Lead Data Scientist - AI/ML

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Híbrido; ZAR 1.200.000 - 1.800.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Competitive compensation

Performance bonuses

Remote-first work policy

Descripción de la vacante

Placements24 seeks a visionary Lead Data Scientist specializing in AI/ML to drive innovation for a global financial organization. This senior remote role leads a team through ideation, development, deployment, and monitoring of predictive models, with a focus on governance and ethical AI.

You will thrive in a fast-paced, remote-first environment, collaborating with stakeholders and staying ahead of AI/ML research while applying deep expertise to financial services use cases.

Formación

• PhD or Master’s in CS, statistics, mathematics, artificial intelligence, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years in data science with at least 2 years in a lead/management role.
• Proven track record deploying complex AI/ML models in production environments.
• Strong programming with Python or R and ML libraries.
• Experience with big data technologies (Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).

Responsabilidades

• Lead design, development, and deployment of advanced AI/ML models for predictive analytics and NLP.
• Mentor and manage a team of data scientists and ML engineers.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify AI/ML opportunities delivering business value.
• Oversee data preprocessing, feature engineering, and model training pipelines.
• Ensure model governance, ethics, and data privacy in all projects.
• Communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Conocimientos

Python

R

Machine Learning

Leadership

Communication

Educación

PhD or Master’s in CS/Statistics/Math/AI

Herramientas

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Descripción del empleo

About the Role

Our client is looking for a visionary Lead Data Scientist specializing in AI/ML to drive innovation and build cutting-edge predictive models. This is a fully remote, senior position offering the opportunity to lead a talented team and shape the future of data-driven solutions for a global financial organization. You will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of AI/ML projects, from ideation and data exploration to model development, deployment, and monitoring. The role requires a deep technical understanding of machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and big data technologies, coupled with strong leadership and communication skills. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced professional to make a significant impact from anywhere within **Stellenbosch, Western Cape** or indeed, anywhere in South Africa, in a remote-first capacity.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced AI/ML models for predictive analytics, classification, clustering, and natural language processing. Mentor and manage a team of data scientists and machine learning engineers. Collaborate with business stakeholders to identify opportunities for AI/ML solutions that drive business value. Oversee the data preprocessing, feature engineering, and model training pipelines. Evaluate and select appropriate algorithms and frameworks for specific problems. Deploy models into production environments and establish monitoring mechanisms for performance and drift. Stay at the forefront of AI/ML research and introduce new techniques and technologies to the team. Communicate complex technical findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Ensure best practices in model governance, ethical AI, and data privacy are followed. Drive innovation in AI/ML applications within the financial services domain. Experience in the financial services industry is a significant advantage. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, remote-first environment.

Requirements

PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence, or a related quantitative field. Minimum of 7 years of experience in data science, with a strong focus on machine learning and AI, including at least 2 years in a lead or management role. Proven track record of successfully developing and deploying complex AI/ML models in production environments. Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn). Deep understanding of various machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and deep learning techniques. Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP). Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills. Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, suitable for managing a remote team. Experience in the financial services industry is a significant advantage. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, remote-first environment.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary, performance-based bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package including medical aid and retirement contributions. This fully remote role provides unparalleled flexibility and the chance to work on groundbreaking AI/ML projects. Employees benefit from continuous learning opportunities, including access to conferences, training, and research collaborations. Our client is committed to fostering a vibrant and inclusive remote work culture, offering ample opportunities for career growth and leadership development within a world-class organization based near **Stellenbosch, Western Cape**.