Lead Data Scientist - Belfast

Kainos; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Kainos in Belfast seeks an experienced AI/ML leader to design, deploy, and scale production-grade AI/ML solutions for enterprise SaaS, with a focus on Workday integrations.

You will lead the design and delivery of advanced AI/ML solutions, guide teams, and collaborate with customers to translate business needs into scalable technical outcomes. A strong background in Python, ML frameworks, and MLOps is essential.

Qualifications

• Typically 8+ years of industry experience or a PhD plus 4-5 years of industry experience.
• Strong Python and production-grade AI/ML software development experience.
• Extensive experience with ML frameworks and designing scalable AI/ML solutions.
• Experience with MLOps, CI/CD, monitoring, and deployment in enterprise systems.
• Proven leadership of data science teams and client engagements.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and delivery of advanced AI/ML solutions for the Workday product suite.
• Focus on predictive analytics, anomaly detection, and intelligent automation for Workday apps.
• Mentor the team, oversee performance, and drive career progression.
• Collaborate with customers to translate business needs into technical solutions.

Skills

Python programming

ML engineering

Leadership

Communication

Data engineering

MLOps

Generative AI

Cloud platforms

Team mentoring

Education

MSc or PhD in Computer Science / ML / OR / Statistics

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Databricks

PyTorch

TensorFlow

PostgreSQL

MySQL

NoSQL

Workday APIs

SageMaker / Azure ML

Job description

Salary: £28,000 - 51,000 per year

Requirements:

• Typically 8+ years of relevant industry experience, or a relevant PhD combined with 4-5 years of industry experience.
• Significant experience applying advanced statistical techniques, machine learning, and AI principles to solve complex business problems.
• Strong programming skills in Python, with an emphasis on writing clean, efficient, and maintainable code to enable scalable and production-grade AI/ML solutions.
• Extensive experience with machine learning frameworks (e.g., Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch), with the ability to design, implement, and optimise scalable solutions while guiding teams in the effective use of these tools.
• Extensive expertise in designing, deploying, and maintaining production-grade AI/ML solutions, including pipelines, MLOps practices (e.g., CI/CD pipelines, model versioning, monitoring), and seamless integration with enterprise systems such as Workday.
• Extensive experience designing and implementing generative AI use cases, leveraging large language models (e.g., OpenAI GPT, Hugging Face Transformers) to deliver scalable solutions for tasks such as conversational AI, document summarisation, or content creation.
• Proven experience with containerisation and orchestration technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes), including their use in designing scalable, cloud-native AI/ML systems.
• Proficiency in data engineering, including data wrangling, cleansing, and creating pipelines that integrate seamlessly into production environments.
• Extensive experience in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP), including leveraging cloud-native AI tools like SageMaker, Vertex AI, or Azure ML Studio.
• Demonstrable expertise in creating interactive dashboards and visual analytics using tools such as Streamlit, Plotly, Dash, or D3.js.
• Proven experience leading, mentoring, and formally line-managing data science teams, including conducting performance appraisals and supporting career development and progression.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a track record of managing client engagements and translating business requirements into actionable technical solutions.
• Advanced degree (MSc or PhD) in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Operational Research, Statistics, or a related field.
• Proven track record of delivering AI solutions in enterprise SaaS environments, particularly for Workday systems.
• Advanced proficiency in relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL), NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, DynamoDB).
• Familiarity with Workday APIs, Workday Prism Analytics, and automated testing frameworks like Kainos Smart.
• Knowledge of data engineering and analytics platforms such as Databricks, with experience in leveraging them for scalable data processing and machine learning workflows.
• Active participation in knowledge sharing activities, such as conferences, blogs, or internal workshops, to promote thought leadership.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and delivery of advanced AI/ML solutions that improve the functionality, scalability, and efficiency of our Workday product suite.
• Focus on innovations such as predictive analytics for workforce planning, anomaly detection in financial processes, and intelligent automation for Workday applications.
• Collaborate closely with customers.
• Mentor our team and provide thought leadership across the organization.
• Carry line management responsibilities, including the development, appraisal, and career progression of members of our team.

Technologies:

• AI
• AWS
• Azure
• CI/CD
• Cloud
• D3
• Databricks
• Docker
• GCP
• Support
• Kubernetes
• Machine Learning
• MLOps
• MongoDB
• MySQL
• NoSQL
• PostgreSQL
• PyTorch
• Python
• TensorFlow

More:

We are Kainos, a people-first company of problem solvers, innovators, and collaborators creating real impact through digital services and cutting-edge Workday solutions. As part of our Workday Products division, we are working on a fast-growing suite of products including Kainos Smart (Smart Test, Smart Audit and Smart Shield), Employee Document Management and Pay Transparency Analyzer. We value diversity, equity and inclusion, and we are committed to building a diverse team where everyone is respected and given an equal chance to thrive. We also support candidates who may need accommodations or adjustments during the recruitment process.

last updated 36 week of 2026