Key Responsibilities
• Design and develop Reinforcement Learning models to optimize collections strategies, customer treatment paths, and recovery outcomes.
• Build adaptive decisioning systems using techniques such as:
o Q-Learning
o Deep Q Networks (DQN)
o Policy Gradient Methods
o Contextual Bandits
o Markov Decision Processes (MDP)
• Develop sequential and behavioral models for customer engagement, repayment prediction, and collections prioritization.
• Apply stochastic modeling and probabilistic methods to optimize dynamic treatment strategies under uncertainty.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to translate collections and risk management problems into scalable AI/ML solutions.
• Build and maintain machine learning pipelines in Databricks or similar distributed computing environments.
• Conduct experimentation, simulation, and offline policy evaluation to validate RL strategies before deployment.
Preferred / Good-to-Have Skill
• Experience in collections, credit risk, customer analytics, or financial services domains.
• Familiarity with:
o Deep Learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch)
o MLOps and CI/CD workflows
o Real-time decision systems
o Cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP
Must-Have Qualifications
• Strong experience in Reinforcement Learning and sequential decision-making systems.
• Hands-on expertise with:
o Reinforcement Learning algorithms (Q-Learning, DQN, PPO, Bandits, etc.)
o Markov Decision Processes (MDP)
Similar Jobs
What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene
Key Facts About Chicago Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
- Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

