Data Science Lead Jobs at Affirm with Visa Sponsorship
Affirm hires Data Science Leads to drive credit risk modeling, fraud detection, and buy-now-pay-later analytics at scale. The company has a consistent track record of sponsoring work visas for this function, supporting candidates through H-1B, OPT, and permanent residence pathways.
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INTRODUCTION
Affirm is reinventing credit to make it more honest and friendly, giving consumers the flexibility to buy now and pay later without any hidden fees or compounding interest.
The Fraud Machine Learning team builds models that power critical decisions during the loan application process, protecting Affirm and its customers from fraud while maintaining a seamless user experience. As a manager, you will lead a team of ML engineers developing and improving models that detect and prevent abuse in a rapidly evolving, adversarial environment.
In this role, you will define the technical and modeling strategy for fraud detection, guiding the team across the full machine learning lifecycle from feature development and experimentation to production deployment and monitoring. You will partner closely with Product, Fraud Analytics, Risk, and Platform teams to ensure high-quality models are effectively integrated into decisioning systems. You will also help drive the evolution of modeling approaches at Affirm, including the adoption of representation learning and transformer-based techniques to better capture complex behavioral patterns.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Set the technical and modeling strategy for fraud detection, aligning team efforts with key business outcomes such as fraud loss reduction, approval rates, and customer experience
- Lead a team of machine learning engineers to design, build, and iterate on high-impact fraud models across the full ML lifecycle, from experimentation to production
- Drive the evolution of modeling approaches, including the adoption of representation learning, transformer-based methods, and other advanced techniques for modeling complex behavioral data
- Partner cross-functionally with Product, Fraud Analytics, Risk, and Engineering to define solutions, evaluate trade-offs, and ensure models are effectively integrated into decisioning systems
- Develop talent by coaching engineers, providing feedback, and fostering a high-performing team culture grounded in technical excellence and ownership
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What we look for
- Bachelor's in a technical field with 8+ years of industry experience, including 3+ years managing engineers
- Experience with modern ML approaches, including representation learning, deep learning, or transformer-based models, as well as traditional methods such as gradient-boosted trees
- Proven ability to lead teams delivering end-to-end ML solutions in production environments, including experimentation, evaluation, and model iteration in production
- Strong engineering fundamentals and experience working with scalable systems and data pipelines
- Track record of effective cross-functional collaboration with product, analytics, and engineering partners
- Ability to operate in ambiguous, fast-evolving environments and drive clarity, prioritization, and execution
- This position requires either equivalent practical experience or a Bachelor's degree in a related field.
COMPENSATION
Pay Grade - P
Equity Grade - 13
Employees new to Affirm typically come in at the start of the pay range. Affirm focuses on providing a simple and transparent pay structure which is based on a variety of factors, including location, experience and job-related skills.
Base pay is part of a total compensation package that may include equity rewards, monthly stipends for health, wellness and tech spending, and benefits (including 100% subsidized medical coverage, dental and vision for you and your dependents.)
USA base pay range (CA, WA, NY, NJ, CT) per year: $225,000 - $275,000
USA base pay range (all other U.S. states) per year: $200,000 - $250,000
LOCATION
LI-Remote
Affirm is proud to be a remote-first company! The majority of our roles are remote and you can work almost anywhere within the country of employment. Affirmers in proximal roles have the flexibility to work remotely, but will occasionally be required to work out of their assigned Affirm office. A limited number of roles remain office-based due to the nature of their job responsibilities.
We're extremely proud to offer competitive benefits that are anchored to our core value of people come first. Some key highlights of our benefits package include:
- Health care coverage - Affirm covers all premiums for all levels of coverage for you and your dependents
- Flexible Spending Wallets - generous stipends for spending on Technology, Food, various Lifestyle needs, and family forming expenses
- Time off - competitive vacation and holiday schedules allowing you to take time off to rest and recharge
- ESPP - An employee stock purchase plan enabling you to buy shares of Affirm at a discount
We believe It's On Us to provide an inclusive interview experience for all, including people with disabilities. We are happy to provide reasonable accommodations to candidates in need of individualized support during the hiring process.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Affirm will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
By clicking "Submit Application," you acknowledge that you have read Affirm's Global Candidate Privacy Notice and hereby freely and unambiguously give informed consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of your personal information as described therein.

INTRODUCTION
Affirm is reinventing credit to make it more honest and friendly, giving consumers the flexibility to buy now and pay later without any hidden fees or compounding interest.
The Fraud Machine Learning team builds models that power critical decisions during the loan application process, protecting Affirm and its customers from fraud while maintaining a seamless user experience. As a manager, you will lead a team of ML engineers developing and improving models that detect and prevent abuse in a rapidly evolving, adversarial environment.
In this role, you will define the technical and modeling strategy for fraud detection, guiding the team across the full machine learning lifecycle from feature development and experimentation to production deployment and monitoring. You will partner closely with Product, Fraud Analytics, Risk, and Platform teams to ensure high-quality models are effectively integrated into decisioning systems. You will also help drive the evolution of modeling approaches at Affirm, including the adoption of representation learning and transformer-based techniques to better capture complex behavioral patterns.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Set the technical and modeling strategy for fraud detection, aligning team efforts with key business outcomes such as fraud loss reduction, approval rates, and customer experience
- Lead a team of machine learning engineers to design, build, and iterate on high-impact fraud models across the full ML lifecycle, from experimentation to production
- Drive the evolution of modeling approaches, including the adoption of representation learning, transformer-based methods, and other advanced techniques for modeling complex behavioral data
- Partner cross-functionally with Product, Fraud Analytics, Risk, and Engineering to define solutions, evaluate trade-offs, and ensure models are effectively integrated into decisioning systems
- Develop talent by coaching engineers, providing feedback, and fostering a high-performing team culture grounded in technical excellence and ownership
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What we look for
- Bachelor's in a technical field with 8+ years of industry experience, including 3+ years managing engineers
- Experience with modern ML approaches, including representation learning, deep learning, or transformer-based models, as well as traditional methods such as gradient-boosted trees
- Proven ability to lead teams delivering end-to-end ML solutions in production environments, including experimentation, evaluation, and model iteration in production
- Strong engineering fundamentals and experience working with scalable systems and data pipelines
- Track record of effective cross-functional collaboration with product, analytics, and engineering partners
- Ability to operate in ambiguous, fast-evolving environments and drive clarity, prioritization, and execution
- This position requires either equivalent practical experience or a Bachelor's degree in a related field.
