a more secure financial future for all and for generations to come. We are guided by our values: Champion Our People, Be Client Obsessed, Lead with Integrity, Own It, and Win As One. They influence every decision we make and how we work together to serve our clients every day. We thrive in a collaborative in-office environment where teams work across organizational boundaries with shared purpose, accelerating innovation and delivering meaningful results. Our workplace brings together TIAA and Nuveen's entrepreneurial spirit, where we work hard and work together to create lasting impact. Here, every associate can grow through meaningful learning experiences and development pathways - because when our people succeed, our impact on clients' lives grows stronger.

Benefits and Total Rewards

The organization is committed to making financial well-being possible for its clients, and is equally committed to the well-being of our associates. That’s why we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package designed to make a positive difference in the lives of our associates and their loved ones. Our benefits include a superior retirement program and highly competitive health, wellness and work life offerings that can help you achieve and maintain your best possible physical, emotional and financial well-being. To learn more about your benefits, please review our Benefits Summary .

Equal Opportunity

Accessibility Support

If you are a U.S. applicant and desire a reasonable accommodation to complete a job application please use one of the below options to contact our accessibility support team:

Phone: (800) 842-2755

Email: accessibility.support@tiaa.org

Drug and Smoking Policy

TIAA maintains a drug-free and smoke/free workplace.