--- title: 'Lead Data Scientist at Pagaya Israel' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/lead-data-scientist-pagaya-israel-tel-aviv-1yt6xy6at9fj' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-08' --- # Lead Data Scientist at Pagaya Israel - **Company:** Pagaya Israel - **Location:** Tel Aviv, Israel - **Posted:** 2026-11-02 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-08 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/pagayais/jobs/8156624003 ## Job description ## About Pagaya Pagaya is a global technology company making life-changing financial products and services available to more people nationwide, as it reshapes the financial services ecosystem. By using machine learning, a vast data network and a sophisticated AI-driven approach, Pagaya provides comprehensive consumer credit and residential real estate solutions for its partners, their customers, and investors. Its proprietary API and capital solutions integrate into its network of partners to deliver seamless user experiences and greater access to the mainstream economy. Pagaya has offices in New York and Tel Aviv. For more information, visit [pagaya.com](http://pagaya.com/). ## About the Role Help shape the next generation of auto lending. As a Lead Data Scientist, you’ll own strategic, hands-on research that improves credit decisions, loan offers and portfolio performance—and mentor researchers across the department. You’ll develop models and optimization algorithms that help lenders compete, find financing structures borrowers can close, and deliver compelling offers in the dealership marketplace. You’ll also help build AI-powered research agents that accelerate experimentation and dis ## Key Responsibilities - Advance credit models: Build and deploy predictive models using credit bureau, alternative and vehicle data. - Optimize loan offers: Balance pricing, terms, down payments, conversion and portfolio risk. - Improve underwriting: Evaluate data providers and develop models for fraud detection, income verification and reduced manual review. - Accelerate research with AI: Develop research agents for data exploration, experimentation and model diagnostics. - Lead research into production: Mentor data scientists, guide technical reviews and measure model impact after deployment. ## Requirements - 8+ years of hands-on machine learning experience, particularly predictive modeling with tabular data. - B.Sc, M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Physics or a related quantitative field. - Strong Python and data science skills, deep foundations in applied statistics, and experience in mathematical optimization. - A track record of translating research into production systems and measurable business results. - Strong communication, collaboration and mentoring skills, with an independent, curious approach to problem-solving. An Advantage - Experience in consumer credit or auto lending, fraud and verification, alternative data evaluation, AI agents, model explainability or fair lending. ## Our Team Pagaya was founded in 2016 by seasoned research, finance, and technology entrepreneurs, and we are now 500+ strong in New York, Los Angeles, and Tel Aviv. We move fast and smart, identifying new opportunities and building end-to-end solutions from AI models and unique data sources. Every Pagaya team member is solving new and exciting challenges every day in a culture based on partnership, collaboration, and community. Join a team of builders who are working every day to enable better outcomes for our partners and their customers. ## Our Values Our values are at the heart of everything we do. We believe great solutions are built through a great community. - Advance Inclusion- We create a world where everyone can win, designing systems that better represent people and generate sustainable value for our employees, partners and investors. - Be Accountable Together- We proudly own our actions and our results, taking initiative to ensure our work gets over the finish line as a team. - Continuously Learn- We challenge ourselves for the sake of getting better as individuals, as teams, and as an organization to deliver for our partners. - Debate and Commit- We respectfully and openly debate to strengthen our ideas and build shared conviction - once we decide, we go all in, together. - Dream Big and Act- We boldly tackle complex problems, pressure-test solutions in real-time, and adapt with speed and energy. More than just a job We believe health, happiness, and productivity go hand-in-hand. That's why we're continually looking to enhance the ways we support you with benefits programs and perks that allow every Pagayan to do the best work of their life. Pagaya is an equal opportunity employer. Pagaya is encouraging diversity and actively seeking applicants from all backgrounds, as are committed to creating a diverse workforce together with an inclusive environment for all. Employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, skills, and business needs. https://pagaya.com/privacy-policy ## About Pagaya Israel ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Pagaya is an AI-powered lending network that enables financial institutions to approve more customers by using machine learning to evaluate and fund loans through a marketplace of institutional investors. - **Entity Type**: Public (NASDAQ: PGY) - **Headquarters**: Global headquarters at 335 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017; major R&D and operations hub in Tel Aviv, Israel (Azrieli Sarona Bldg, 54th Floor) - **Founded**: 2016 - **Founders**: Not publicly listed in available materials; the company was founded by seasoned research, finance, and technology entrepreneurs. ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Consumer credit and lending technology (fintech) - **Target customers**: B2B – financial institutions (banks, credit unions, fintech lenders) and institutional investors - **Mission**: “Deliver more financial opportunity to more people, more often” by becoming the trusted lending technology partner for the consumer finance ecosystem. ## Products & Services - **Decline Monetization**: Flagship product that automatically routes rejected loan applications to Pagaya’s network for a “second look,” enabling partners to approve customers they would otherwise decline without taking on additional credit risk. - **Dual Look**: A product that evaluates applications both before and after a partner’s initial decision, increasing approval rates. - **Auto Loans & Point-of-Sale (POS) Financing**: Expanded offerings that integrate via API to provide real-time credit decisions at the point of sale or during auto purchasing. - **Single-Family Rental (SFR)**: A residential real estate solution that uses Pagaya’s AI to facilitate financing for single-family rental properties. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed in provided sources (publicly traded; market cap varies with stock price – check Nasdaq for current figure). - **Key Metric**: Processed over $3.6 trillion in loan applications across consumer credit asset classes since inception (as of 2025 10-K); 518 employees as of December 31, 2025. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Over 30 lending partners and 30+ institutional investors (per pagaya.com); the company’s network connects financial institutions with capital providers. - **Growth Signals**: Expansion from personal loans into auto loans, point-of-sale financing, and single-family rental; headquarters relocated to New York in early 2024; continuous hiring across R&D, data science, and partnerships in Tel Aviv. ## Competitive Advantages - **AI & Data Moat**: Proprietary machine learning models trained on trillions of dollars in loan applications, creating a powerful flywheel – more data improves accuracy, which attracts more partners and investors. - **Seamless API Integration**: Low-latency, zero-latency integration with partner origination systems requiring minimal upfront investment. - **Compliance-Ready**: Fully aligned with U.S. fair lending, data security, and risk management regulations. - **Network Effects**: The combination of high application volume and real-time data flow enables rapid adaptation to market conditions and consumer trends. ## Strategic Focus - Expand product suite across additional asset classes (e.g., further penetration in auto and SFR). - Deepen relationships with existing partners and onboard new financial institutions. - Maintain capital efficiency by effectively managing risk and matching loans with institutional investors. - Continue investing in AI, data science, and engineering talent, particularly in the Tel Aviv R&D center. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Described as “a team of curious builders” with a “move fast and smart” ethos; emphasis on partnership, collaboration, and community. - **Work Environment**: Tel Aviv office is a major hub for engineering, data science, research, and product roles; hybrid/office policy not explicitly stated but many roles are listed as Tel Aviv-based. - **Growth Trajectory**: Public company with rapid expansion across asset classes and geographies; employees get exposure to cutting-edge AI/ML work applied to real-world financial systems. - **Team**: Over 500 “Pagayans” globally; flat, entrepreneurial culture where every team member is solving new challenges. - **Notable Perks**: Not detailed in provided sources, but competitive compensation and benefits are highlighted as part of the company’s ability to retain talent. ## Sources 1. [Greenhouse.io - Pagaya Israel Jobs](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/pagayais) 2. [Pagaya Careers Page](https://pagaya.com/careers/) 3. [Pagaya Homepage](https://pagaya.com/) 4. [Pagaya Investor Relations - 2025 10-K](https://investor.pagaya.com/static-files/60531c69-7058-4b12-9f29-72cf0ffe7a4f) 5. [Greenhouse.io - Senior Data Scientist Job Posting](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/pagayais/jobs/7720945003) ## Other roles at Pagaya Israel - [DevOps Engineer- Avon.AI](https://feeny.ai/job/devops-engineer-avon-ai-pagaya-israel-tel-aviv-7q6hd6fzka9t) — Tel Aviv, Israel - [AI Senior Backend Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/ai-senior-backend-engineer-pagaya-israel-tel-aviv-n3zftfde9pq4) — Tel Aviv, Israel - [BI Team Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/bi-team-lead-pagaya-israel-tel-aviv-trrthdh7sqbm) — Tel Aviv, Israel - [HR Business Partner (HRBP)](https://feeny.ai/job/hr-business-partner-hrbp-pagaya-israel-tel-aviv-rnfyefkqneb5) — Tel Aviv, Israel - [Lead Data Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-data-scientist-pagaya-israel-tel-aviv-73vahpaenqgf) — Tel Aviv, Israel - [Senior Product Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-product-manager-pagaya-israel-tel-aviv-dhbq9x5rjwqw) — Tel Aviv, Israel - [Senior Data Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-data-scientist-pagaya-israel-tel-aviv-qj9agdvm0nb5) — Tel Aviv, Israel - [Data Science Group Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/data-science-group-lead-pagaya-israel-tel-aviv-a3mwed7pnn0e) — Tel Aviv, Israel - [Lead Data Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-data-scientist-faculty-london-a2b7x2mc60dg) — London, United Kingdom - [Lead Data Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-data-scientist-faculty-london-e1bj3z57szdy) — London, United Kingdom