STEM OPT Analytics Lead Jobs
Analytics Lead roles sit squarely in STEM-designated job territory, making them a strong fit for F-1 students on the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and file an I-983 training plan. STEM degrees in statistics, computer science, data science, or related fields typically satisfy the CIP code requirements.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
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.
ABOUT ENTERPRISE RISK & INTERNAL AUDIT
The Enterprise Risk & Internal Audit department protects Affirm's operations and long-term success. We identify, assess, and monitor risk across the business. Our work includes internal audits, regulatory assurance, fraud prevention, and crisis planning. The team maintains strong controls, tracks key risk indicators, and ensures readiness for external reviews. We uphold accountability, transparency, and resilience to support responsible growth.
ABOUT THE TEAM
We're looking for an intelligent, driven professional to join our Model Risk Management (MRM) team. This team seeks to establish, maintain and oversee an effective MRM framework to identify, quantify, monitor, mitigate and report on model risk throughout the company. You will have an outstanding opportunity to work cross-functionally to develop a profound understanding of models that drive critical business decisions, and add value to the company by mitigating risks due to ineffective model design or model misuse.
- Perform independent challenges of machine learning models used for credit underwriting, credit risk, and/or fraud detection through thorough validation and ongoing monitoring
- Identify model weaknesses and opportunities for improvement
- Collaborate with model owners to remediate model validation findings
- Partner cross-functionally to implement and maintain the company's MRM framework
- Partner with Internal Audit, Internal Controls, and Compliance to ensure timely resolution of audit and regulatory requests
WHAT WE LOOK FOR
- 4-6 years of professional experience in related technical areas such as model development, model validation, data science
- Deep and broad knowledge and experience in machine learning modeling, credit underwriting, credit risk management, and/or fraud detection and fraud risk management
- Proven ability to work with script languages (e.g., Python) and large-scale dataset (e.g., SQL)
- Extensive experience with machine learning platforms and frameworks (e.g., scikit-learn, pyspark) and cloud-based coding environments and databases
- BS, MS, or PhD in a quantitative field such as Math, Data Science, Computer Science
- Oriented toward detail, curious about data/models/algorithms, skilled at critical thinking and problem solving
- Extraordinary interpersonal and verbal/written communication skills
Pay Grade - M
Equity Grade - 8
COMPENSATION
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: $185,000 - $245,000
USA base pay range (all other U.S. states) per year: $164,000 - $224,000
WORK ARRANGEMENT
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.
BENEFITS
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.
ABOUT ENTERPRISE RISK & INTERNAL AUDIT
The Enterprise Risk & Internal Audit department protects Affirm's operations and long-term success. We identify, assess, and monitor risk across the business. Our work includes internal audits, regulatory assurance, fraud prevention, and crisis planning. The team maintains strong controls, tracks key risk indicators, and ensures readiness for external reviews. We uphold accountability, transparency, and resilience to support responsible growth.
ABOUT THE TEAM
We're looking for an intelligent, driven professional to join our Model Risk Management (MRM) team. This team seeks to establish, maintain and oversee an effective MRM framework to identify, quantify, monitor, mitigate and report on model risk throughout the company. You will have an outstanding opportunity to work cross-functionally to develop a profound understanding of models that drive critical business decisions, and add value to the company by mitigating risks due to ineffective model design or model misuse.
- Perform independent challenges of machine learning models used for credit underwriting, credit risk, and/or fraud detection through thorough validation and ongoing monitoring
- Identify model weaknesses and opportunities for improvement
- Collaborate with model owners to remediate model validation findings
- Partner cross-functionally to implement and maintain the company's MRM framework
- Partner with Internal Audit, Internal Controls, and Compliance to ensure timely resolution of audit and regulatory requests
WHAT WE LOOK FOR
- 4-6 years of professional experience in related technical areas such as model development, model validation, data science
- Deep and broad knowledge and experience in machine learning modeling, credit underwriting, credit risk management, and/or fraud detection and fraud risk management
- Proven ability to work with script languages (e.g., Python) and large-scale dataset (e.g., SQL)
- Extensive experience with machine learning platforms and frameworks (e.g., scikit-learn, pyspark) and cloud-based coding environments and databases
- BS, MS, or PhD in a quantitative field such as Math, Data Science, Computer Science
- Oriented toward detail, curious about data/models/algorithms, skilled at critical thinking and problem solving
- Extraordinary interpersonal and verbal/written communication skills
Pay Grade - M
Equity Grade - 8
COMPENSATION
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: $185,000 - $245,000
USA base pay range (all other U.S. states) per year: $164,000 - $224,000
WORK ARRANGEMENT
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.
