1

Data Science Graduate Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Data Science Team Our Impact Data is core to Parafin's mission to grow small businesses. Our ... Since our founding, we have grown the team to include perspectives from graduate studies in physics ...

If you're a recent Computer Science graduate, you already have the foundation: data structures, algorithms, and an understanding of programming concepts. But if you're finding the job market ...

Data Scientist

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$160K - $200K/yr

The role will report directly to the CTO. Next to the CTO, you will be first Data Scientist on the ... Graduate work in an optimization related field (e.g RL, Convex Optimization, Bayesian Optimization ...

Data Scientist

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$160K - $200K/yr

The role will report directly to the CTO. Next to the CTO, you will be first Data Scientist on the ... Graduate work in an optimization related field (e.g RL, Convex Optimization, Bayesian Optimization ...

Data Scientist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$200K - $400K/yr

Qualifications * Bachelor's degree in a quantitative subject: math, physics, computer science ... Experience in competitive math, physics, or CS olympiads, or a graduate degree in a quantitative ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Data Science Graduate information

See California salary details

$37K

$121.1K

$193.9K

How much do data science graduate jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for data science graduate in California is $121,131.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $97,200.00 and $134,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Data Science Graduate vs Data Analyst?

AspectData Science GraduateData Analyst
Required CredentialsDegree in Data Science, Computer Science, or related fieldDegree in Statistics, Mathematics, or related field
Work EnvironmentInternships, entry-level roles in tech or finance companiesBusiness, marketing, or finance departments across industries
Employer & Industry UsageTech firms, startups, research institutionsCorporations, consulting firms, government agencies
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Data Science Graduates typically focus on building models, machine learning, and advanced analytics, often requiring programming skills and a strong foundation in data science concepts. Data Analysts primarily interpret data, generate reports, and support decision-making with statistical tools. While both roles analyze data, Data Science Graduates usually work on more complex modeling tasks, whereas Data Analysts focus on data interpretation and visualization.

What types of projects and responsibilities can a Data Science Graduate expect in their first role?

As a Data Science Graduate, you can expect to work on a variety of projects such as data cleaning, exploratory data analysis, and building predictive models under the guidance of senior team members. Typical responsibilities include preparing datasets, validating model outputs, and presenting findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. You’ll often collaborate with data engineers, software developers, and business analysts to ensure your solutions align with organizational goals. This early-career role is a great opportunity to learn industry-standard tools, gain mentorship, and build a portfolio of impactful projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Data Science Graduate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Data Science Graduate, you need strong analytical skills, a solid understanding of statistics, and proficiency in programming languages like Python or R, typically backed by a relevant degree. Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau), machine learning frameworks (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow), and database management systems (e.g., SQL) is highly valuable. Strong communication, problem-solving, and adaptability help you convey insights and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders. These skills enable you to extract meaningful information from data, drive informed decisions, and add value to organizations in a data-driven world.

What are Data Science Graduates?

Data Science Graduates are individuals who have recently completed a degree or certification program in data science or a related field. They possess foundational knowledge in statistics, programming, and data analysis, and are equipped to apply these skills in real-world scenarios. These graduates are typically proficient in tools such as Python, R, SQL, and data visualization platforms, and are prepared for entry-level roles in data analytics, machine learning, or business intelligence. Their education often includes hands-on projects and internships to build practical experience. Data Science Graduates are in high demand across industries that rely on data-driven decision making.
What job categories do people searching Data Science Graduate jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Data Science Graduate jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Data Science Graduate jobs? Cities in California with the most Data Science Graduate job openings:
Infographic showing various Data Science Graduate job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $121,131 per year, or $58.2 per hour.
Data Scientist

