Senior Data Scientist - AI & Machine Learning

Placements24; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 106,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonuses

Professional development funding

Flexible work environment

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist for its Queenstown team. You will lead end-to-end data science work from data extraction to model deployment, delivering business insights and innovative ML solutions.

The role requires a PhD or Masters in a quantitative field, 7+ years of experience, and strong Python/R plus ML libraries. You will collaborate across teams, mentor juniors, and drive best practices in AI development.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related field.
• 7+ years of professional experience in data science with a focus on AI/ML.
• Experience deploying ML models in production environments.
• Proficiency in Python or R and ML libraries.
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, algorithms and data mining.
• Experience with big data using Spark/Hadoop and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) is desirable.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.
• Ability to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and implement ML models to solve business problems.
• Extract, clean and transform large datasets from various sources.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis to identify patterns and insights.
• Validate and test model performance, iterate to improve accuracy.
• Collaborate with engineering to deploy models to production.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines for ML workflows.
• Stay current with AI/ML research and advancements.
• Communicate findings clearly to stakeholders in Queenstown.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the data science culture.
• Document data science methodologies and best practices.

Skills

Python

R

Mathematics/Statistics

Machine Learning

Data Visualization

Education

PhD or Master’s in CS/Statistics/Math or related field

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

Pandas

NumPy

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leader in artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist to join their innovative team in **Queenstown, Eastern Cape**. This role is integral to developing and deploying advanced AI models that drive business insights and product innovation. You will be responsible for the entire data science lifecycle, from data extraction and cleaning to model development, validation, and deployment. The ideal candidate possesses a strong mathematical and statistical background, extensive experience with machine learning algorithms, and a proven ability to translate complex data into actionable strategies within the **Queenstown** region. This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity to work at the forefront of AI technology and make a significant impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement sophisticated machine learning models and algorithms to solve complex business problems.
• Extract, clean, and transform large datasets from various sources, ensuring data quality and integrity.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis to identify patterns, trends, and insights.
• Validate and test model performance, iterating on designs to improve accuracy and efficiency.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to deploy models into production environments.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines and infrastructure for machine learning workflows.
• Stay current with the latest research and advancements in AI, machine learning, and data science.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders in **Queenstown**.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to building a strong data science culture.
• Develop and document data science methodologies and best practices.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in data science, with a strong focus on AI and machine learning.
• Proven experience in developing and deploying machine learning models in production environments.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and proficiency with data science libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Pandas, NumPy).
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, algorithms, and data mining techniques.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences in **Queenstown**.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Matplotlib, Seaborn, Tableau) is a plus.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary, substantial performance-based bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package.
• Join a pioneering AI company in **Queenstown**, working on groundbreaking projects with a team of world‑class experts.
• We provide excellent opportunities for professional development, including funding for conferences, advanced training, and research initiatives.
• Enjoy a flexible work environment, generous paid time off, and a supportive culture that encourages innovation.
• The **Eastern Cape** location offers a unique blend of professional challenge and personal growth.