Data Scientist

Hastings Direct; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid working

Competitive bonus scheme

Life assurance and pension

Job summary

Hastings Direct is seeking a Data Scientist to design, develop and deploy predictive models that power its market-leading pricing activities. You will work within a team championing ML techniques to improve predictive performance using extensive customer data.

The role involves developing, maintaining and improving modelling pipelines, features and tooling, with collaboration across pricing, data engineering and analytics functions. Hybrid work in the UK is offered.

Qualifications

• Experience building and evaluating predictive models (linear, gradient boosted).
• Proficiency with Python and ML libraries for modelling tasks.
• Proficiency in SQL for data preparation and feature engineering.
• Basic knowledge of Git or other code version control systems.
• Strong communication and time management skills.
• Experience delivering data science solutions that influenced business decisions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support predictive models for insurance pricing and risk assessment.
• Integrate models into production systems and monitor performance.
• Build reusable tools and pipelines for reproducible modelling workflows.
• Identify and prepare new data features with predictive value and impact on pricing outcomes.

Skills

Predictive modeling

Python & ML libraries

SQL for data prep

Git or version control

Communication & time management

Business value delivered

Tools

Azure Machine Learning Studio

Snowflake

Job description

Welcome to Hastings Direct We’re a digital insurance provider with a clear strategy to become the best and biggest player in the UK market. As a company, we’ve made huge investments in our technology, pricing, data and analytics capabilities over the past few years, along with nurturing our 4Cs culture and substantial investment in our people. And as a Finance team, we're doing exactly the same – building a market leading finance technology platform, investing in our team and our approach to leadership development, with a real focus on commercially adding value to the business. The fact you’re now reading this job advert means we’ve tempted you to find out more about #lifeatHD. If you like what you see, we hope you'll consider joining our team. We have high standards and understand some people may not apply for jobs unless they feel they tick every box. If you’re excited about joining us and think you have some of what we are looking for, even if you’re not 100% sure, we would love to hear from you.

Job Title

Data Scientist

Location

Bexhill/Leicester/London – Hybrid

Role Purpose

The Data Scientist will assist in the design, development, and deployment of predictive models that feed into Hastings’ market‑leading pricing activities. This role is within a team of Data Scientists championing machine learning (ML) techniques to improve predictive performance using vast amounts of customer information.

Accountabilities

• Develop and support predictive models to assess insurance risk and inform pricing and underwriting decisions.
• Contribute to the integration of models into production systems and support their ongoing monitoring and maintenance.
• Develop, maintain and improve reusable tools, pipelines and processes that enable efficient, reliable and reproducible modelling, following agreed standards for coding, documentation, testing and model development.
• Identify, assess and prepare new data features, evaluating their predictive value, stability, interpretability and potential impact on customer pricing outcomes.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience – Essential

• Experience building and evaluating predictive models such as linear and gradient boosted models.
• Proficiency using Python and appropriate machine‑learning libraries.
• Proficiency in SQL, including preparing and transforming data for predictive modelling.
• Basic knowledge of Git or other code version control systems.
• Strong communication skills and time management skills.
• Demonstrable experience delivering data science solutions that have influenced business decisions and generated measurable commercial value.

Desirable

• Experience using Azure Machine Learning Studio or similar cloud-based ML platforms.
• Experience using Snowflake or similar cloud-based data platforms.
• Experience in general insurance.

Personal Attributes

• Natural problem solver who loves building quality solutions to complex real‑world challenges.
• Works independently to deliver solutions to well‑defined requirements.
• Dynamic, flexible and delivery focussed.

The interview process

Our interview process involves the below: Recruiter screening call. Intro with Hiring manager. Interview with hiring team – Case study. As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are fully inclusive – what this means to you is if you’re applying for a job with us, you’ll have fair access to support and adjustments throughout your recruitment journey. We also welcome applications through the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS).For more information on the DCS, please visit our inclusive business page on our career's website.

Benefits

• Flexible working – we champion a flexible hybrid working approach – please speak to your recruiter to discuss in more detail.
• Competitive bonus scheme - all colleagues are eligible for our annual 4Cs performance bonus.
• Financial wellbeing – as well as providing you with 4x your salary with our life assurance cover, income protection at no extra cost, and matched pension contributions up to 10%, we are proud to provide you with an award‑winning package which includes – discounts, cashback, free independent mortgage advice and free access to financial wellbeing support.
• Mental wellbeing programme – we have the thrive mental health app, our colleague assistance programme available 24/7, our own in‑house mental health first aiders, support groups and a dedicated team to make sure we are covering your needs.
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell one of your weeks, access to our health care cash back plans, dental plans, discounted health assessments, Cycle to work and tech schemes, discounted and free onsite facilities, social events throughout the year and much more.

Other positions

If you are interested in any other positions at Hasting Direct – you can view our live vacancy list via our carers page. Link below: Careers

Equal Opportunities

Hastings Group is an equal opportunities employer which means we treat people fairly. We welcome applications from all suitably skilled persons regardless of their gender, age, race, disability, ethnic background, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or marital/family status. Please also note that we have a thorough referencing process, which includes credit and criminal record checks.

Inclusive environment

At Hastings Direct, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, we encourage you to be open with us. Our recruitment team is here to provide the support you need to ensure a fair and accessible experience for all.

Company overview

Hastings Direct is a fast growing, agile, digitally focused general insurance provider of products and services to over 4 million customers in the UK, employing over 4,600 colleagues. Our vision – to be the best and biggest digital insurance provider in the market. It's our attitude and the way we run our business that makes us different. We focus on getting it right for our colleagues, customers, company and community. It's a dynamic, flexible, fun and constantly changing environment. You'll enjoy the scope to make a real difference for our customers, influence our company, benefit the communities we work in and have fun along the way.

Job posting end date: 18/10/2026