Data Scientist - Machine Learning Specialist

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & incentives

Health & wellness benefits

Professional development & training

Hybrid work arrangement

Richards Bay location

Generous annual leave

Job summary

Placements24 in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, is seeking a highly analytical Data Scientist specializing in machine learning. You will uncover insights from large datasets, develop predictive models, and drive data-informed decisions across the organization.

You will collaborate with engineering and business teams to deploy ML models, develop data pipelines, and create visualizations while staying current with ML advancements.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 3+ years of experience in data science and machine learning roles.
• Strong proficiency in Python or R, including libraries such as Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy.
• Experience with data manipulation and analysis using SQL.
• Proven experience in developing and deploying machine learning models in production.
• Familiarity with big data technologies (Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop, train, and deploy ML models for business applications including predictive maintenance, demand forecasting, and anomaly detection.
• Analyze large, complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and actionable insights.
• Design and conduct experiments to test hypotheses and validate model performance.
• Collaborate with engineering and business teams to integrate ML models into production systems.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in ML, AI, and data science.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines and processing workflows.
• Build data visualizations to effectively present findings.
• Ensure ethical and responsible use of data and AI models.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication

Presentation skills

Team collaboration

Python or R

ML deployment

Cloud platforms

Analytics

Education

Master's or PhD in Data Science, CS, Statistics, Mathematics

Tools

Scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

NumPy

SQL

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering firm in the renewable energy sector, is seeking a highly analytical and innovative Data Scientist with a specialization in Machine Learning to join their team in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. This role is central to uncovering actionable insights from vast datasets, developing predictive models, and driving data-informed decision-making across the organization. You will work on challenging projects, applying advanced statistical and machine learning techniques to optimize operations, forecast demand, and identify new opportunities. This position offers a unique chance to contribute to sustainable energy solutions while advancing your career in a dynamic and growing industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, train, and deploy machine learning models for various business applications, including predictive maintenance, demand forecasting, and anomaly detection.
• Analyze large, complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and actionable insights.
• Design and conduct experiments to test hypotheses and validate model performance.
• Collaborate with engineering and business teams to integrate ML models into production systems.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines and processing workflows.
• Build data visualizations to effectively present findings.
• Ensure the ethical and responsible use of data and AI models.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 3+ years of experience in data science and machine learning roles.
• Strong proficiency in Python or R, including relevant libraries (e.g., Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy).
• Experience with data manipulation and analysis using SQL.
• Proven experience in developing and deploying machine learning models in a production environment.
• 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.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and ML services is advantageous.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Opportunities for continuous professional development and training.
• A dynamic and collaborative work environment in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.
• Contribution to impactful projects in the sustainable energy sector.
• Hybrid work arrangement for work-life balance.
• Generous annual leave.