AML Data Scientist

Job Title: Contract Data Scientist – Financial Crimes (AML/BSA) Location: Remote (U.S.) – Based near Richmond, VA Hub Job Type: Contract (6-12+ months) Rate: Competitive

🛡️ Protect the Financial System: Join the Fight Against Financial Crime

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Contract Data Scientist to join our Financial Crimes Compliance team. In this critical role, you will be on the front lines of protecting our institution and the broader financial system from money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit activities.

This is a fully remote contract position, ideally for a candidate based in or near the Richmond, VA area to align with our major financial operations hub.

You won't just be running queries; you'll be developing the intelligent systems that detect and stop bad actors. We're looking for an innovator who can leverage cutting-edge machine learning and data analysis to stay one step ahead of sophisticated criminal networks.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop & Tune Detection Models: Design, build, and deploy sophisticated machine learning models (using Python, R, and SQL) to enhance our Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) transaction monitoring systems.
• Identify Emerging Threats: Proactively analyze complex data sets to uncover hidden patterns, new typologies, and emerging threats related to synthetic identities, crypto-laundering, and trade-based money laundering.
• Optimize Alerting: Conduct statistical analysis and A/B testing to tune and optimize detection scenarios, significantly reducing false positives and increasing the efficiency of our investigations team.
• Create Actionable Insights: Use data visualization tools (like Tableau or Power BI) to translate complex model outputs and analytical findings into clear, actionable reports and dashboards for compliance leadership and regulators.
• Collaborate & Innovate: Partner closely with AML investigators, engineers, and product managers to understand investigative needs and integrate next-generation data science solutions (like network analysis and NLP) into our compliance framework.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications:

• 3-5+ years of hands-on experience in a data science role, preferably within the financial services, FinTech, or RegTech sectors.
• Proven expertise in AML, BSA, or financial crimes compliance. You must understand the why behind the data (e.g., KYC, SARs, transaction monitoring, OFAC sanctions).
• Strong technical proficiency in:
• Python (specifically Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow/PyTorch)
• SQL (advanced skills in querying large, complex datasets)
• Demonstrable experience in developing and deploying machine learning models (e.g., classification, anomaly detection, clustering, network analysis).
• Experience with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI, or similar) to communicate findings.

Preferred "Nice-to-Have" Skills:

• Direct experience with AML software like Actimize, Mantas, or Verafin.
• Experience with big data technologies (Spark, Hadoop ecosystem).
• Knowledge of Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) and their application in compliance.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• A CAMS, CFE, or related certification is a strong plus.

Why This Role?

• High-Impact Work: Your models will have a direct, measurable impact on stopping real-world financial crime.
• Cutting-Edge Tech: This isn't a legacy maintenance role. You will be encouraged to explore and implement the latest in AI and ML to solve complex problems.
• Flexibility: Enjoy the stability of a long-term contract with the flexibility of a fully remote position.
• Hub-Connected: While remote, you'll be aligned with our major Richmond, VA, tech and finance center, offering strong internal networking and support.

If you are a data-driven problem solver with a passion for justice and a talent for taming complex data, we want to hear from you.