Machine Learning Engineer

Katapult is a technology-forward alternative financing company focused on powering the inclusion economy. We are seeking a Machine Learning Engineer to join our Data Science & Credit Risk team. This role is heavily engineering-focused and centers on building and operating the backend systems that support Katapult’s credit risk and fraud decisioning.

In this role, you will own Python-based services and APIs that serve underwriting decisions at the core of our business. You will be responsible for deploying machine learning models and business rules into production systems, maintaining their reliability and performance, and evolving the platform as requirements grow.

This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys working on mission-critical decision systems and wants to develop deep expertise in credit risk, fraud, and underwriting infrastructure.

What You’ll Do

• Design, build, and maintain backend APIs and services supporting credit risk and fraud decisioning
• Deploy and operate machine learning models, scorecards, and business rules in production
• Own system reliability, performance, and observability for underwriting and fraud services
• Debug and resolve production issues affecting decision accuracy or service availability
• Partner closely with data scientists to productionize models and ensure safe, repeatable deployments
• Improve system architecture to support scalability, fault tolerance, and operational robustness
• Implement monitoring and alerting for model behavior, decision outcomes, and system health
• Collaborate with Credit Risk Strategy, Risk Modeling, Tech, and Operations teams to translate strategy into live decisions
• Develop deep expertise in Katapult’s credit risk and fraud infrastructure

Experience and Skills We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field
• 3+ years of professional experience with a strong emphasis on backend or platform engineering
• 2+ years of experience deploying and operating machine learning models in production environments
• Strong experience building Python-based services and APIs
• Experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS preferred), including deployment, scaling, and monitoring
• Solid understanding of software engineering best practices: testing, CI/CD, version control, and documentation
• Proficiency in Python and SQL
• Experience across the ML lifecycle, with emphasis on deployment, monitoring, and iteration
• Strong debugging skills and comfort working with mission-critical systems
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences
• Strong sense of ownership, attention to detail, and ability to work independently
• Experience with fraud systems, risk platforms, NLP, or LLM-based models is a plus

About Katapult

As a leader in point-of-sale solutions for alternative consumer finance, Katapult enables consumers to access the products they need while helping merchants broaden their customer base. 

Our mission is clear: to unlock financial possibilities through innovative technology. Our vision is to remove financial barriers and transform the shopping experience with technology that simplifies and enhances access for consumers. Our core values reflect how we operate—we aim to uplift our employees, customers, and retail partners by offering transparent and innovative financial solutions. We deliver outstanding results through dedication, integrity, and teamwork, creating opportunities for success and growth every day. Inclusion is at the heart of who we are; together, we achieve more. We work hard, play hard, and celebrate big wins. 

At Katapult, we believe that opportunity is everything, and our people drive our success. We seek individuals who are committed to excellence, eager to learn, and ready to bring their best every day. With a competitive benefits package, an engaging culture, and ample opportunities for career advancement, Katapult is committed to investing in its people.