Lead Data Scientist - AI & Machine Learning Research

Placements24; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Highly competitive salary and bonuses

Fully remote work with flexibility

Comprehensive health, dental, vision

Budget for professional development

Stock options or equity

Advanced computing resources

Retirement savings plan with company匹配

Unlimited PTO and holidays

Challenging and impactful research

Collaborative remote environment

Job summary

WhatJobs Direct is actively seeking a Lead Data Scientist to spearhead AI/ML research with a fully remote, global team. You will define strategic direction, lead a data science group, and drive development of novel algorithms and models.

The ideal candidate has a PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field and 8+ years in data science, including leadership. Strong communication and publication track record are highly valued.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field with a strong AI/ML focus.
• 8+ years in data science with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven expertise in deploying deep learning, RL, and NLP models.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D of advanced AI and ML models, algorithms, and methodologies.
• Define the strategic roadmap for AI/ML initiatives.
• Mentor and manage a team of data scientists in a remote setting.
• Design scalable ML pipelines for data processing, training, and deployment.
• Conduct in-depth data analysis, feature engineering, and model evaluation.
• Publish research findings and present technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to deploy models in production.
• Ensure ethical and responsible AI development and deployment.
• Drive innovation and thought leadership in AI/ML.

Skills

Leadership

AI/ML strategy

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Cloud platforms

Big data

Communication

Education

PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Spark

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

WhatJobs Direct is actively seeking a highly experienced and visionary Lead Data Scientist to spearhead our cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning research initiatives. This is a fully remote position, offering a unique opportunity to work with a global team of brilliant minds on groundbreaking projects. You will be instrumental in defining the strategic direction of our AI/ML efforts, leading a team of talented data scientists, and driving the development of novel algorithms and predictive models. The ideal candidate will possess a deep theoretical understanding coupled with extensive practical experience in applying advanced statistical and computational techniques to solve complex real-world problems. Your work will directly impact the future of our product offerings and competitive edge. We are looking for a thought leader who thrives in a dynamic, research-oriented, and fully remote environment, capable of translating complex scientific concepts into actionable insights and scalable solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the research and development of advanced AI and Machine Learning models, algorithms, and methodologies.
• Define the strategic roadmap for AI/ML initiatives, aligning with business objectives and scientific innovation.
• Mentor, guide, and manage a team of data scientists, fostering a collaborative and high-performance research culture.
• Design and implement scalable machine learning pipelines for data processing, model training, and deployment in a remote setting.
• Conduct in-depth data analysis, feature engineering, and model evaluation using large, complex datasets.
• Stay at the forefront of AI/ML research, identifying and exploring new techniques, tools, and technologies.
• Publish research findings in top-tier conferences and journals, and present technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to integrate AI/ML models into production systems.
• Ensure the ethical and responsible development and deployment of AI systems.
• Drive innovation and thought leadership in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, or a related quantitative field with a strong focus on AI/ML.
• Minimum of 8 years of hands-on experience in data science, with at least 3 years in a leadership or lead role.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and deploying sophisticated machine learning models (e.g., deep learning, reinforcement learning, NLP).
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Strong theoretical understanding of statistical modeling, algorithms, and data structures.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor technical teams in a remote work environment.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly.
• Published research or contributions to open-source AI/ML projects are highly desirable.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and significant performance-based bonuses.
• Fully remote work arrangement with flexibility.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous budget for professional development, conferences, and research resources.
• Stock options or equity in a rapidly growing tech company.
• Advanced computing resources and access to state-of-the-art tools.
• Retirement savings plan with company matching.
• Unlimited paid time off and holidays.
• Opportunity to work on challenging and impactful research problems.
• Collaborative and intellectually stimulating remote work environment.