Data Scientist

Watershed Consulting; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 645,000 - 872,000; Full time

Job summary

Watershed Consulting is seeking an experienced Intermediate Data Scientist in Johannesburg/Sandton to develop predictive models, generate actionable insights, and solve complex business problems using data. You will work with stakeholders to deliver data-driven solutions and build scalable data pipelines.

The role emphasizes strong statistics, ML, Python, SQL, and cloud exposure. Collaboration with Data Engineers, BI Developers, and Product Owners is essential, with an office-based work setup as

Qualifications

• 3-6 years of hands-on experience in Data Science or ML.
• Strong Python and ML framework experience (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Proficient in SQL and data manipulation across structured and unstructured datasets.
• Strong understanding of statistics, probability, hypothesis testing, and predictive analytics.
• Experience deploying ML models in production.
• Experience with supervised and unsupervised learning techniques.
• Experience with feature engineering, model evaluation, and performance tuning.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Matplotlib.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, or GCP.

Responsibilities

• Analyze large and complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and business opportunities.
• Design, develop, validate, and deploy machine learning and predictive models.
• Build and optimize data pipelines for data preparation, feature engineering, and model training.
• Perform exploratory data analysis (EDA) and statistical analysis to derive insights.
• Develop forecasting, classification, clustering, recommendation, and anomaly detection models.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to translate requirements into analytical solutions.
• Communicate findings and recommendations through reports, dashboards, and presentations.
• Monitor model performance and implement improvements as required.
• Work closely with Data Engineers, BI Developers, Product Owners, and business teams.
• Ensure adherence to data governance, security, and compliance requirements.

Skills

Python

SQL

Statistics

ML

Data Visualization

Cloud Platforms

Communication

Big Data

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Data Science/CS/Statistics/Mathematics/Engineering

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Matplotlib

Databricks

Azure ML

Snowflake

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

• Role : Data Scientist
• Location : Johannesburg , Sandton [ Mandatory Work from office]
• Duration : 6 + 6 Months renewal
• Subcon Budget : R550/hr including your margin

Job Spec

Job Summary

We are looking for an experienced Intermediate Data Scientist to develop predictive models, generate actionable insights, and solve complex business problems using data. The ideal candidate will have strong statistical, machine learning, and programming skills, along with the ability to work closely with business and technology stakeholders to deliver data-driven solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze large and complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and business opportunities.
• Design, develop, validate, and deploy machine learning and predictive models.
• Build and optimize data pipelines for data preparation, feature engineering, and model training.
• Perform exploratory data analysis (EDA) and statistical analysis to derive insights.
• Develop forecasting, classification, clustering, recommendation, and anomaly detection models.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into analytical solutions.
• Communicate findings and recommendations through reports, dashboards, and presentations.
• Monitor model performance and implement model improvements as required.
• Work closely with Data Engineers, BI Developers, Product Owners, and business teams.
• Ensure adherence to data governance, security, and compliance requirements.

Required Skills

• 3-6 years of hands-on experience in Data Science or Machine Learning.
• Strong proficiency in Python (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with SQL and data manipulation across structured and unstructured datasets.
• Strong understanding of statistics, probability, hypothesis testing, and predictive analytics.
• Experience building and deploying machine learning models in production environments.
• Knowledge of supervised and unsupervised learning techniques.
• Experience with feature engineering, model evaluation, and performance tuning.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools such asPower BI, Tableau, or Matplotlib.
• Experience working with cloud platforms such asAzure, AWS, or GCP.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with MLOps frameworks and model lifecycle management.
• Exposure to Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and AI Agents.
• Experience with Databricks, Azure Machine Learning, or Snowflake.
• Knowledge of Spark/PySpark and big data technologies.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines for ML model deployment.
• Familiarity with containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Financial Services, Banking, Insurance, Retail, or Telecommunications domain experience.

Educational Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related field.

Key Competencies

• Strong business acumen and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to translate business problems into analytical solutions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative Agile environment.

Nice to Have

• Experience working on AI/ML solutions in enterprise environments.
• Exposure to Responsible AI, model governance, and explainable AI techniques.