Remote Lead Data Scientist - Financial Risk

Placements24; United States; Remote; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Flexible hours

Training and conferences

Home office stipend

Cutting-edge tech access

Bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Data Scientist to spearhead a remote-first financial risk modeling team. Based out of Gauteng with fully remote work, you will develop and deploy sophisticated ML models to assess credit, market and fraud risk across platforms.

You will lead a team of data scientists, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and ensure model validation, deployment, and monitoring in a remote environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years hands-on data science experience, with ≥2 years in a leadership role.
• Proficiency in Python or R and ML libraries (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, pandas).
• Experience in financial risk management within Banking & Finance domain.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development and deployment of ML models for financial risk assessment (credit, market, fraud).
• Mentor and guide a team of data scientists to foster innovation and technical excellence.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers and stakeholders to define scope and deliver insights.
• Process and analyze large, complex datasets ensuring data quality and integrity.
• Stay updated on advancements in data science and AI for finance.
• Document models, methodologies and results; present findings to leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Python

R

SQL

Big data

Statistical modeling

ML libraries

Education

Master's/PhD in data science/CS/Stats/Math

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a global leader in financial services technology, is seeking an experienced and visionary Lead Data Scientist to spearhead their **remote-first** financial risk modeling team. This is a critical role based out of **Tembisa, Gauteng**, offering a fully remote working experience, allowing you to contribute from anywhere. You will be responsible for developing and deploying advanced machine learning models to assess and mitigate financial risks across various platforms. This position requires a deep understanding of statistical modeling, big data technologies, and the financial industry's unique challenges. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership qualities and a passion for leveraging data to drive impactful business outcomes in the **Banking & Finance** sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of sophisticated machine learning models for financial risk assessment (e.g., credit risk, market risk, fraud detection).
• Mentor and guide a team of data scientists, fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders to define project scope and deliver actionable insights.
• Process and analyze large, complex datasets from diverse sources, ensuring data quality and integrity.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence relevant to finance.
• Develop and maintain robust documentation for models, methodologies, and results.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior management and technical teams.
• Champion best practices in model validation, deployment, and monitoring in a **remote** environment.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of hands‑on experience in data science, with at least 2 years in a leadership or lead role.
• Proven expertise in building and deploying machine learning models, particularly in financial risk management within the **Banking & Finance** industry.
• Strong programming skills in Python or R, and experience with relevant libraries (e.g., Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas).
• Proficiency in SQL and experience working with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Excellent understanding of statistical modeling, hypothesis testing, and experimental design.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience working in a **remote-first** setting, demonstrating strong self‑discipline and time‑management skills.
• Knowledge of financial regulations and compliance is a plus.

Benefits

• Highly competitive annual salary of ** R**.
• Fully remote work arrangement with flexible hours.
• Opportunities for advanced training and conferences.
• Contribution towards home office setup.
• Access to cutting‑edge technology and research.
• Collaborative and intellectually stimulating **remote** team culture.
• Performance‑based bonuses.