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Manager, Data Science - Job Opportunity at PayPal

Dublin, Ireland
Full-time
Senior
Posted: August 8, 2025
Hybrid
EUR 95,000 - 130,000 annually. Dublin's position as a major European fintech hub, combined with PayPal's market leadership and the critical nature of fraud prevention, supports premium compensation. The role's combination of people management, technical leadership, and business ownership typically commands salaries in the upper quartile of data science management positions.

Benefits

Comprehensive life insurance coverage providing financial security and peace of mind for employees and their families
Flexible hybrid work environment offering 3 days in-office collaboration and 2 days remote work flexibility, optimizing work-life balance
Employee stock options providing ownership stake and alignment with company performance
Comprehensive health insurance package ensuring medical coverage and wellness support
Access to PayPal's global benefits platform with extensive resources for financial, physical, and mental health

Key Responsibilities

Lead and develop a high-performing data science team to execute fraud prevention strategies that directly impact PayPal's global financial security and customer trust
Own complete business domain responsibility for data-driven risk management strategies supporting PayPal's multi-billion dollar global operations
Drive performance optimization of fraud detection systems against critical KPIs, ensuring alignment with enterprise-wide objectives and regulatory compliance
Spearhead resolution of complex, ambiguous fraud challenges while planning and executing long-term strategic projects that shape PayPal's fraud prevention future
Collaborate with cross-functional product and platform teams to architect scalable, secure solutions enhancing customer experience for hundreds of millions of global users
Build and maintain strategic cross-functional partnerships ensuring fraud risk management initiatives align with corporate strategic objectives
Lead market intelligence efforts on emerging fraud trends and technologies, positioning PayPal ahead of evolving threat landscapes

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Operations Research, Engineering, Economics, or related quantitative field

Experience

8+ years with Bachelor's degree or 6+ years with Master's degree, plus minimum 2 years managerial experience

Required Skills

Advanced data science techniques Machine learning and AI-driven solutions Advanced analytics Fraud detection models and algorithms Risk management strategies Cross-functional collaboration Executive-level communication Problem-solving and analytical thinking Fast learning ability Leadership and team management
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The global fraud detection and prevention market is experiencing unprecedented growth, projected to reach $65.8 billion by 2025, driven by increasing digital payment volumes and sophisticated fraud schemes. PayPal, processing over $1.4 trillion in payment volume annually, sits at the epicenter of this challenge, making fraud prevention capabilities mission-critical for business continuity. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning adoption in fraud prevention has accelerated dramatically, with real-time decisioning becoming the industry standard. Companies are investing heavily in AI-driven solutions that can process millions of transactions per second while maintaining customer experience, creating high demand for leaders who can bridge technical expertise with business strategy. Regulatory compliance requirements are intensifying globally, with PSD2 in Europe, PCI DSS standards, and emerging cryptocurrency regulations forcing fintech companies to elevate their fraud prevention strategies. This regulatory landscape creates premium demand for experienced fraud prevention leaders who understand both technical implementation and compliance frameworks. Cross-border payment fraud has surged with global e-commerce growth, making international fraud prevention expertise increasingly valuable. Companies like PayPal operating in 200+ markets need leaders who can navigate diverse regulatory environments while maintaining unified fraud prevention strategies.

Role Significance

Typically manages 5-8 data scientists and analysts, with potential for team expansion based on business needs. The role likely includes matrix management responsibilities across multiple fraud prevention workstreams, requiring leadership of 15-20 professionals across direct and indirect reporting relationships.
Senior management position with significant strategic impact and P&L responsibility. This role operates at the intersection of technology, risk management, and business strategy, requiring executive-level decision-making capabilities. The position influences PayPal's global fraud prevention strategy and directly impacts customer trust and financial performance across hundreds of millions of transactions.

Key Projects

Development and deployment of next-generation AI-powered fraud detection models capable of processing real-time decisions across PayPal's global transaction volume Implementation of advanced behavioral analytics systems that can identify emerging fraud patterns while minimizing false positives that impact customer experience Creation of cross-border fraud prevention strategies that balance security with PayPal's global expansion objectives Integration of cryptocurrency and alternative payment method fraud detection capabilities as PayPal expands its digital asset offerings

