Data Scientist - AI & Machine Learning

Placements24; East London; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement fund

Paid holidays

Professional development

East London location access

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Data Scientist to join the AI & Machine Learning team in East London. The role focuses on leveraging advanced statistical and ML techniques to extract insights from complex datasets, build predictive models, and drive data-informed decisions across the organization.

You will work on projects from fraud detection to optimizing customer engagement, requiring strong Python or R skills, data manipulation, and visualization expertise, in a dynamic fintech environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in data-related field (Data Science, Statistics, CS, Math, Economics or similar).
• 3+ years as a Data Scientist or analytical role.
• Proficient in Python or R and ML libraries (pandas, scikit-learn, NumPy).
• Experience with SQL and relational databases.
• Solid ML knowledge (regression, classification, clustering, time series).
• Experience with data visualization tools (Tableau, Matplotlib/Seaborn).
• Familiarity with big data tech (Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Collect, clean, and preprocess large datasets from multiple sources.
• Train, evaluate, and refine ML models for predictive analytics.
• Apply stats to analyze data and identify trends.
• Design and run A/B tests and experiments.
• Communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Create data visualizations and dashboards of model performance.
• Collaborate with engineers to productionize ML models.
• Stay updated on DS/ML/AI advancements.
• Contribute to data strategy and best practices.
• Mentor junior team members.

Skills

Python or R

SQL

Data analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Data Science or related field

Tools

pandas

scikit-learn

NumPy

Tableau

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a fast-growing fintech company, is seeking a talented Data Scientist to join their AI & Machine Learning team in **East London**. This role involves leveraging advanced statistical and machine learning techniques to extract insights from complex datasets, build predictive models, and drive data-informed decision-making across the organization. You will work on challenging projects, from developing fraud detection algorithms to optimizing customer engagement strategies. The ideal candidate possesses strong analytical skills, a solid understanding of ML algorithms, proficiency in programming languages like Python or R, and experience with data manipulation and visualization tools. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a significant impact in a dynamic and innovative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect, clean, and preprocess large datasets from various sources.


• Develop, train, and evaluate machine learning models for predictive and analytical purposes.


• Apply statistical methods and techniques to analyze data and identify trends.


• Design and implement A/B tests and other experiments to measure the impact of interventions.


• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.


• Develop data visualizations and dashboards to illustrate insights and model performance.


• Collaborate with software engineers and product managers to integrate ML models into production systems.


• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and AI.


• Contribute to the development of data strategies and best practices within the company.


• Mentor junior team members and share knowledge within the data science community.

Requirements

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


• 3+ years of experience as a Data Scientist or in a similar analytical role.


• Strong proficiency in Python or R, including libraries for data analysis and machine learning (e.g., pandas, scikit-learn, NumPy).


• Experience with SQL and working with relational databases.


• Solid understanding of various machine learning algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, time series analysis).


• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Matplotlib, Seaborn, Tableau).


• 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.


• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.


• Comprehensive health insurance and retirement fund.


• Generous annual leave and paid public holidays.


• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.


• Engaging projects and a collaborative work culture in **East London**.


• Access to advanced analytics tools and platforms.


• Employee assistance program and wellness initiatives.


• Potential for career progression within the company.