Data Scientist - Machine Learning Specialization

Placements24; Mossel Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid

Annual leave and development budget

Mossel Bay workspace

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, is seeking a Data Scientist with a Machine Learning specialization. You will build predictive models, uncover patterns, and drive data-informed decisions across business units using Python/R and popular ML libraries.

The role emphasizes statistical modeling, ML algorithms, data manipulation, and collaboration with cross-functional teams. This is a growth-focused position at our Mossel Bay office with modern tools and a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 3+ years of professional experience as a Data Scientist with a strong focus on machine learning.
• Proficiency in Python or R with libraries such as scikit-learn, pandas, NumPy, TensorFlow or PyTorch.

Responsibilities

• Develop, train, and deploy machine learning models for predictive analytics, classification, regression, and clustering tasks.
• Perform data wrangling, feature engineering, and exploratory data analysis on large datasets.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to translate needs into data science solutions.
• Evaluate model performance, test rigorously, and iterate to improve accuracy and robustness.
• Communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences via visualizations and reports.
• Stay updated on ML/AI advancements and contribute to data pipelines and analytic frameworks.
• Identify opportunities to apply ML to solve business problems and improve processes.

Skills

Python/R

ML reasoning

SQL

Data Visualization

Communication

Education

Master's or PhD in Data Science/CS/Statistics/Math

Tools

scikit-learn

pandas

NumPy

TensorFlow/PyTorch

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a growing analytics firm focused on delivering actionable insights through data, is seeking a talented Data Scientist with a Machine Learning specialization for their Mossel Bay, Western Cape office. This role involves leveraging advanced machine learning techniques to build predictive models, uncover complex patterns, and drive data-informed decision-making across various business units. You will work with large, diverse datasets, translating raw data into meaningful solutions that address key business challenges. The ideal candidate possesses a strong foundation in statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data manipulation. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative projects in the Mossel Bay, Western Cape region, working with a collaborative team and utilizing cutting-edge tools in the field of AI and data science. If you are passionate about uncovering insights from data and building intelligent systems, this role offers significant professional growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, train, and deploy machine learning models for predictive analytics, classification, regression, and clustering tasks.
• Perform data wrangling, feature engineering, and exploratory data analysis on large and complex datasets.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into data science solutions.
• Evaluate model performance, conduct rigorous testing, and iterate on models to improve accuracy and robustness.
• Communicate complex findings and insights clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences through visualizations and reports.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in machine learning, data science, and AI technologies.
• Contribute to the development of data pipelines and analytical frameworks.
• Identify opportunities to apply machine learning to solve business problems and improve processes.

Requirements

• Master's degree or PhD in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 3+ years of professional experience as a Data Scientist, with a strong focus on machine learning.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and extensive experience with relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, pandas, NumPy, TensorFlow/PyTorch).
• Solid understanding of various machine learning algorithms (e.g., linear regression, logistic regression, decision trees, random forests, gradient boosting, SVMs, neural networks).
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Matplotlib, Seaborn, Tableau).
• Strong SQL skills for data extraction and manipulation.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance bonus structure.
• Comprehensive medical aid and other benefits.
• Generous annual leave and personal development budget.
• Exposure to diverse industry projects and challenging data problems.
• A modern and collaborative workspace in Mossel Bay, Western Cape.
• Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement.
• Work on impactful projects driving business innovation.