Success Factors

Ability to translate complex technical fraud prevention concepts into executive-level strategic initiatives that align with PayPal's business objectives and risk tolerance Proven track record of building and scaling high-performing data science teams in fast-paced, high-stakes environments where decisions impact millions of customers and billions in transaction volume Deep understanding of the fraud landscape evolution, including emerging threats from synthetic identity fraud, account takeover schemes, and cryptocurrency-related fraud vectors Strong stakeholder management skills to collaborate effectively with product teams, legal/compliance, customer experience, and executive leadership while balancing competing priorities Experience with real-time, large-scale machine learning systems that can process PayPal's transaction volumes while maintaining sub-second response times Cultural competency to work effectively across PayPal's global organization, understanding regional fraud patterns and regulatory requirements while maintaining unified strategy execution

Market Demand

Exceptionally high demand with limited qualified supply. The intersection of managerial experience, fraud domain expertise, and advanced data science skills creates a highly specialized talent pool. PayPal's scale and the mission-critical nature of fraud prevention make this role both high-impact and career-defining.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Machine Learning and AI expertise is absolutely essential as PayPal's fraud prevention relies on sophisticated algorithms processing millions of transactions in real-time. The ability to architect, implement, and optimize ML models directly impacts business performance and customer experience. Leadership and people management skills are crucial for building and scaling data science teams in a high-pressure environment. Success requires the ability to attract top talent, foster innovation, and maintain team performance while managing complex technical and business challenges. Fraud domain knowledge is irreplaceable and highly specialized. Understanding fraud patterns, attack vectors, and prevention strategies requires years of experience and directly impacts the effectiveness of technical solutions and business strategy. Cross-functional collaboration abilities are vital given the role's intersection with product, engineering, legal, and business teams. The ability to influence without authority and translate technical concepts for diverse stakeholders determines strategic success.

Beneficial Skills

Financial services industry experience provides valuable context for understanding regulatory requirements, customer behavior patterns, and business model implications that enhance strategic decision-making International business experience is increasingly valuable as PayPal continues global expansion, requiring understanding of diverse regulatory environments, cultural considerations, and regional fraud patterns Product management skills complement technical expertise by providing customer-centric perspective and business prioritization frameworks that enhance fraud prevention solution effectiveness Advanced statistical modeling and experimentation capabilities enable sophisticated A/B testing and performance optimization of fraud prevention strategies across PayPal's diverse customer base

Unique Aspects

Opportunity to impact fraud prevention strategy for one of the world's largest payment platforms, with decisions affecting hundreds of millions of customers and merchants globally
Access to proprietary fraud data and patterns that provide unparalleled learning opportunities in the fraud prevention domain
Exposure to diverse fraud vectors across multiple payment methods, currencies, and regulatory environments, providing comprehensive fraud prevention expertise
Collaboration with PayPal's advanced AI/ML research teams and access to cutting-edge technology infrastructure for fraud prevention innovation
Strategic involvement in PayPal's expansion into emerging payment technologies, including cryptocurrency integration and alternative payment methods

Career Growth

Typical progression to director-level roles within 2-3 years given PayPal's growth trajectory and the critical nature of fraud prevention. Advancement to VP or C-suite positions typically occurs within 4-6 years for high performers, particularly given the specialized nature of fraud domain expertise.

Potential Next Roles

Director of Risk Management or Chief Risk Officer positions within PayPal or similar fintech organizations, leading enterprise-wide risk strategy and regulatory compliance Vice President of Data Science roles at major financial services companies, overseeing multiple data science domains beyond fraud prevention Chief Technology Officer positions at emerging fintech companies, leveraging fraud prevention expertise to build comprehensive risk management platforms Senior Principal Data Scientist roles at technology giants like Google, Amazon, or Microsoft, focusing on large-scale AI/ML applications in financial services

Company Overview

PayPal

PayPal stands as the global leader in digital payments, revolutionizing commerce for over 25 years with a two-sided network connecting hundreds of millions of merchants and consumers worldwide. The company's ecosystem includes PayPal, Venmo, and Xoom products, processing over $1.4 trillion in payment volume annually across approximately 200 markets. PayPal's platform enables seamless transactions across multiple funding sources including traditional banking, cryptocurrencies, and stored value products.

Dominant market position as the world's leading digital payments platform, competing with emerging fintech companies and traditional financial institutions. PayPal's established infrastructure, regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions, and brand trust provide significant competitive advantages in the rapidly evolving payments landscape.
Dublin serves as PayPal's European headquarters and a critical hub for international operations, regulatory compliance, and product development. The Dublin office plays a strategic role in PayPal's European expansion and regulatory navigation, particularly regarding PSD2 compliance and GDPR requirements.
PayPal maintains a collaborative, innovation-focused culture guided by core values of Inclusion, Innovation, Collaboration, and Wellness. The company emphasizes employee ownership through stock options, work-life balance through hybrid work arrangements, and professional development through exposure to cutting-edge financial technology challenges.
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