Lead Data Scientist

Tumaini Consulting; Durban; On-site; ZAR 1,100,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Tumaini Consulting seeks an accomplished Lead Data Scientist to provide senior technical leadership while staying hands-on across data science, ML, analytics and AI-driven solutions. Translate complex business challenges into actionable insights and help shape the technical direction of the Data Science function.

You will mentor technical teams, collaborate with senior stakeholders, and drive production-grade ML deployments, monitoring and retraining, in a dynamic data-driven environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in Data Science, Analytics or Data Warehousing with recent DS experience.
• 2+ years in technical or engineering leadership.
• Production experience across ML, statistical modelling and AI system design, including deployment, monitoring and retraining.
• Advanced Python skills with Jupyter, pandas, NumPy and scikit-learn.
• Experience with Delta Lake or comparable lakehouse architectures.
• Strong PySpark and distributed data-processing experience.
• Strong Power BI and Python-based data visualization experience.
• Mentoring technical teams and communicating with senior stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Bachelor's degree in STEM or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead data science initiatives and provide senior technical leadership while remaining hands-on across data science, ML, analytics and AI-driven solutions.
• Translate complex business challenges into actionable insights and shape the technical direction of the Data Science function.

Skills

Python (Pandas NumPy scikit-learn)

Jupyter

Distributed data processing (PySpark)

Data visualization (Power BI)

Leadership / Mentoring

Model deployment & monitoring

English communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

Delta Lake

Power BI

Lakehouse architectures

PySpark

Job description

Our client is seeking an accomplished Lead Data Scientist to provide senior technical leadership while remaining hands-on across data science, machine learning, analytics and AI-driven solutions. This is a key role for a data professional who can translate complex business challenges into actionable insights while helping shape the technical direction of the Data Science function.

Requirements

• 7+ years' experience across Data Science, Data Analytics or Data Warehousing, with substantial recent Data Science experience.
• 2+ years' experience in a technical or engineering leadership capacity.
• Strong production experience across machine learning, statistical modelling and AI system design, including model deployment, monitoring and retraining.
• Advanced Python skills with strong experience in Jupyter, pandas, NumPy and scikit-learn.
• Experience with Delta Lake or comparable lakehouse architectures.
• Strong PySpark and distributed data-processing experience.
• Strong Power BI and Python-based data visualisation experience.
• Proven ability to mentor technical teams and communicate with senior stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline or equivalent professional experience.