It all started with an idea at Block in 2013. Initially built to take the pain out of peer-to-peer payments, Cash App has gone from a simple product with a single purpose to a dynamic app, bringing a better way to send, spend, invest, borrow and save to our millions of monthly active users. With a mission to redefine the world's relationship with money by making it more relatable, available and accessible, at Cash App you'll have the opportunity to make a real-world impact with your career.

Today, Cash App has thousands of employees around the world with a culture geared toward creativity, collaboration and impact. We’ve been a distributed team since day one, and continue to value working across time zones and continents both remotely and in our Cash App offices.

Our offices are great, but many of our roles can be done remotely from the countries where Block operates. We tailor our experience to champion our employees’ creativity and productivity wherever they are. 

This role is part of our Cash App R&D team which sits within our Machine Learning and Data Science organization. This team’s mission is aimed at developing advanced deep learning based signals and learned representations for Risk ML models. Our team has the mandate to explore, develop and implement alternatives to traditional feature based ML with SOTA and to communicate that work at public venues (e.g. publishing).

You Will

• Lead the conception, design, and implementation of large-scale experiments to validate novel ideas rapidly and comprehensively.
• Apply the latest theoretical advancements to enhance existing products, processes, and technologies, ensuring they remain at the forefront of the industry.
• Engage in the creation of experiments, prototyping, and architectural design, contributing to a diverse range of computer science domains such as machine learning, data mining, natural language processing, and performance analysis.
• Author and publish research papers that communicate findings to both the team and the broader research community, establishing a significant impact on the field.
• Contribute to the growth of research initiatives by sharing emerging trends and best practices, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
• Take the lead in defining data structures, frameworks, designs, and evaluation metrics for research solution development, exhibiting autonomy in decision-making.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, identifying potential research areas and participating in the development of long-term research strategies.
• Conduct experiments aligned with research inquiries, employing simulations and prototypes to assess the outcomes of investigations.
• Refine research methodologies, solidifying hypotheses, and contributing to the evolution of research practices under minimal supervision.

You Have

• A Ph.D. degree in a quantitative field (computer science, physics, math, etc) with significant experience using and developing machine learning and AI methodologies.
• Proven experience in conducting research projects with tangible outcomes.
• A demonstrated history of generating intellectual property within the field. These contributions could take the form of open source software, patents, or refereed publications in venues such as conferences, journals, books, etc.
• Proficiency in machine learning techniques, data mining, experimental design, and academic publishing.
• Strong programming skills in languages such as Python, TensorFlow, or PyTorch.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a creative mindset to tackle complex challenges.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams and contribute to the research community.

Technologies We Use and Teach 

• Python
• NumPy, Pandas, sklearn, xgboost, 
• TensorFlow, Pytorch, keras, etc
• MySQL, Snowflake, 
• GCP/AWS and 
• Spark

Block takes a market-based approach to pay, and pay may vary depending on your location. U.S. locations are categorized into one of four zones based on a cost of labor index for that geographic area. The successful candidate’s starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future.

Zone A: USD $167,300 - USD $204,500
Zone B: USD $158,900 - USD $194,300
Zone C: USD $150,600 - USD $184,000
Zone D: USD $142,200 - USD $173,800

To find a location’s zone designation, please refer to this resource. If a location of interest is not listed, please speak with a recruiter for additional information. 

Full-time employee benefits include the following:

• Healthcare coverage (Medical, Vision and Dental insurance)
• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Plans including company match 
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Wellness programs, including access to mental health, 1:1 financial planners, and a monthly wellness allowance 
• Paid parental and caregiving leave
• Paid time off (including 12 paid holidays)
• Paid sick leave (1 hour per 26 hours worked (max 80 hours per calendar year to the extent legally permissible) for non-exempt employees and covered by our Flexible Time Off policy for exempt employees) 
• Learning and Development resources
• Paid Life insurance, AD&D, and disability benefits 
• Additional Perks such as WFH reimbursements and free access to caregiving, legal, and discounted resources 

These benefits are further detailed in Block's policies. This role is also eligible to participate in Block's equity plan subject to the terms of the applicable plans and policies, and may be eligible for a sign-on bonus. Sales roles may be eligible to participate in a commission plan subject to the terms of the applicable plans and policies. Pay and benefits are subject to change at any time, consistent with the terms of any applicable compensation or benefit plans.

We’re working to build a more inclusive economy where our customers have equal access to opportunity, and we strive to live by these same values in building our workplace. Block is a proud equal opportunity employer. We work hard to evaluate all employees and job applicants consistently, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class. 

We believe in being fair, and are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including providing reasonable accommodations to disabled applicants throughout the recruitment process. We encourage applicants to share any needed accommodations with their recruiter, who will treat these requests as confidentially as possible. Want to learn more about what we’re doing to build a workplace that is fair and square? Check out our I+D page.

Additionally, we consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment on our team, assessing candidates in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) is a global technology company with a focus on financial services. Made up of Square, Cash App, Spiral, TIDAL, and TBD, we build tools to help more people access the economy. Square helps sellers run and grow their businesses with its integrated ecosystem of commerce solutions, business software, and banking services. With Cash App, anyone can easily send, spend, or invest their money in stocks or Bitcoin. Spiral (formerly Square Crypto) builds and funds free, open-source Bitcoin projects. Artists use TIDAL to help them succeed as entrepreneurs and connect more deeply with fans. TBD is building an open developer platform to make it easier to access Bitcoin and other blockchain technologies without having to go through an institution.