Lead Data Scientist

Maxwell Bond; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic consulting firm is seeking a Lead Data Scientist for a pivotal role in shaping data-driven pricing strategies using telematics data. You will leverage your extensive data science experience to lead technical delivery and influence operational insights across the insurance sector. The position involves hands-on work with Python and Databricks and offers full ownership of a high growth data product. Ideal candidates should possess strong programming skills and prior experience in machine learning within production environments.

Qualifications

• Proven commercial impact from models delivered.
• Experience with large scale or time series data.
• Familiarity with telematics or sensor based data is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver analytical solutions using telematics data.
• Lead development of scoring and pricing algorithms.
• Own end to end machine learning pipelines from data through production.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring.

Skills

Senior level data science delivery

Strong Python engineering

Solid statistical foundations

End to end machine learning delivery in production

Tools

Python

Databricks

Spark

Kafka

Job description

Lead Data Scientist, Telematics and Insurance

London. Hybrid 1 to 2 days onsite

Salary up to £110,000 plus bonus and benefits

Working exclusively with my client, this role exists due to business expansion. The data science function launched in early 2023 and focuses on pricing and telematics driven products. The team already delivered over 20 percent profitability uplift across core insurance products using price optimisation models.

The role owns data structure and value extraction from large scale telematics data. The focus sits on turning driving behaviour into clear pricing and operational decisions for insurance products.

The business operates a champion challenger framework. The team delivers frequent model improvements through strong code standards and repeatable processes. Work happens at pace and at scale.

What you will do

You will lead technical delivery across telematics data science. You will shape how data turns into pricing value and operational insight across the wider business.

Day to day responsibilities

• Design and deliver analytical solutions using telematics data
• Lead development of scoring and pricing algorithms
• Own end to end machine learning pipelines from data through production
• Work hands on with Python and Databricks
• Build repeatable and product agnostic training and serving frameworks
• Translate model outputs into clear guidance for pricing, operations, and finance
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring
• Challenge existing approaches within insurance pricing
• Take full ownership of delivery approach and outcomes

Technology environment

• Python
• Databricks
• Large scale and streaming data
• Spark or Kafka style processingTree based models and deep neural networks
• Production grade machine learning systems

What my client looks for

Essential experience

• Senior level data science delivery
• Large scale or time series data
• End to end machine learning delivery in production
• Strong Python engineering
• Solid statistical foundations
• Proven commercial impact from models delivered

Desirable experience

• Telematics or sensor based data
• Insurance or pricing domain exposure
• Experience leading small teams
• Evidence of idea generation and product thinking

What you will work on over the next 6 to 12 months

• Core telematics pricing models
• Expansion into fleet and taxi products
• New data driven insurance propositions
• Shaping long term data science strategy
• Building a team around this capability

Why join

This role offers full ownership of a high growth data product. The business doubled in size recently and plans further growth. You influence tooling, platforms, and technical direction. You build long term capability and there is an opportunity to grow a team further down the line.

Please apply for more information if this sounds like a role for you