Director of Data Science

About Altruist

Altruist is the modern custodian built exclusively for independent financial advisors that combines a self-clearing brokerage firm with intuitive software for account opening, trading, reporting, and billing — all in one streamlined solution. Financial advisors across the U.S. have partnered with Altruist to reduce costs, save time, grow their business, and provide better outcomes for their clients. Our mission is to make financial advice better, more affordable, and accessible to everyone — but we can’t do it alone. We’re seeking exceptional talent to join our team. That’s where you come in!

If you’re passionate about challenging the status quo and making a meaningful impact in the financial advice industry, we’d love to meet you!

But first, our values

Kindness - Kindness doesn’t just equal niceness. We listen to understand. We embrace, and encourage healthy debate and diverse perspectives. We approach conflict openly, honestly, and respectfully.

Brilliance - Humility is the skill we’re most proud of and possessing a growth mindset is always top of mind. We take ownership in everything we touch; regularly using our unique superpowers to reach a common goal as a team. We succeed and fail as one.

Grit - When challenges arise, we stay laser focused on achieving our mission and finding a way forward, even when it’s hard. We are nimble and maintain a sense of urgency, swiftly adapting to change and overcoming obstacles.

The opportunity

We’re seeking a Director of Data Science to help us predict and plan for the future of Altruist’s business. In this role, you'll build and own the predictive infrastructure that supports strategic decision-making across the company. You’ll collaborate with leaders in Finance, Product, Operations, and Sales to develop scalable models for revenue, customer behavior, and operational performance.

This is a hands-on, high-impact role where your models will directly inform planning, budgeting, staffing, and long-term strategy.

Your impact

• Manage a growing team of data analysts and data scientists responsible for build, deploying, and maintaining robust forecasting models (e.g., time series, hierarchical models, causal forecasting) across key business areas such as revenue, AUM growth, customer acquisition, and support volumes.
• Partner with Finance and Strategy teams to deliver forecasts that support executive decision-making and scenario planning.
• Develop methodologies for forecasting uncertainty, seasonality, and business-specific dynamics.
• Create reusable forecasting frameworks and tools to be shared across departments.
• Communicate forecasts, assumptions, and risks clearly to stakeholders—including executives—with visually compelling outputs.
• Continuously monitor model performance and refine approaches based on real-world outcomes.
• Contribute to the broader data science roadmap and mentor teammates in data science best practices.

What you bring

• Experience - 5 years of experience working as Data Scientist with at least 2 years managing a high performing data science team with a focus on forecasting, statistical modeling, or time series analysis.
  • Deep knowledge of forecasting techniques: ARIMA, exponential smoothing, Prophet, Bayesian models, machine learning–based approaches, etc.
  • Familiarity with cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake) and workflow tools (e.g., Airflow, dbt).
• Education - Ideally looking for an advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in a data-driven field (Math, Statistics, Computer Science, Physics, etc).
• Technical aptitude - You’re technologically savvy and can easily get up to speed on modern tech stacks (Strong Python and SQL skills; experience with packages like statsmodels, scikit-learn, pmdarima, or prophet.)
• Ownership - The pride you put into every aspect of your work is unparalleled and undeniable
• Superb communication - Intentional dialogue is a superpower. You listen as well as you share your perspective with others.
• Resilience - We’re inspired by your unwavering determination to achieve success, no matter the adversity you face along the way.
• Assurance - Your confidence is brilliant, yet ego-less. You possess a strong knowledge base, the ability to discover the unknown, and are open to differing perspectives.
• Creative problem solving - Identifying the problem is simply not enough. You’re instinctually creative with your approach in finding solutions to roadblocks.
• Bonus points if you bring
  • Experience with scenario modeling, Monte Carlo simulations, or optimization under uncertainty.
  • Previous work at a financial custodian, familiar with the brokerage business and it’s data
  • Exposure to BI tools like Tableau for visualizing forecasts

What we bring

Attracting and retaining top-tier talent is a priority. We are proud of the culture we’ve built and are cognizant of the ever-changing professional landscape. Our dynamic offering of perks and benefits are tailored for you to feel your best while doing your best.

• A hybrid work schedule for most positions to promote strong, in-person collaboration and a healthy work-life-balance.
• Stunning, amenity-filled office spaces in Culver City, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Dallas, TX. Our offices are intentionally designed for comfort, collaboration, and productivity.
• Competitive pay, as well as equity for eligible positions
• Premium healthcare, dental, and vision insurance plans
• 401k savings plan with matching contributions and immediate vesting
• Generous paid parental leave
• Professional growth and development opportunities including an employee mobility program and an annual L&D budget allocation for each employee
• Physical and emotional wellness programs that nurture both your mind and body
• Company perks program (includes discounts on pet insurance, fitness, cell phone plans, entertainment and travel, etc.)
• Financial guidance program (includes counseling on navigating debt, tracking personal spend, saving and planning goals, home-purchasing preparedness, etc.)

Total compensation includes a competitive benefits package along with equity in the form of Stock Options (ISOs) for eligible roles. For salaried positions, a salary offer will be determined by a number of factors including experience, skill level, internal pay equity, geographic location, and other relevant business considerations. We review all employee pay and compensation programs regularly to ensure fair, equitable, and competitive pay. At Altruist, we are committed to providing fair, equitable, and competitive compensation by leveraging market data to inform our pay bands. Base salaries will be reviewed at regular intervals throughout the year, typically in conjunction with performance review cycles. By evaluating compensation on a regular basis, we are able to reward high performance and ensure all employees have opportunities for growth.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Altruist we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.