Senior Data Scientist - Telematics

Hastings Direct; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid working

Annual bonus scheme

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Pension contributions

30 days holiday

Job summary

Hastings Direct seeks a Senior Data Scientist for its Telematics team to design and deploy predictive models that enhance underwriting and risk assessment using telematics data.

You will build features and models that improve quotes and in-life risk, collaborate with ML Engineers, and present outcomes to stakeholders while exploring new technologies.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Python and ML libraries for building and deploying machine learning solutions in cloud environments.
• Experience using SQL.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate across teams of Data Scientists, Data Engineers, ML Engineers, Operational and Commercial stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop best in-class ML models to predict claims outcomes, fraud and other risk KPIs, including developing novel features from raw telematics data.
• Collaborate with ML Engineers to deploy ML models.
• Monitor deployed ML models and link performance to commercial and customer outcomes.
• Present your work to Operational and Commercial stakeholders.
• Explore new technologies and contribute to setting team's best practices.

Skills

Python

ML libraries

SQL

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Job description

Job Title: Senior Data Scientist - Telematics

Location: Bexhill/Leicester/London/ - Hybrid

Welcome to Hastings Direct

We're a digital insurance provider with ambitious plans to become the best and biggest in the UK market. We've made huge investments in our pricing and data capabilities over the past few years, along with nurturing our 4Cs culture.

We provide insurance for over four million customers, but we know there's even bigger opportunity out there - our Pricing, Data and Analytics community value curiosity, collaboration and constructive challenge.

We are always looking for new ideas and diverse perspectives to question established thinking and drive meaningful change. Great pricing is built on trust, innovation and precision, so our aim is to ensure customers receive a fair and accurate price based on their individual risk, supporting fair outcomes, while delivering sustainable and profitable growth for our company.

Pricing is more than just a number - it's a strategic capability. At the heart of Hastings is deep risk insight - continually improving how we assess, segment and price risk through data and analytics.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Data Scientist with experience in developing solutions to novel problems and a desire to drive innovation in the insurance industry.

The Data Scientist will design and build cutting-edge features and predictive models that generate value across Hastings products. You will also use these models and data assets to improve risk selection both at point-of-quote and in-life.

This role is within our new Telematics Data Value team, comprising data scientists, analysts, and engineers. We work to turn our telematics data into underwriting advantage - which enables market-beating prices for customers.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop best in-class ML models to predict claims outcomes, fraud and other risk KPIs, including developing novel features from raw telematics data.
• Collaborate with ML Engineers to deploy ML models.
• Monitor deployed ML models and link performance to commercial and customer outcomes.
• Present your work to Operational and Commercial stakeholders.
• Explore new technologies and contribute to setting team's best practices.

Essential Skills/experience

• Proficiency in Python and experience with ML libraries for building and deploying machine learning solutions in cloud environments.
• Experience using SQL.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate across teams of Data Scientists, Data Engineers, ML Engineers, Operational and Commercial stakeholders.

Personal Attributes

• Technical competence complemented by broader business understanding.
• A problem-solver who enjoys building creative solutions to complex real-world challenges.
• Able to work independently, with support where needed, and collaboratively.
• Curious, willing to challenge received wisdom and explore emerging techniques.
• We recognise that no candidate will meet every requirement. If you're excited about the role and feel you could add value, we'd love to hear from you.

Interview Process

• Recruiter screening call
• Intro with hiring leader
• Case study round - Technical / Competency

What We Will Give You

Join us and you'll find a different way of doing things. We call it the 4Cs. We focus on getting it right for our colleagues, customers, company and community. As one of our colleagues, you'll be helping to drive our growth, so in return, we'll give you all the support, training and development you need. Not to mention plenty of recognition and rewards, and the scope to voice your ideas and put them into practice.

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 careers website.

Benefits

in addition to a competitive salary and £5k car allowance you will also receive...

• 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
• Physical wellbeing - as a Band 4 colleague, Hastings pay for you to receive private medical Insurance (also known as PMI). This gives you flexibility and convenience to see a specialist or consultant and allows you to decide when and where you will be seen
• 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
• There's more! - 27 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 ...

Join us and you'll find a different way of doing things. We call it the 4Cs. We focus on getting it right for our colleagues, customers, company and community. As one of our colleagues, you'll be helping to drive our growth, so in return, we'll give you all the support, training and development you need. Our 4Cs principles are simple: we believe by creating the right culture for our colleagues and giving them the right tools to do their job, we'll deliver good outcomes for every customer, helping us to grow the company profitably and sustainably and allowing us to invest in the communities we serve.

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.

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.

Job Posting End Date

02/09/2026