Lead Data Scientist

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus program

Health insurance

Equity/Stock options

Professional development

Dynamic culture in Stellenbosch

Flexible hours

FinTech projects

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, seeks a Lead Data Scientist to head a team of data scientists, guide ML model development and deployment, and shape the data strategy. You will tackle complex business problems using advanced analytics, statistical modeling, and big data technologies.

You will collaborate with engineering, product and business teams, mentor junior talent, and translate insights into tangible value to drive growth and enhance customer experiences.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field.
• 6+ years in data science with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Strong ML algorithms, statistical modeling, and experimental design.
• Proficiency in Python or R and ML libraries (SciKit-learn, TF, PyTorch).
• Experience with big data tech (Spark, Hadoop) and SQL.
• Excellent communication and leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of data scientists, fostering a high-performing environment.
• Design, develop, and deploy ML models to solve business challenges.
• Define data science strategy and roadmap aligned with business goals.
• Analyze large datasets to extract actionable insights.
• Develop data-driven products and features.
• Collaborate with engineering to productionize models.
• Evaluate new technologies and ML methodologies.
• Communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Machine learning

Programming (Python/R)

Communication

Education

Master's/Ph.D. in CS/Statistics/Math

Tools

Scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Spark

Hadoop

SQL

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking FinTech company with a significant presence in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, is seeking an accomplished Lead Data Scientist. This senior role will involve leading a team of data scientists, driving the development and deployment of cutting-edge machine learning models, and contributing to strategic data initiatives. You will be responsible for tackling complex business problems using advanced analytics, statistical modeling, and big data technologies. The ideal candidate will possess a strong technical background, extensive experience in machine learning and statistical modeling, and proven leadership capabilities. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of data-driven decision-making within an innovative and rapidly growing organization. You will collaborate closely with engineering, product, and business teams to deliver impactful data solutions. We are looking for a visionary leader who can inspire a team, mentor junior talent, and translate complex analytical insights into tangible business value. Your expertise will be critical in leveraging data to drive growth and enhance customer experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of data scientists, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Design, develop, and deploy machine learning models and algorithms to solve business challenges.
• Define data science strategy and roadmap in alignment with business objectives.
• Explore and analyze large, complex datasets to extract actionable insights.
• Develop data-driven products and features.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to implement models into production environments.
• Evaluate and adopt new technologies and methodologies in data science and machine learning.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ensure the quality, reliability, and scalability of data science solutions.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in data science, with at least 2 years in a leadership or team lead role.
• Deep understanding of machine learning algorithms (supervised, unsupervised, deep learning), statistical modeling, and experimental design.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with data science libraries (e.g., Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and SQL.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically and creatively.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to manage projects and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous stock options or equity package.
• Professional development opportunities, including conferences and training.
• A dynamic, innovative work culture in Stellenbosch, Western Cape.
• Flexible working hours and generous paid time off.
• Opportunities to work on groundbreaking FinTech projects.