Data Scientist

Placements24; Pietermaritzburg; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement contributions

Performance bonuses

Professional development programs

Conferences support

Advanced computing resources

Job summary

Placements24 client in Pietermaritzburg seeks a Data Scientist to drive data analytics and ML initiatives for financial products. You will work with large datasets, build predictive models, and translate insights into business actions within a collaborative team.

The role requires a strong statistical background, programming skills in Python or R, and the ability to communicate complex results to diverse stakeholders. On-site role in KwaZulu-Natal.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• 3–5 years of professional experience as a Data Scientist or similar analytic role (financial services preferred).
• Strong programming skills in Python or R with relevant libraries (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy).
• Solid understanding of statistical modeling, ML algorithms, and data mining techniques.
• Experience with SQL and big data tech (Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Collect, clean and transform large datasets for analysis.
• Develop, test and deploy machine learning models for prediction and classification.
• Analyze data to identify trends and actionable insights.
• Design and run A/B tests to evaluate model performance and business impact.
• Communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with business units to translate needs into data science projects.
• Stay updated with advancements in data science and AI.
• Develop data-driven strategies to improve customer engagement, risk management and operations.
• Contribute to data science infrastructure and best practices.
• Ensure data quality and governance throughout analysis.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

Statistics

Machine Learning

Data Visualization

Communication

Teamwork

Problem Solving

Education

Master's or PhD in Statistics/Computer Science/Mathematics/Economics

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

Tableau

Power BI

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking financial institution, is seeking a talented and innovative Data Scientist to join their team in Pietermaritzburg . This role is integral to leveraging data analytics and machine learning techniques to drive business insights, improve customer experiences, and optimize financial products. The Data Scientist will work with large, complex datasets, building predictive models and developing data-driven solutions to address key business challenges. This position requires a strong blend of statistical expertise, programming skills, and business acumen. The role is based in our KwaZulu-Natal office, fostering close collaboration with business stakeholders and other data professionals. We are looking for a curious and analytical mind dedicated to uncovering valuable insights from data and translating them into actionable strategies that enhance our competitive edge. Your contributions will directly impact our ability to make informed, data-backed decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect, clean, and transform large datasets from various sources for analysis.
• Develop, test, and deploy machine learning models for prediction, classification, clustering, and other analytical tasks.
• Analyze complex data to identify trends, patterns, and actionable insights.
• Design and conduct A/B tests and other experiments to evaluate model performance and business impact.
• Communicate findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders through visualizations and reports.
• Collaborate with business units to understand their needs and translate them into data science projects.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Develop data-driven strategies to improve customer engagement, risk management, and operational efficiency.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of the data science infrastructure and best practices.
• Ensure data quality and integrity throughout the analytical process.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience as a Data Scientist or in a similar analytical role, preferably within the financial services sector.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, including relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy).
• Solid understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data mining techniques.
• Experience with SQL and working with relational databases; familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) is beneficial.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement contributions, and performance bonuses.
• Opportunities for professional development are provided through training programs, workshops, and support for attending conferences.
• The company fosters a collaborative and innovative work environment in Pietermaritzburg , encouraging continuous learning and skill enhancement.
• Employees benefit from working on challenging and impactful projects that utilize cutting-edge data science techniques.
• The role offers potential for career growth within a leading financial institution.
• Access to advanced computing resources and datasets is guaranteed.