Data Scientist

DataFin Recruitment; George; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Data Scientist based in George, South Africa. The ideal candidate should possess a degree in Data Science or Actuarial Science, and have over 3 years of experience in machine learning projects, particularly within insurance or financial services. The role involves preparing data, building models, and maintaining model performance, requiring proficiency in Python, R, SQL, and experience with data visualization tools. Join a team focused on innovative solutions that drive significant business impact.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in insurance or financial services, preferably short-term insurance.
• Proven experience transitioning ML projects from data to deployment.
• Ability to clean and prepare data for machine learning applications.

Responsibilities

• Prep, clean, and shape raw data into usable formats for ML.
• Discover hidden patterns and insights within data.
• Build, validate, and deploy ML models effectively.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

Snowflake

Machine Learning

Statistical Modelling

Time Series Forecasting

Education

Degree or Honours in Data Science or Actuarial Science

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Qlik Sense

Job description

ENVIRONMENT

Our client is on the hunt for a Data Scientist who can make machines think smarter than humans. Based in George where your models run fast and the coffee runs faster, you’ll join a team that’s redefining how data drives business. They’re not here to build pretty dashboards, they’re here to solve real problems with machine learning that drives smarter decisions, cuts costs, and fuels innovation. If you can turn messy data into powerful, production-ready models (no handholding required), this might just be your next great adventure.

DUTIES

• Prepping, cleaning & shaping raw data into machine-learning gold
• Finding hidden patterns no one else sees
• Building, validating & deploying ML models into production
• Keeping an eagle eye on model performance (and spotting drift before it drifts too far)
• Retraining and upgrading models so they stay sharp
• Designing intuitive dashboards & tools that make complex results look effortless

REQUIREMENTS

• Have a Degree or Honours in Data Science or Actuarial Science.
• Have 3+ years in insurance or financial services (short-term insurance = bonus points).
• Have 3+ years taking ML projects from raw data to deployment.
• Can wrangle Python or R, SQL or Snowflake like a pro.
• Have hands-on claims modelling, survival analysis & statistical modelling chops.
• Understand time series forecasting like the back of your hand.
• Are curious, independent, and allergic to “good enough”.

Extra street cred for

• Experience with ML platforms
• Power BI, Qlik Sense, Tableau wizardry