Senior Data Science Manager

Careem; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 440,000 - 551,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent mobility platform in Dubai is seeking a Senior Data Science Manager to lead the Marketplace Intelligence team. This role requires 6+ years of experience in machine learning and team leadership, along with advanced skills in Python, SQL, and ML frameworks. The candidate will drive innovations in ETA prediction, routing, and more, optimizing operations at scale. Enjoy a flexible work environment, access to healthcare, and opportunities for personal growth in an inspiring organization dedicated to making an impact.

Benefits

Flexible work schedule

Unlimited vacation days

Healthcare benefits

Fitness reimbursements

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience applying machine learning to real-world problems.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing teams.
• Experience taking models from research to production.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a team of data scientists and ML engineers.
• Oversee development and deployment of ML models.
• Translate business challenges into scalable data science solutions.

Skills

Machine learning expertise

Leadership experience

Statistical analysis

Python programming

SQL proficiency

Education

Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Mathematics

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

XGBoost

Job description

Careem is building the Everything App for the greater Middle East — making it easy to move around, order food and groceries, manage payments, and more. Our purpose is simple: to simplify and improve people’s lives and build an awesome organisation that inspires.

Since 2012, Careem has enabled earnings for over 2.5 million Captains, simplified the lives of more than 70 million customers, and built a platform where the region’s best talent and entrepreneurs thrive. We operate in 70+ cities across 10 countries, from Morocco to Pakistan.

We’re now entering our next chapter — one powered by AI. We’re looking for AI talent: curious problem‑solvers who know how to apply AI to build tools, automate workflows, and create real impact. Whether it’s streamlining operations, enhancing customer experience, or reimagining internal systems — we want people who can make Careem work smarter and move faster.

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Data Science Manager to lead our Marketplace Intelligence team — the group responsible for optimizing and evolving Careem’s core systems that power our platform’s supply‑demand equilibrium. This includes ETA prediction, routing, matching, pooling, and all marketplace dynamics that directly impact Careem’s operational efficiency and customer experience.

This role combines technical depth, strategic thinking, and leadership excellence. The ideal candidate is a leader who has both accomplished hands‑on machine learning expertise and familiarity with the marketplace topics.

What you'll do

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and grow a team of data scientists and ML engineers specializing in marketplace algorithms.
• Partner with product, engineering, and operations to define long‑term vision, roadmap, and KPIs for marketplace intelligence.
• Translate business challenges into scalable data science solutions that drive growth, efficiency, and reliability.
• Foster a culture of experimentation, scientific rigor, and continuous learning across the team.

Technical Execution

• Oversee the development and deployment of machine learning models that power the end‑to‑end ML pipeline for marketplace, including but not limited to:
  • ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) predictions
  • Routing optimization and dynamic re‑routing
  • Batching and Pooling different orders
  • Supply‑demand matching, network rebalancing, and pricing strategies
  • System‑level marketplace simulations and forecasting
• Ensure the robustness, scalability, and real‑time performance of ML models in production.
• Drive research and innovation in areas such as deep learning, spatio‑temporal modeling, graph networks, and reinforcement learning.

What you'll need

• 6+ years of experience applying machine learning and deep learning to real‑world problems, ideally in logistics, mobility, or large‑scale systems.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing teams of data scientists or ML engineers.
• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or related field.
• Strong proficiency in Python, SQL, and modern ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, XGBoost).
• Solid understanding of statistics, optimization, operations research, and algorithmic principles underpinning ETA, routing, or recommendation systems.
• Proven experience taking models from research to production in high‑scale environments.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on marketplace, mobility, or delivery platforms with real‑time decisioning systems.
• Familiarity with simulation frameworks and reinforcement learning for multi‑agent systems.

What we’ll provide you

We offer colleagues the opportunity to drive impact in the region while they learn and grow. As a full‑time Careem colleague, you will be able to:

• Work and learn from great minds by joining a community of inspiring colleagues.
• Put your passion to work in a purposeful organisation dedicated to creating impact in a region with a lot of untapped potential.
• Explore new opportunities to learn and grow every day.
• Work 4 days a week in office & 1 day from home, and remotely from any country in the world for 30 days a year with unlimited vacation days per year. (If you are in an individual contributor role in tech, you will have 2 office days a week and 3 to work from home.)
• Access to healthcare benefits and fitness reimbursements for health activities including gym, health club, and training classes.