Data Scientist

Parafin, Inc

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 26 days ago


Job description

About Us:
At Parafin, we're on a mission to grow small businesses.
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but traditional banks often don't have their backs. We build tech that makes it simple for small businesses to access the financial tools they need through the platforms they already sell on.
We partner with companies like DoorDash, Amazon, Worldpay, and Mindbody to offer fast and flexible funding, spend management, and savings tools to their small business users via a simple integration. Parafin takes on all the complexity of capital markets, underwriting, servicing, compliance, and customer service for our partners.
We're a tight-knit team of innovators hailing from Stripe, Square, Plaid, Coinbase, Robinhood, CERN, and more - all united by a passion for building tools that help small businesses succeed. Parafin is backed by prominent venture capitalists including GIC, Notable Capital, Redpoint Ventures, Ribbit Capital, and Thrive Capital. Parafin is a Series C company, and we have raised more than $194M in equity and $340M in debt facilities.
Join us in creating a future where every small business has the financial tools they need.
The Data Science Team
Our Impact
Data is core to Parafin's mission to grow small businesses. Our platform partnerships and portfolio provide rich insight into SMB financial health, allowing us to create fair, automated, and broad access to financial services. As Parafin scales, the breadth and depth of our data grows with it, amplifying the impact we can have on customers and the trajectory of the business.
Our Team
Enthusiasm, skepticism, and respect for data are in our DNA - two of our co-founders were PhD data scientists at Robinhood. Since our founding, we have grown the team to include perspectives from graduate studies in physics, mathematics, bioengineering, economics, financial engineering, and electrical engineering and professional experience at Robinhood, Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, Faire, Segment, Facebook, and Google. We value first-principles thinking, attention to detail, and craftsmanship.
Our Work
Our mission is to help Parafin succeed by leveraging the vast data that powers our platform. Our team partners closely with leaders across the company to drive impact. This role's scope includes:
Growth: We design experiments and analyses that expand access to capital while keeping the portfolio healthy. Example projects:
  • Designing experiments that navigate the tradeoff between growth and risk - expanding access to capital while keeping the portfolio healthy
  • Studying the full merchant lifecycle - first offer, repayment, repeat capital - to find where we can responsibly extend more
  • Modeling how a prospective partner's portfolio would perform on our platform, so we can size new opportunities before launching

Portfolio Monitoring & Servicing: We build models and tooling that forecast portfolio performance and measure the impact of our servicing efforts on merchant outcomes. Example projects:
  • Building and shipping ML models (XGBoost and friends) that forecast merchant repayment behavior - from feature engineering through production deployment - to inform how we price and size offers
  • Measuring whether our servicing actually works - how much balance we recover after reaching out to a struggling merchant, and what interventions move the needle

Infrastructure: We build the data pipelines, automated systems, and internal tools that let the rest of the company operate at scale. Example projects:
  • Building the data pipelines that power every analysis, dashboard, and ML model across the company
  • Automating processes - lien filings, KYC checks, fraud screens - using APIs, ML, and LLMs
  • Building internal tools - Streamlit apps, dashboards, Slack bots - that the rest of the company uses every day

Beyond these focus areas, our team helps expand our impact by recruiting exceptional talent, improving our tools, and supporting each other through regular seminars and project reviews.
About You
Your Impact
You will make an outsized impact on Parafin's trajectory by leading projects from end to end. You will quickly learn new methods, apply them across diverse areas of the business, and implement them robustly. You will develop expertise in specific areas of the business, but may tackle projects across domains as our priorities evolve.
Your Background and Skills
Bachelor's Degree (or higher) in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science (or related fields). We believe the most effective data scientists bring the following skills to their work:
  • Statistical Reasoning
    • Approach data analysis with a critical, intellectually honest eye
    • Design concise metrics that guide decision making
    • Use robust causal inference methods
    • Develop valid and predictive machine learning models
  • Business Acumen
    • Identify and effectively prioritize business problems
    • Solve business problems using appropriate data science techniques
    • Anticipate the impact of your work on our financial performance, customers, and compliance obligations
  • Engineering Mindset
    • Write legible, reliable, and tested code
    • Build or source tools to boost the team's efficiency
    • Contribute to model and data infrastructure design
  • Leadership and Collaboration
    • Model Parafin's values of efficiency, intellectual honesty, accountability, and empathy
    • Build trusted relationships with stakeholders
    • Document work, seek feedback, and share learnings proactively
    • Mentor other DS members on the team
    • Management experience, a plus!
  • Focused Execution
    • Prioritize high-impact use of your time
    • Scope projects rigorously
    • Act with urgency
  • AI Tool Fluency
    • Rapidly learn and adopt emerging AI tools and workflows to accelerate analysis
    • Critically evaluate AI-generated outputs for accuracy and reliability

What We Offer
  • Salary: $200k - $235k
    Senior/Staff Level: $235k - $330k+
  • Equity grant
  • Medical, dental & vision insurance
  • Work from home flexibility
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Commuter benefits
  • Free lunches
  • Paid parental leave
  • 401(k)
  • Employee assistance program

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact us.