BENEFITS
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 73+ STEM OPT Analytics Lead Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Analytics Lead
Verify your CIP code before applying
Pull your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code from your I-20 and cross-reference it against SEVP's STEM-designated program list. Analytics Lead roles commonly map to CIP codes under computer science, statistics, and information science, but your specific degree field must appear on the list.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask your recruiter for the company's E-Verify employer ID number and verify active enrollment through the E-Verify employer search tool. An employer not enrolled in E-Verify cannot legally employ you on STEM OPT, regardless of how far along you are in the hiring process.
File your I-983 training plan before your start date
Your DSO must receive a completed I-983 before USCIS processes your STEM OPT EAD application. For Analytics Lead roles, the training plan should specify the data systems, analytical methodologies, and business intelligence competencies you'll develop, tied directly to your STEM degree field.
Target employers with active LCA filings in analytics
Search Migrate Mate to find employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for analytics and data roles. LCA filing history signals that a company has the HR infrastructure and compliance experience to onboard STEM OPT employees without delays.
Use O*NET to strengthen your specialty occupation case
Look up the Analytics Lead occupation profile on O*NET to document the degree requirements tied to the role. Employers who reference O*NET's job zone classification and typical education requirements when drafting your I-983 produce training plans that hold up under USCIS scrutiny.
Understand cap-gap before your OPT end date
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition before your EAD expires, cap-gap automatically extends your STEM OPT work authorization through September 30 of that year. Confirm with your DSO that your I-20 reflects the cap-gap extension so you don't interrupt employment at your Analytics Lead position.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Analytics Lead role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, provided your degree is in a STEM-designated field and the role requires applying that degree knowledge directly. Analytics Lead positions typically involve statistical modeling, data engineering, or quantitative analysis, which align with STEM CIP codes in computer science, statistics, mathematics, and information systems. Confirm your specific degree's CIP code appears on SEVP's STEM-designated program list before applying.
What must my employer do to hire me on STEM OPT as an Analytics Lead?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign the I-983 training plan alongside you and your DSO. The I-983 must describe the specific analytics skills, tools, and methodologies you'll develop in the role, and how those tie back to your STEM degree. The employer must also conduct a formal performance evaluation at the midpoint and end of your 24-month extension period.
How do I find Analytics Lead employers who are already set up for STEM OPT hires?
Migrate Mate filters job listings to show employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and active LCA filing history in analytics and data roles. Searching there lets you skip the manual E-Verify lookup step and focus on companies that have already demonstrated the compliance infrastructure to hire STEM OPT students without delays or procedural gaps.
What happens to my STEM OPT authorization if my Analytics Lead employer is acquired or restructured?
If your employer undergoes a merger, acquisition, or significant restructuring, USCIS requires you and your DSO to review whether the new legal entity remains enrolled in E-Verify and still qualifies as your STEM OPT employer of record. You may need to update your I-983 training plan to reflect the new organizational structure. Gaps in E-Verify enrollment at the successor company can jeopardize your status.
Can I work as a contract or project-based Analytics Lead on STEM OPT?
Third-party staffing arrangements are permitted only if the staffing agency, not the end client, is your employer of record, is enrolled in E-Verify, and signs your I-983. The training plan must document how the contracting arrangement provides practical training related to your STEM degree. USCIS scrutinizes these setups, so your DSO should review the employment structure before you accept the offer.