Senior Data Scientist - Machine Learning

Placements24; Willows (CA); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive salary

Performance-based incentives

Health insurance

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist with ML focus for our client, a Welkom-based analytics firm in the Free State. You will design and deploy advanced predictive models, work with large datasets, and collaborate with stakeholders to drive data-driven decisions.

The role offers a hybrid work model with in-office sessions at the Welkom facility, and requires a strong academic background paired with practical ML implementation experience.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in data science with a strong focus on machine learning.
• Proficiency in Python or R (with libraries such as Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy).
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, data mining, and ML algorithms.
• Experience with big data technologies (Spark, Hadoop) and SQL/NoSQL databases.
• Proven ability to develop and deploy ML models into production environments.
• Experience with data visualization tools (Tableau, Matplotlib, Seaborn).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Experience in hybrid or remote team environments is beneficial.
• Prior experience within the Free State province is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement machine learning models for various business applications (prediction, classification, clustering, anomaly detection).
• Explore, clean, and pre-process large and complex datasets from diverse sources.
• Identify and evaluate ML algorithms and techniques suitable for specific problems.
• Build and maintain data pipelines for model training, validation, and deployment.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to translate needs into data science problems.
• Communicate complex findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay up-to-date with advancements in ML/AI and data science.
• Perform feature engineering, model selection, and hyperparameter tuning.
• Conduct A/B testing and statistical analyses to validate model effectiveness.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's growth.

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking analytics firm based in Welkom, Free State, is looking for a highly motivated Senior Data Scientist with a specialization in Machine Learning. This role is crucial for developing and deploying advanced predictive models and analytical solutions that drive business intelligence and strategic decision-making. You will work with large, complex datasets, applying cutting-edge machine learning algorithms to uncover insights and create value. The position offers a hybrid work model, allowing for a blend of focused remote work and collaborative in-office sessions at our Welkom facility. We are seeking a candidate with a strong academic background, practical experience in applying ML techniques, and a passion for solving challenging problems. You will be part of an innovative team that is shaping the future of data-driven insights in the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement machine learning models for various business applications (e.g., prediction, classification, clustering, anomaly detection).
• Explore, clean, and pre-process large and complex datasets from diverse sources.
• Identify and evaluate potential machine learning algorithms and techniques suitable for specific problems.
• Build and maintain data pipelines for model training, validation, and deployment.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into data science problems.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science.
• Perform feature engineering, model selection, and hyperparameter tuning to optimize performance.
• Conduct A/B testing and other statistical analyses to validate model effectiveness.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's technical growth.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in data science, with a strong focus on machine learning.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python (with libraries like Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy) or R.
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, data mining, and machine learning algorithms.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and database management (SQL, NoSQL).
• Proven ability to develop and deploy machine learning models into production environments.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Matplotlib, Seaborn, Tableau).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Experience working in a hybrid or remote team environment is beneficial.
• Prior experience within the Free State province is an advantage.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Hybrid work arrangement promoting work-life balance.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Generous annual leave and company holidays.
• Professional development opportunities, including access to online courses and conferences.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Dynamic and collaborative work environment.
• Opportunity to work on challenging and impactful projects.
• Regular team social events and workshops.
• State-of-the-art tools and technologies for data analysis.