Principal Data Scientist (m/f/d)

About this role

<h2><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>About the Job</strong></span></h2> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">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;</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">We’re looking for a <strong>Principal&nbsp;Data Scientist (m/f/d)</strong> in Credit &amp; Risk Management to take ownership of the Smart Risk engine at the core of one of Europe’s leading B2B mobility and payment platforms.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">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.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">In this role, you will own the Smart Risk 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 that directly shape how credit risk is managed across the platform.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">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;</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>In this role, you’ll:</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Take full ownership of data-driven analyses, independently deriving actionable recommendations to maximise business value</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Develop and apply advanced statistical methods (regression models, time series analyses, ML/AI algorithms) and translate results into clear, compelling business insights</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">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</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Collaborate closely with stakeholders and management</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Own the SmartRisk Engine within Credit &amp; Risk Management: feature strategy, training/retraining, calibration, backtesting, drift monitoring, and explainability via SHAP/Reason Codes</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Build data-driven use cases such as loss databases, early-warning systems, limit/exposure steering, clustering, and portfolio insights</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Develop new cloud-based Data Science solutions, primarily in Python and SQL, to drive measurable business value</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ideally, you bring knowledge in credit risk (e.g., PD, EAD, LGD, rating, IFRS 9/ECL) and experience with SAP and Power BI&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Mentor and guide other Data Scientists, encourage innovative thinking, and actively support the team's professional growth</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Your profile</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">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</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Highly proficient in Python and SQL, independently developing value-adding, cloud-based solutions, including Generative AI use cases such as LLMs, RAG systems, and "talk-to-your-data" interfaces (AI agents or chat interfaces)</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Proven track record building robust end-to-end ML pipelines and maintaining MLOps standards (CI/CD, model registry, monitoring, quality checks)</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Hands-on ownership of risk models such as the SmartRisk Engine (feature strategy, training, calibration, backtesting) and explainability methods like SHAP or Reason Codes</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Domain knowledge in credit risk (PD, EAD, LGD, rating processes, IFRS 9/ECL) and experience with SAP and Power BI is an advantage&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">You communicate clearly, presenting complex analytical results to business units, IT, and management and translating them into actionable results&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Experience mentoring and guiding other Data Scientists is an advantage&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Fluent in German and English (min. C1 Level)</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Please note that this position is <strong>based close to Düsseldorf.</strong> At least three days per week on-site are preferred.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Benefits and Perks:</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Full ownership from day one. You will be the one owning the engine, not