Data Scientist (Contract)

Indsafri; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the financial services sector is seeking a skilled professional to assist in the development and optimization of market-making models. The role involves analyzing high-frequency trading data and implementing machine learning techniques to predict price movements. Candidates should have a strong background in data analytics, machine learning, and financial systems, with at least 5 years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-7 years in data analytics and machine learning.
• Experience with financial systems and trading platforms.
• Strong understanding of equities and market microstructure.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing market-making models for equities.
• Conduct back testing and research for model improvement.
• Implement machine learning techniques for price prediction.

Skills

Machine Learning

Data Analysis

Python

SQL

AWS

High-Frequency Trading

Tools

AWS Sage Maker

Azure DevOps

QuickSight

Job description

Job Description / Responsibilities:

• Assist in the development and optimization of market-making models, focusing on equities and, equity derivatives.
• Conduct back testing and research to improve current models and develop new ones.
• Analyse high-frequency trading data to identify patterns and trends.
• Implement machine learning techniques, particularly LSTMs and convolutional networks, to predict short-term price movements.
• Collaborate with teams to integrate new indicators and models into production environments.
• Work with AWS infrastructure, including S3 buckets and Sage Maker, for data processing and model training.
• Generate and analyse data samples, including time-based and volume-based sampling.
• Ensure the robustness of models by balancing in-sample and out-sample results.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with cloud technologies and their application within the financial services sector.
• Strong background in machine learning, particularly in time series analysis and neural networks.
• Experience with high-frequency trading data and market microstructure.
• Proficiency in Python and familiarity with AWS services, especially Sage Maker.
• Ability to work with large datasets and perform data normalization.

Experience:

• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in data analytics, machine learning, quantitative analysis.
• Proven experience working in complex financial systems and applications (e.g., trading platforms, payment systems, risk management systems).
• Strong understanding of financial products, capital markets, derivatives, and treasury operations.
• Strong understanding of Equities and trading
• Hands-on experience with coding in Python, and the use of visualisation tools
• Must have experience with Machine Learning
• Must have knowledge of Market Microstructure

Must-have Skills (Mandatory Skills):

• Proficiency in SQL, Python, AWS, and Quick sight; experience working with databases for data analysis. 5+ years
• Knowledge of statistical and ML (machine learning) techniques
• Experience with ticketing systems (e.g., Azure Devops (ADO), ServiceNow), change management tools
• 5+ Years of experience within global markets
• Proficiency in machine learning
• Proficiency in trading algos
• 2+ Years of experience within Hedge fund