Remote Data Scientist and Software Developer

Company: Live Oak Financial, Inc.
Location: Remote — Philippines or Latin America
Schedule: Full-time, with required overlap during U.S. Eastern Time
Engagement: Independent Contractor
Industry: Financial Services, Accounts Receivable Management, and Collections Technology

Position Overview

Live Oak Financial, Inc. is seeking a technically accomplished Data Scientist and Software Developer to help modernize our data, reporting, automation, and systems infrastructure.

This hybrid position combines data science, data engineering, software development, and systems integration. The successful candidate will build reliable data pipelines, develop analytical and predictive models, automate operational processes, integrate third-party platforms, and convert complex business requirements into practical technology solutions.

The ideal candidate is not limited to theoretical analysis. We need a hands-on professional who can investigate inconsistent data, write production-quality code, validate results, document systems, and deliver applications and reporting tools that improve financial visibility, operational performance, and management decision-making.

Key Responsibilities
Data Science and Analytics
Analyze payment, account, customer, campaign, call, client, and collector-performance data.
Develop statistical and predictive models related to payment probability, account prioritization, contact strategy, liquidation, staffing, revenue, cash flow, and operational risk.
Create transparent model documentation, validation procedures, performance monitoring, and retraining standards.
Identify trends, anomalies, data-quality failures, and potential reporting discrepancies.
Design management dashboards, scorecards, forecasts, and exception reports.
Translate analytical findings into clear operational and executive recommendations.
Conduct controlled testing to evaluate campaigns, workflows, contact strategies, and operational changes.
Ensure that analytical conclusions are supported by validated and reproducible data.
Software Development
Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain internal applications, scripts, APIs, and automation tools.
Build secure integrations between collection platforms, Salesforce, financial systems, payment processors, telephony systems, email platforms, and other business applications.
Automate recurring data imports, exports, transformations, reconciliations, and reporting processes.
Develop user-friendly internal tools that reduce manual work and improve accuracy.
Diagnose and correct application, API, database, and integration failures.
Maintain source control, development documentation, change logs, and release procedures.
Improve existing code for reliability, maintainability, security, and performance.
Data Engineering and Database Management
Build and maintain reliable ETL and ELT pipelines.
Consolidate information from APIs, SFTP files, CSVs, spreadsheets, databases, and third-party platforms.
Design normalized and analytical database structures.
Develop automated data-quality tests, reconciliation controls, and exception alerts.
Maintain clear definitions for operational and financial metrics.
Ensure that reporting data can be traced back to its original source.
Support data migration, mapping, validation, deduplication, and archival projects.
Implement appropriate logging, monitoring, backup, and recovery procedures.
Security and Compliance
Protect confidential consumer, financial, healthcare, employee, and client information.
Follow company requirements relating to HIPAA, data privacy, access control, credential management, and secure software development.
Apply least-privilege access principles and avoid exposing sensitive information in code, logs, test environments, or documentation.
Use de-identified or synthetic information whenever production data is unnecessary.
Promptly report suspected security i ---------- , data discrepancies, unauthorized access, or control failures.
Participate in technical reviews, audits, and remediation activities as required.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience in computer science, data science, statistics, mathematics, engineering, information systems, or a related discipline.
At least three years of relevant experience in data science, software development, data engineering, business intelligence, or a comparable technical position.
Advanced proficiency in Python.
Strong SQL and relational database skills.
Experience developing and consuming REST APIs.
Experience with data cleaning, transformation, validation, and reconciliation.
Working knowledge of statistical modeling, machine learning, forecasting, and model evaluation.
Experience with Git and structured source-control practices.
Ability to convert business requirements into reliable technical solutions.
Strong analytical judgment, troubleshooting ability, and attention to detail.
Clear written and spoken English.
Ability to work independently while communicating progress, risks, assumptions, and dependencies.
Availability for scheduled collaboration during U.S. Eastern Time.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in financial services, accounts receivable, collection agencies, healthcare revenue cycle, payments, or call-center operations.
Experience with Microsoft Azure, AWS, or another cloud platform.
Experience with PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, or comparable databases.
Familiarity with Power BI, Tableau, Looker, or similar visualization tools.
Experience with Salesforce, QuickBooks, payment platforms, telephony APIs, SendGrid, SFTP, or collection-management systems.
Knowledge of FastAPI, Flask, Django, Node.js, .NET, or a comparable application framework.
Experience with Docker, automated testing, CI/CD, monitoring, and production deployment.
Knowledge of time-series forecasting, classification, segmentation, optimization, or natural-language processing.
Experience developing internal financial controls and automated reconciliation processes.
Familiarity with HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2, or similar security and compliance frameworks.
Representative Projects

Initial assignments may include:

Consolidating information from multiple collection platforms into a reliable reporting environment.
Reconciling scheduled, processed, declined, reversed, returned, and directly paid transactions.
Building collector-production and client-performance dashboards.
Developing models to prioritize accounts based on payment probability and expected value.
Creating revenue, cash-flow, and expense forecasts.
Automating client remittance and commission calculations.
Developing integrations among collection, CRM, payment, accounting, and communication platforms.
Creating exception alerts for missing records, duplicate transactions, failed imports, and inconsistent balances.
Replacing manual spreadsheet processes with controlled applications and automated workflows.
Documenting current systems, data flows, dependencies, and technical risks.
Performance Expectations

Performance will be evaluated based on:

Accuracy and reliability of data and software deliverables
Successful completion of defined project milestones
Code quality, testing, documentation, and maintainability
Data-pipeline reliability and reporting timeliness
Reduction of manual work and recurring errors
Model performance and operational usefulness
Responsiveness to production issues
Security and compliance adherence
Communication, accountability, and project transparency
Ability to deliver practical business value

All models and automated decisions must remain explainable, appropriately tested, and subject to management-approved controls. Models must not use protected characteristics or unlawfully discriminatory variables.

Technology and Workspace Requirements

Candidates must have:

A dependable computer suitable for software development and data analysis.
A stable, high-speed wired internet connection.
A reliable backup internet connection.
Reliable electrical service and backup power.
A private and secure workspace.
A professional headset and webcam.
The ability to use company-approved security, identity, device-management, and collaboration tools.
The ability to comply with access-control, confidentiality, data-retention, and acceptable-use requirements.
Application Requirements

Applicants should submit:

A current résumé
A summary of relevant data science and software-development experience
A portfolio, GitHub profile, or representative code samples
A description of one production system, integration, or analytical model they personally developed
A list of programming languages, databases, frameworks, cloud platforms, and business-intelligence tools used
Expected monthly compensation in U.S. dollars
Availability and required notice period
Computer specifications and internet speeds
Confirmation of availability for U.S. Eastern Time collaboration

Shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a technical interview, SQL assessment, Python programming exercise, data-quality investigation, system-design discussion, code review, paid practical assignment, reference check, and background screening.

Candidates must be prepared to explain their own code and analytical decisions. Submitting copied work, misrepresenting experience, or using undisclosed assistance during an assessment may result in disqualification.

Live Oak Financial, Inc. maintains a professional workplace and considers qualified candidates based on their experience, capabilities, performance, and ability to satisfy the position’s requirements.