# Risk Operations Analyst (Founding Team)

> EQL Tech · San Francisco, United States · Full-time · Posted 2026-03-16

**Salary:** USD 130,000–200,000

**Workplace:** on_site

**Department:** Engineering, Product & Tech

## Description

### Risk Operations Analyst (Founding Team)

**Location:** San Francisco, CA or Phoenix, AZ (In-Office) **Seniority:** Mid-Senior Analyst **Reports to:** Head of Risk (ex-Stripe, Mercury, Circle, PayPal)

### **The Mission**

Our client is building the financial infrastructure for the **$900B US Public Education budget**. They provide the charge card, reimbursement engine, and vendor marketplace that give families access to state Education Savings Account (ESA) funds, which average **$7.5k per child per year**. Backed by **$16M from top-tier VCs**, the company recently rejected an acquisition offer because they are committed to rebuilding the education system to ensure parents have full control over their children's learning experience.

### **The Team**

You will be joining an in-person company, working together in the office.

-   **The Founders:** The founders are engineers who have run their own alternative school together. One previously worked as a Quant at Goldman Sachs, and the other built the computer vision system for the largest smart warehousing company globally, serving 1M customers/day at age 19.

-   **The Core Team:** You will work alongside top talent, including a founding engineer who did AI research at MILA and at Elon Musk’s SpaceX school, a Head of Risk from Mercury, Stripe, and Circle, and a Payments Engineer from Microsoft and Goldman Sachs. The team also includes the former Deputy Director at a state ESA department and leading school choice advocates.

### **The Challenge: "Good Actor Fraud"**

Unlike traditional fintech roles focused on external criminals, the primary challenge here is **"good actor fraud"**. This involves families who inadvertently spend on ineligible items without realizing it due to complex state rules. The risk function is mission-critical to the program’s regulatory standing and requires a focus on education rather than just enforcement.

### **The Role**

Reporting directly to one of the most experienced fintech risk leaders in the US - you will build the analytics and processes that keep the ESA card program safe and scalable.

-   **Monitor & Investigate:** Analyze charge card transactions to identify patterns of ineligible spend and emerging risk signals in real time.

-   **Automate via AI Agents:** Design and deploy AI-assisted workflows where agents streamline compliance processes and reduce manual review.
-   **Manage the Credit Cycle:** Underwrite and monitor a unique charge card portfolio that accounts for the cyclical nature of state fund disbursements.
-   **SQL-Heavy Analysis:** Write complex analytical queries independently to surface insights from raw data.
-   **Customer Advocacy:** Communicate with families with empathy when a transaction is flagged, focusing on resolution and education.

## Requirements

### **Your Profile**

-   **Experience:** 2–5 years in risk, credit analysis, or fraud operations.
-   **Technical Skills:** Expert-level SQL skills for independent, ad-hoc data analysis.
-   **Product Mindset:** Experience building risk frameworks from scratch (0-to-1) rather than just maintaining them.
-   **Credit Depth:** Strong understanding of underwriting models, portfolio monitoring, and vintage analysis.
-   **Pedigree:** Prior risk experience at a leading fintech like Stripe, Mercury, Goldman, or Chime.
-   **Education:** Quantitative background (Stats, Econometrics, Math, or CS) from a top-tier university.

## Benefits

### **Commitment, Compensation & Benefits**

This will be a big commitment, and we're aiming high. It needs to be something you are energised about taking on, or this isn't the team for you.

-   **Competitive Salary:** $100,000 – $135,000 per year, commensurate with experience.
-   **Generous Founding Equity:** We compensate you well with equity.
-   **Top-Tier Backing:** We've raised $16M from top-tier VCs and angels.
-   **Relocation Support:** You are willing to relocate to San Francisco, CA, or Phoenix, AZ, and travel to visit customers. We're an in-person company and are in the office together.
-   **Comprehensive Visa Sponsorship:** If you do not have a visa, we can support you.
-   **Unmatched Impact:** The rare opportunity to directly shape how the $900B US Public Education budget is being opened up for parents to take control of their portion (avg. $7.5k/kid/year).

## Apply

[Apply at EQL Tech](https://apply.workable.com/eqltech/j/1433162F41/apply)

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