Data Scientist (12-Month Contract)

The Legends Agency; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 400,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist AI consultancy is seeking a Data Scientist for a 12-month contract based in Johannesburg. The role involves applying advanced analytics and machine learning techniques to deliver scalable, data-driven solutions. The ideal candidate has 3-5 years of experience in data science, proficiency in Python, and strong SQL skills. The position offers hybrid work flexibility and the potential for extension.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years' experience in data science or a related role.
• Proficiency in Python with strong knowledge of libraries.
• Strong SQL skills and experience with datasets.
• Hands-on experience with AWS services.

Responsibilities

• Explore and prepare complex datasets for analysis.
• Build and optimize machine learning models.
• Collaborate to translate requirements into data solutions.
• Communicate insights to various audiences.

Skills

Data analysis

Machine learning

Python

SQL

AWS services

Tools

Pandas

Scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Job description

Data Scientist (12-Month Contract)
Unlock the power of AI with impactful, real-world applications
Johannesburg | R600 per hour

About Our Client
Our client is a specialist AI consultancy dedicated to helping enterprises realise the full potential of artificial intelligence. They partner with leading organisations, including major banks, to design and implement transformative AI solutions. With a strong focus on innovation and impact, they offer an environment where your expertise directly shapes business outcomes.

The Role: Data Scientist
This 12-month contract role places you at the heart of a banking environment, where you\'ll apply advanced analytics and machine learning techniques to deliver scalable, data-driven solutions. Working closely with business and technical stakeholders, you will help frame problems, design models, and deploy AI tools that drive measurable value.

Key Responsibilities

• 3- 5 years' experience in data science or a related role
• Explore, clean, and prepare complex datasets for analysis and modelling
• Build, validate, and optimise machine learning models for business applications
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate requirements into actionable data solutions
• Partner with data engineers and ML engineers to scale models into production environments
• Communicate insights effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Contribute to prototyping, experimentation, and continuous improvement of AI solutions

About You

• 3 -5 years\' proven experience as a Data Scientist or similar role
• Proficiency in Python with strong knowledge of libraries such as Pandas, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch
• Solid foundation in statistics, feature engineering, and data analysis
• Strong SQL skills and experience working with both structured and unstructured data
• Essential: Hands-on experience with AWS services (e.g., S3, SageMaker, Lambda, EC2, Glue, Redshift)
• Ability to frame business problems into data-driven approaches and deliver actionable insights
• Advantageous: experience in banking/financial services
• Bonus: familiarity with deploying ML models, MLOps practices, and CI/CD pipelines

Contract Details

• Duration: 12 months, with potential extension
• Location: Johannesburg or Stellenbosch (hybrid work flexibility may apply)