Data Scientist, Risk

As a Data Scientist supporting Risk, you will play a crucial role in leveraging experimentation, statistical inference, and causal analysis to drive strategic decision making that contributes to the overall success of our organization. The ideal candidate is a trusted data storyteller with strong statistical and coding skills, and a passion for applying these skills to help small businesses thrive.

In this role you’ll be working with an established team and risk leaders in Engineering, Product, Design, Operation, Identity and Compliance. You’ll define and track metrics that help us understand our business performance, and dive deep into our risk stack data to deliver insights and answer questions. You’ll also integrate AI-assisted practices to accelerate analysis, enhance rigor, and expand the reach of insights across Gusto. This role is an equivalent of Staff-level, with an expectation of owning experimentation and building risk models that will have direct impact on business decisions.

This is a San Francisco-based role with expectations to be in office Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Here’s what you’ll do day-to-day:

• Partner and Execute: Translate ambiguous stakeholder questions into clear, testable analyses. Structure complex business problems, identify drivers of performance, and communicate actionable insights to influence product or business decisions.
• Analytical Depth: Use sound statistical reasoning and experimentation frameworks to separate signal from noise. Select appropriate analytical techniques that balance rigor and speed, and leverage AI-assisted analytics to surface drivers of product performance, separating signal from noise
• Build Models and Leverage AI: use Claude Code to enhance analytical approaches. Build risk models and present recommendations to process and project enhancements
• Experimentation & Measurement: Design and interpret experiments within your domain. Work with stakeholders to define success metrics, measure impact, and communicate trade-offs.
• Communication: Tell clear, data-driven stories that connect findings to business strategy. Adapt communication for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Execution: Own end-to-end delivery of analyses and metrics for your product area. Collaborate with cross-functional peers to scope, prioritize, and deliver insights that inform decisions., Glassdoor Indeed Facebook Built In Colorado News Article Conference or Meetup Company Blog Company Employee Company Website Billboard/Outdoor Ads

Are you legally authorized to work in the country where you are applying?* Select… Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship for employment?* Select…

If you’ll require this employer to commence, i.e., “sponsor,” an immigration or work permit case in order to employ you, either now or at some point in the future, then you should answer yes. An example of an immigration or work permit case that may require sponsorship now or in the future would be an H-1B or other employment-based work permit sponsorship. Are you currently based in San Francisco?* Select… This is a hybrid role based in San Francisco. Gusto’s hybrid work scheduled requires Gusties based in these locations to be in office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and working from home all other days of the week. Please confirm your current long-term location and ability to work in this hybrid schedule (yes/no)* Select… Do you have experience in Risk data science and/or with risk-related modeling?* Select…, In addition to the information required to consider your application, below is a set of demographic questions that help us identify areas for improvement in our process and further support the development and execution of our diversity efforts and programs as well as to create a more inclusive environment for all employees.

• 7-10 years of experience in Data Science at a product-focused software company.
• Experience with Risk DS and risk modeling.
• Strong SQL skills and comfort with Python.
• Proven ability to apply statistical methods, causal inference, and experimental design to real business problems.
• Excellent communication skills, with a track record of influencing cross-functional stakeholders and leadership.
• Demonstrated experience leading technically complex projects with clear business impact.
• A proactive, resilient problem-solver who independently structures ambiguous problems into actionable insights.
• Passion for mentoring others and raising the bar for data science craft across the team.

Our cash compensation amount for this role is targeted at $186,000/yr - $230,000/yr for San Francisco. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed above., You are considered to have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment or medical condition that substantially limits a major life activity, or if you have a history or record of such an impairment or medical condition. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Blindness
• Deafness
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Autism
• Cerebral palsy
• HIV/AIDS
• Schizophrenia
• Muscular dystrophy
• Bipolar disorder
• Major depression
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Impairments requiring the use of a wheelchair
• Intellectual disability

At Gusto, we’re on a mission to grow the small business economy. We handle the hard stuff - payroll, health insurance, 401(k)s, and HR - so owners can focus on their craft and their customers. With teams in Denver, San Francisco, and New York, we support more than 500,000 small businesses nationwide and are building a workplace that reflects the people we serve.

All full-time employees receive competitive base pay, benefits, and equity (RSUs) - because everyone who helps build Gusto should share in its success. Offer amounts are determined by role, level, and location. Learn more about our Total Rewards philosophy.

AI is a fundamental part of how work gets done at Gusto. We expect all team members to actively engage with AI tools relevant to their role and grow their fluency as the technology evolves. AI experience requirements vary by role and will be assessed during the interview process.