Principal Data Scientist

About the role

Mastercard is looking for a Principal Data Scientist to spearhead AI and machine‑learning initiatives for its Ethoca product. The role will shape the data‑science vision, drive advanced model development and ensure solutions scale to reduce chargebacks and improve consumer purchase experiences across a global payments network.

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute the data‑science roadmap, aligning technical work with product strategy and business goals.
• Lead, mentor and grow a high‑performing data‑science team, fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence.
• Design, build and scale AI/ML models—including generative AI, multi‑agent systems, NLP and computer‑vision solutions—that enhance merchant data and transaction clarity.
• Oversee model deployment, monitoring and governance in cloud environments such as Azure, Snowflake and Spark, ensuring accuracy, reliability and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with product, engineering and business stakeholders to translate requirements into data‑driven capabilities that lower dispute rates.
• Drive thought leadership through patents, publications and conference presentations, and incubate prototypes for emerging technologies.

Required profile

• Proven track record leading data‑science teams and delivering AI/ML solutions at scale.
• Strong cross‑functional collaboration skills with product, engineering and business partners.
• Deep understanding of financial services or payments ecosystems and related regulatory constraints.
• Experience guiding projects from research through production in a cloud‑first environment.

Required skills

• Azure cloud platform
• Snowflake data‑warehousing
• Apache Spark
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Generative AI techniques
• Natural Language Processing (NLP)
• Computer Vision