The best NYC data science roles — at startups where your models actually ship — aren't on Built In or LinkedIn. They go through networks. Underdog.io is a closed, invite-only network where NYC's top startups are introduced directly to vetted data scientists. One profile. No applications. Salary first.
The NYC data science market
No city concentrates more financial data — and the domain expertise to use it — than New York. The convergence of Wall Street, fintech, hedge funds, and the fastest-growing AI startup scene outside SF creates demand for data scientists unlike any other market. NYC data scientists don't just work in tech — they model fraud, credit risk, customer behavior, and market dynamics across industries that can actually pay for it. The startups in our network reflect that.
Fraud detection, credit risk modeling, payments analytics, wealth management. NYC fintech startups pay at the top of the data science market — and actively prefer data scientists who understand financial data specifically.
NYC's AI startup scene is growing fast. LLM applications, autonomous agents, and AI-powered SaaS products — all building data science functions as a core competency, not a support function.
Clinical data, patient behavior, health outcomes modeling. NYC healthtech startups need data scientists who can navigate complex, regulated data — and produce insights that directly affect care decisions.
Underdog matches you to the specific NYC startup where your data background fits precisely — not every data science opening in New York at once. The right company reaches out. You decide who gets your time.
NYC data science roles in the network
Tell us your specialization, industry background, and what kind of problem you want to work on. We match you to NYC startups where your specific data background is what they need.
Runs A/B experiments, builds predictive models, ships insights into product. Python, SQL, scikit-learn or PyTorch. Works directly with PMs and engineers at Series A and B NYC startups where data informs every product decision.
Fraud detection, credit scoring, AML modeling, risk quantification. Data scientists who understand financial data at a structural level — not just the Python but the domain. The highest-compensated data science specialization in NYC by a significant margin.
Fine-tuning, evaluation pipelines, RAG systems, model selection and benchmarking. NYC AI-native startups who are making the model layer the core of their product — not a feature bolted on later.
Causal inference, experiment design, heterogeneous treatment effects, statistical rigor at scale. NYC consumer, marketplace, and fintech startups that run thousands of experiments and need someone who can run them right.
Text classification, information extraction, semantic search, document understanding. NYC startups building on top of text-heavy data — legal, financial documents, healthcare records, media. High demand, thin supply.
Employee #1 on the data science team at a NYC seed or Series A startup. Sets the research agenda, picks the stack, establishes the experimentation framework. High equity, total ownership, direct founder partnership.
How it works
No job board scrolling. No applying through Greenhouse into silence. No recruiter calls from people who don't know the difference between a data scientist and a data analyst. Here's what happens when you join Underdog.
Tell us your data science specialization, domain background, stack, seniority, and what kind of NYC company you're looking for. Takes 60 seconds. No resume required to start.
We review every profile by hand. Only the top 5% are accepted. When an NYC startup sees your profile, the conversation starts with trust. You're a recommendation — not an application in an ATS.
Every Monday, hiring managers at vetted NYC startups contact you directly — salary ranges included. You decide who gets your time. 85% of accepted candidates hear from a company in week one.
NYC salary guide 2026
Every Underdog intro includes the salary range before you engage. No surprises after a take-home and four rounds. Here's what to benchmark against for NYC startup data science roles.
Sources: Wellfound NYC 2025, Glassdoor NYC, Levels.fyi NYC area.
NYC fintech startups consistently pay at the top of the data science market — often 20–30% above product-focused tech startups — because their models directly protect revenue, underwrite credit, or detect fraud. Domain expertise in financial data commands a meaningful premium.
Most NYC data science roles in our network are hybrid — 2–3 days in-office in Manhattan. Fully remote roles exist for senior and lead scientists. Specify your preference and we only introduce you to companies whose setup matches.
Base salary ranges at NYC venture-backed startups. Equity is additive. All Underdog interview requests include the actual salary range.
NYC companies in the network
Not all companies are actively hiring data scientists at all times. We match you based on your specialization and what's active when you join.
Every time I use Underdog.io I remember that job searching doesn't have to be terrible. Thanks for the product.
Zach B. — Senior Software Engineer, NYC
Common questions
Ready when you are
NYC startups with real data problems hire through Underdog. One profile gets you introduced to the companies building the most interesting things — salary first, no applications, no recruiters who don't know the field.
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