Senior Machine Learning Engineer (Research Scientist) - Fraud

Plaid's Fraud Data team is seeking a Senior Research Scientist to lead applied research developing next-generation fraud detection models across relational graphs, sequential events, images, and video data. You will design rigorous experiments and evaluation methodologies that reflect real-world fraud dynamics, exploring state-of-the-art approaches such as Graph Neural Networks and Transformer-based foundation models. In partnership with Machine Learning Engineers, you will translate promising research into production-ready solutions and communicate findings internally and externally.

• Research and prototype state-of-the-art approaches across graph machine learning, sequential modeling, and multimodal learning to build next-generation fraud detection capabilities.
• Own and execute a research roadmap that translates innovative ideas and prototypes into production solutions with measurable product and customer impact.
• Publish and share applied research while collaborating with a cross-functional team across Data, Product, and Engineering.
• Leverage Plaid's network-level financial data to uncover insights and develop solutions that help hundreds of millions of consumers achieve greater financial freedom.

• PhD in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or a closely related field strongly preferred. Candidates without a PhD may be considered with equivalent research experience, such as significant publications, patents, or widely adopted research contributions.
• 2–4+ years of relevant industry or research lab experience, ideally post-PhD, with demonstrated research leadership and a track record of translating innovative research into measurable product or business impact.
• Demonstrated scientific rigor, with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong proficiency in Python and experience building high-quality research prototypes that can inform or transition into production systems.

• Experience in fraud detection, security, risk, or abuse prevention.
• Experience with large-scale training, graph systems, and sequential modeling.

Salary range: $228,960 – $315,360 USD. Additional compensation in the form of equity and/or commission may be offered. Plaid provides a comprehensive benefit plan, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).