Lead Data Scientist - Workday Products

Kainos; Derry/Londonderry; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Kainos is seeking a Lead Data Scientist for the Workday Products division in the UK. You will design and deliver AI/ML solutions that power Workday applications, lead a data science team, and partner with customers to translate business needs into scalable, production-grade models.

Expect to mentor colleagues, drive ML lifecycle practices, and apply cutting-edge analytics to workforce planning, anomaly detection, and intelligent automation within enterprise SaaS platforms.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in data science, or PhD + 4–5 years industry experience.
• Expertise in ML/AI methods and scalable production systems.
• Strong Python, ML frameworks, and MLOps experience.
• Proven leadership and client-facing communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and delivery of advanced AI/ML solutions for Workday product suite.
• Mentor and manage data science team, including performance development.
• Collaborate with customers and integrate with enterprise systems like Workday.
• Drive pipelines, monitoring, and CI/CD for production-grade models.

Skills

Python programming

Statistical analysis

ML/AI concepts

Leadership

Client engagement

Data visualization

Education

PhD in Computer Science/ML

Advanced degree in quantitative field

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

Docker

Kubernetes

SageMaker/Azure ML/Vertex AI

Databricks

Streamlit/Plotly/Dash

Workday integration

Job description

Join Kainos and Shape the Future

At Kainos, we’re problem solvers, innovators, and collaborators - driven by a shared mission to create real impact. Whether we’re transforming digital services for millions, delivering cutting-edge Workday solutions, or pushing the boundaries of technology, we do it together.

We believe in a people-first culture, where your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and your contributions truly make a difference. Here, you’ll be part of a diverse, ambitious team that celebrates creativity and collaboration.

Ready to make your mark? Join us and be part of something bigger.

As a Lead Data Scientist within Kainos’ Workday Products division

you will play a pivotal role in actively contributing to the AI solutions behind our fast growing suite of Workday products – including Kainos Smart (Smart Test, Smart Audit and Smart Shield), Employee Document Management and Pay Transparency Analyzer. You will lead the design and delivery of advanced AI/ML solutions that improve the functionality, scalability, and efficiency of our Workday product suite. You will focus on cutting edge innovations, such as predictive analytics for workforce planning, anomaly detection in financial processes, and intelligent automation for Workday applications. You will collaborate closely with customers, mentor your team, and provide thought leadership across the organization. Alongside this strategic and technical ownership, you will carry line management responsibilities, including the development, appraisal, and career progression of members of your team.

Essential Experience

• 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.

Desirable Experience

• 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.

Embracing our differences

At Kainos, we believe in the power of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to building a team that is as diverse as the world we live in, where everyone is valued, respected, and given an equal chance to thrive. We actively seek out talented people from all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other characteristic that makes them who they are. We also believe every candidate deserves a level playing field.

Our friendly talent acquisition team is here to support you every step of the way, so if you require any accommodations or adjustments, we encourage you to reach out.

We understand that everyone's journey is different, and by having a private conversation we can ensure that our recruitment process is tailored to your needs.