Lead Data Scientist - Machine Learning Innovation

Placements24; Queenstown; Hybrid; NZD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Health insurance

Retirement plan with company match

Conference participation

Full remote work flexibility

Home office setup allowance

Access to cutting-edge resources

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead Data Scientist to head advanced ML initiatives in a remote-first setup with a strategic anchor in Queenstown (NZ). Lead a distributed team, design cutting-edge models, and drive value across business units through robust data science practices.

You will steer project lifecycles from ideation to deployment, stay current with AI advances, and ensure ethical use of data. This role offers extensive remote collaboration and opportunities for impact on transformative AI

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in Data Science, CS, Stats, Math or related field.
• Minimum 7 years in data science and ML, 3+ in leadership roles.
• Proven ML expertise across supervised/unsupervised, DL, RL.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of data scientists.
• Design and implement advanced ML algorithms.
• Clean and transform large datasets for insights.
• Develop and validate predictive models and ML systems.
• Collaborate with engineering/product to deploy models.

Skills

Leadership experience

Python/R

Machine learning

Communication

Cloud platforms

Education

PhD or Master's in Data Science/CS/Statistics

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Spark

Hadoop

SQL/NoSQL

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneer in data-driven innovation and artificial intelligence, is seeking an exceptional Lead Data Scientist to spearhead its advanced machine learning initiatives. This is a fully remote position, allowing you to contribute your expertise from anywhere, with a strategic anchor in Queenstown, Eastern Cape, ZA . You will lead a team of talented data scientists in developing and deploying sophisticated machine learning models that solve complex business challenges and drive significant value. This role demands a profound understanding of machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and data mining techniques, coupled with strong leadership and communication skills. You will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of data science projects, from conceptualization and data exploration to model development, validation, and implementation. As a remote-first organization, we provide state-of-the-art tools, a collaborative virtual environment, and extensive support to ensure our distributed teams excel. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrable history of successfully leading data science projects and a passion for pushing the boundaries of AI. Join us to shape the future of intelligent systems and make a tangible impact on groundbreaking projects. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and dynamic remote work environment where cutting-edge research and development thrive.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of data scientists in developing and deploying machine learning models.
• Design and implement advanced statistical and machine learning algorithms.
• Explore, clean, and transform large datasets to identify patterns and insights.
• Develop and validate predictive models and machine learning systems.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to integrate models into production systems.
• Communicate complex findings and insights to technical and non-technical stakeholders effectively.
• Stay current with the latest research and advancements in data science and AI.
• Define data science project roadmaps and manage project timelines.
• Ensure the ethical and responsible use of data and AI technologies.
• Contribute to the development of the company's data science strategy and best practices.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in data science and machine learning, with at least 3 years in a leadership or senior role.
• Proven expertise in a wide range of machine learning techniques (e.g., supervised/unsupervised learning, deep learning, reinforcement learning).
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R and relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and SQL/NoSQL databases.
• Strong analytical, statistical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and team leadership abilities.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) for data science workloads.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex business problems into data science solutions.
• Ability to manage remote teams and projects effectively.

Benefits

• Exceptional salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous retirement savings plan with company match.
• Significant opportunities for research, publications, and conference participation.
• Full remote work flexibility.
• Home office setup allowance.
• Access to cutting-edge computational resources and datasets.
• A highly collaborative and intellectually stimulating remote work environment.
• Opportunities to work on transformative AI projects.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.