Lead Data Scientist - AI Innovation

Placements24; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Highly competitive salary with annual;

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Generous annual leave

Professional development budget

Advanced computing resources

Leadership development

Retirement fund contributions

Job summary

Placements24 in South Africa seeks a visionary Lead Data Scientist - AI Innovation to lead analytics and AI initiatives in Tembisa, Gauteng. You will develop advanced ML models and AI solutions to transform business operations and customer engagement.

You will mentor data scientists, translate complex findings into business value, and shape the AI roadmap. Work with cutting-edge technologies, apply statistical modeling, and ensure responsible data use across projects, influencing strategic

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of hands-on experience in data science and machine learning, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior mentorship role.
• Demonstrated expertise in building and deploying production-level machine learning models (e.g., classification, regression, clustering, NLP, deep learning).
• Strong proficiency in Python, R, and relevant data science libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, pandas, NumPy).
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and SQL.
• Solid understanding of statistical principles, experimental design, and hypothesis testing.
• Proven ability to translate complex business problems into data science solutions.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced AI and machine learning models to solve complex business problems.
• Mentor and guide a team of data scientists, fostering their technical growth and ensuring high-quality project delivery.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for AI-driven solutions.
• Translate business requirements into data science and ML project plans, defining methodologies and success metrics.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis, feature engineering, and model selection to optimize predictive performance.
• Develop and deploy scalable ML models into production with MLOps collaboration.
• Stay current with AI research and advocate adoption where appropriate.
• Communicate complex findings clearly to technical and executive stakeholders.
• Ensure ethical and responsible use of data and AI technologies.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Python

R

ML/AI

Communication

Cloud computing

Education

PhD in CS/Statistics/Math

Master's degree

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

pandas

NumPy

Spark

SQL

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a visionary and highly accomplished Lead Data Scientist - AI Innovation to spearhead their advanced analytics and artificial intelligence initiatives in Tembisa, Gauteng. This is a critical leadership role responsible for driving the development and application of sophisticated machine learning models and AI solutions that will revolutionize our client's core business operations and customer engagement strategies. You will be at the forefront of discovering actionable insights from vast datasets, translating complex findings into tangible business value, and mentoring a talented team of data scientists. The ideal candidate will possess a profound understanding of statistical modeling, predictive analytics, and the full lifecycle of AI/ML development. This position offers an exceptional opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, foster a culture of data-driven innovation, and contribute significantly to the company's competitive edge. You will work with cutting-edge technologies and tackle some of the most challenging problems in the field of artificial intelligence, making a real impact in the rapidly evolving technological landscape. We are committed to empowering our team members and providing them with the resources and autonomy to achieve groundbreaking results. Your leadership will be key to unlocking new possibilities through advanced AI and data science techniques.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced AI and machine learning models to solve complex business problems.
• Mentor and guide a team of data scientists, fostering their technical growth and ensuring high-quality project delivery.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, product, and business development, to identify opportunities for AI-driven solutions.
• Translate business requirements into data science and machine learning project plans, defining methodologies and success metrics.
• Conduct in-depth exploratory data analysis, feature engineering, and model selection to optimize predictive performance.
• Develop and deploy scalable machine learning models into production environments, working closely with MLOps engineers.
• Stay current with the latest research and advancements in AI, machine learning, and data science, and champion their adoption where appropriate.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly and effectively to both technical and executive stakeholders.
• Ensure the ethical and responsible use of data and AI technologies throughout all projects.
• Contribute to the overall data strategy and AI roadmap of the organization.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of hands-on experience in data science and machine learning, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior mentorship role.
• Demonstrated expertise in building and deploying production-level machine learning models (e.g., classification, regression, clustering, NLP, deep learning).
• Strong proficiency in Python, R, and relevant data science libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, pandas, NumPy).
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and SQL.
• Solid understanding of statistical principles, experimental design, and hypothesis testing.
• Proven ability to translate complex business problems into data science solutions.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) for data science workloads is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary with an attractive annual bonus structure.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous annual leave and company holidays.
• Professional development budget for training, conferences, and certifications.
• Access to advanced computing resources and cutting-edge AI tools.
• Opportunities for rapid career progression and leadership development.
• Retirement fund contributions.
• On-site amenities and collaborative work spaces.
• Company-sponsored social events and team-building activities.