COMPENSATION
Pay Grade - P
Equity Grade - 13
Employees new to Affirm typically come in at the start of the pay range. Affirm focuses on providing a simple and transparent pay structure which is based on a variety of factors, including location, experience and job-related skills.
Base pay is part of a total compensation package that may include equity rewards, monthly stipends for health, wellness and tech spending, and benefits (including 100% subsidized medical coverage, dental and vision for you and your dependents.)
USA base pay range (CA, WA, NY, NJ, CT) per year: $225,000 - $275,000
USA base pay range (all other U.S. states) per year: $200,000 - $250,000
LOCATION
LI-Remote
Affirm is proud to be a remote-first company! The majority of our roles are remote and you can work almost anywhere within the country of employment. Affirmers in proximal roles have the flexibility to work remotely, but will occasionally be required to work out of their assigned Affirm office. A limited number of roles remain office-based due to the nature of their job responsibilities.
We're extremely proud to offer competitive benefits that are anchored to our core value of people come first. Some key highlights of our benefits package include:
- Health care coverage - Affirm covers all premiums for all levels of coverage for you and your dependents
- Flexible Spending Wallets - generous stipends for spending on Technology, Food, various Lifestyle needs, and family forming expenses
- Time off - competitive vacation and holiday schedules allowing you to take time off to rest and recharge
- ESPP - An employee stock purchase plan enabling you to buy shares of Affirm at a discount
We believe It's On Us to provide an inclusive interview experience for all, including people with disabilities. We are happy to provide reasonable accommodations to candidates in need of individualized support during the hiring process.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Affirm will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
By clicking "Submit Application," you acknowledge that you have read Affirm's Global Candidate Privacy Notice and hereby freely and unambiguously give informed consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of your personal information as described therein.
See all 199+ Data Science Lead at Affirm jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Data Science Lead Jobs at Affirm Jobs
Frame your portfolio around financial ML
Affirm evaluates Data Science Leads on applied modeling in credit risk, loss forecasting, or payment fraud. Projects demonstrating production-scale ML in regulated financial contexts will resonate more than general data science work.
Target roles that explicitly list LCA occupations
Search DOL's OFLC disclosure database for Affirm's Labor Condition Applications. Roles filed under 'Data Scientist' or 'Research Scientist' SOC codes signal active sponsorship pipelines and give you a clearer picture of which teams are hiring internationally.
Browse open Data Science Lead roles on Migrate Mate
Filter by Affirm and sponsorship type to surface roles actively open to visa candidates. Migrate Mate aggregates verified sponsoring employers, so you're not guessing which postings will support your status.
Align your OPT start date with Affirm's hiring cycle
Affirm's engineering and data hiring tends to ramp in Q1 and Q3. If you're on F-1 OPT, timing your application so your 12-month authorization covers your first year reduces filing urgency and gives your employer more runway before an H-1B petition is needed.
Prepare for specialty occupation documentation early
USCIS scrutinizes Data Science Lead petitions closely in fintech. Collect transcripts, published work, and employer letters that tie your specific degree field to the role's technical requirements before your hiring manager submits the I-129.
Data Science Lead at Affirm jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Data Science Lead at Affirm JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does Affirm sponsor H-1B visas for Data Science Leads?
Yes, Affirm sponsors H-1B visas for Data Science Lead roles. The company files Labor Condition Applications with the DOL and submits I-129 petitions through USCIS for qualifying candidates. Because H-1B cap-subject slots are limited by the annual lottery, candidates already on an H-1B with a prior employer can transfer to Affirm without re-entering the lottery, which makes them especially attractive hires.
How do I apply for Data Science Lead jobs at Affirm?
Apply directly through Affirm's careers page, filtering for data science or analytics roles. You can also use Migrate Mate to browse Data Science Lead openings at Affirm filtered by visa sponsorship type, which helps you identify postings that explicitly support your status before you invest time in the application process.
Which visa types does Affirm commonly use for Data Science Lead hires?
Affirm sponsors H-1B visas most commonly for Data Science Leads, and also supports F-1 OPT and CPT for candidates still in or recently completing graduate programs. For candidates seeking permanent residence, Affirm has supported EB-2 and EB-3 PERM pathways. TN visas are an option for Canadian and Mexican nationals whose role qualifies under USMCA occupational categories.
What qualifications does Affirm expect for a Data Science Lead?
Affirm typically looks for a graduate degree in statistics, computer science, or a quantitative field, along with hands-on experience building and deploying ML models in a production environment. For lead-level roles, experience in credit risk modeling, fraud detection, or financial forecasting carries particular weight given Affirm's core business in consumer lending and payment products.
How do I think about timing if I need Affirm to sponsor my H-1B?
USCIS opens H-1B registration each March for an October 1 start date. If you're hired outside that window, Affirm can file for a cap-exempt extension if you're already on an approved H-1B, or keep you on OPT in the interim. Starting conversations with your recruiter about sponsorship at the offer stage, not after signing, gives HR enough lead time to coordinate with their immigration counsel.
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