Senior Director, Data Science (Generative AI) - Capital One Auto Finance

Senior Director, Data Science (Generative AI) - Capital One Auto Finance
At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning and data science to create real-time, personalized customer experiences. Our investments in technology infrastructure and world-class talent - along with our deep experience in machine learning and data science - position us to be at the forefront of enterprises leveraging AI. From informing customers about unusual charges to answering their questions in real time, our applications of AI & ML are bringing humanity and simplicity to banking. We are committed to continuing to build world-class applied science and engineering teams to deliver our industry leading capabilities with breakthrough product experiences and scalable, high-performance AI infrastructure. At Capital One, you will help bring the transformative power of emerging AI capabilities to reimagine how we serve our customers and businesses who have come to love the products and services we build.
Capital One Auto Finance is embarking on a transformative journey, seeking a highly experienced and visionary Sr. Director of Data Science to spearhead our Generative AI initiatives. This pivotal role will be instrumental in driving the research, training, and application of Generative AI technologies across our entire auto finance operations.
The successful candidate will be a trailblazer, deeply immersed in the evolving landscape of AI and possessing a proven track record of innovation. They will be responsible for defining the Generative AI roadmap, identifying key areas for implementation, and ensuring the ethical and responsible deployment of these powerful technologies. This role demands a leader who can not only navigate complex technical challenges but also articulate a compelling vision for how Generative AI can reshape our business, from enhancing customer experiences to optimizing internal processes.
Collaboration will be a cornerstone of this role. The candidate will work extensively with a diverse and talented team, including Machine Learning Engineers, Software Engineers, and AI Researchers. This interdisciplinary approach will be crucial for accelerating our AI journey, fostering both the rapid development of talent within the organization and the generation of significant, tangible value for Capital One Auto Finance. The ideal candidate will be adept at fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and cross-functional synergy, empowering teams to push the boundaries of what's possible with Generative AI.
In this role, you will:

• Generative AI Strategy & Research: Define and execute the strategic roadmap for Generative AI research and development within Capital One Auto Finance. Lead the exploration and evaluation of cutting-edge Generative AI models, techniques, and tools. Drive innovative research efforts to develop novel Generative AI solutions.
• Model Development & Training: Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of Generative AI model development, including data preparation, model architecture design, training, and fine-tuning. Implement robust methodologies for evaluating and validating Generative AI model performance and ethical considerations. Ensure models are trained on high-quality, representative datasets and adhere to data governance policies.
• Application & Integration: Identify and prioritize high-impact use cases for Generative AI across various aspects of auto finance, such as customer experience, risk assessment, fraud detection, and operational efficiency. Collaborate with Machine Learning Engineers and Software Engineers to seamlessly integrate Generative AI solutions into existing platforms and workflows. Drive the adoption and scaling of Generative AI applications to deliver measurable business value.
• Collaboration & Leadership: Foster strong partnerships with cross-functional teams, including Machine Learning Engineering, Software Engineering, AI Research, Product, and Business Operations. Mentor and develop a high-performing team of Data Scientists, providing technical guidance and career development opportunities. Champion the ethical and responsible use of AI within the organization, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and internal policies. Represent Capital One Auto Finance in external AI communities, conferences, and partnerships.

Basic Qualifications:

• Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining one of the following with an expectation that the required degree will be obtained on or before the scheduled start date :
  
  • A Bachelor's Degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) plus 11 years of experience performing data analytics
  • A Master's Degree in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) or an MBA with a quantitative concentration plus 9 years of experience performing data analytics
  • A PHD in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field) plus 6 years of experience performing data analytics
• At least 6 years of experience leveraging open source programming languages for large scale data analysis
• At least 6 years of experience working with machine learning
• At least 6 years of experience utilizing relational databases

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field)
• At least 12 years of experience in data science, machine learning, or artificial intelligence.
• At least 7 years of experience leading and managing data science or AI teams, including experience in a large enterprise environment.
• At least 7 years of specialized experience in GenAI application development.
• At least 7 years of experience in LLM model training, evaluation, and inference optimization.
• At least 7 years of experience deploying scalable and responsible AI solutions on cloud platforms.
• At least 7 years of experience in PyTorch/Tensorflow.

Capital One will consider sponsoring a new qualified applicant for employment authorization for this position.
This role is Hybrid, with associates expected to consistently spend three days per week in the office.
The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.
McLean, VA: $308,700 - $352,300 for Sr Dir, Data Science
Plano, TX: $280,600 - $320,200 for Sr Dir, Data Science
Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate's offer letter.
This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or non discretionary depending on the plan.
Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at the Capital One Careers website . Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level.
This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.
No agencies please. Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace. Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City's Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.
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Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).