Lead Data Scientist (Energy Analytics)

Placements24; LegKraal Gate; Hybrid; ZAR 2,538,000 - 3,892,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Home office stipend

Professional development budget

Healthcare benefits

Retirement fund contribution

Flexible work hours

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead Data Scientist to join a fully remote analytics team. You will drive predictive modeling, anomaly detection, and optimization across energy operations, shaping data-driven strategy to improve efficiency and sustainability.

You will lead and mentor a team of data scientists, collaborating with engineering and business units. The role emphasizes production-grade ML, cloud-enabled workflows, and clear communication to stakeholders, with flexibility for remote work and a

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years as a Data Scientist, with at least 3 years in leadership or senior capacity.
• Proven experience deploying ML models in production, preferably in energy sector.
• Proficiency in Python or R and ML libraries (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong SQL and big data tech experience (Spark, Hadoop).
• Deep understanding of statistical modeling, experimental design, and A/B testing.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading a team of data scientists.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and MLOps desired.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and deployment of advanced ML models for energy forecasting and failure analysis.
• Design data pipelines for large structured and unstructured data from energy sources.
• Conduct in-depth statistical analyses to identify trends and correlations.
• Develop anomaly detection algorithms for grid performance and asset health.
• Collaborate with domain experts to define KPIs and business objectives.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering learning and innovation.
• Communicate complex results clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Evaluate and adopt new data science tools and techniques.
• Oversee monitoring and continuous improvement of deployed models.
• Ensure ethical and responsible use of data in analytics.

Skills

Leadership experience

Mentoring junior staff

Strategic communication

Remote collaboration

Education

PhD or Master's in Data Science / CS / Stats

Tools

Python

R

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

SQL

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a trailblazer in leveraging data to optimize energy operations, is seeking a highly accomplished Lead Data Scientist to join their fully remote analytics team. This senior position is instrumental in driving data-driven insights across the organization, focusing on predictive modeling, anomaly detection, and optimization within the energy sector. The ideal candidate will possess a strong foundation in statistical modeling, machine learning, and extensive experience applying these techniques to large, complex datasets. You will lead a team of data scientists, mentor junior members, and collaborate with engineering and business units to translate data insights into actionable strategies that enhance efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in energy production and distribution. This remote role offers the chance to work on impactful projects from anywhere.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and deployment of advanced machine learning models for energy forecasting, demand prediction, and equipment failure analysis.
• Design and implement data pipelines for collecting, cleaning, and transforming large volumes of structured and unstructured data from various energy sources.
• Conduct in-depth statistical analysis to identify trends, patterns, and correlations within energy consumption and production data.
• Develop anomaly detection algorithms to identify potential issues in grid performance and asset health.
• Collaborate with domain experts to define key performance indicators (KPIs) and business objectives.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering a culture of learning and innovation.
• Communicate complex analytical findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Evaluate and implement new data science tools, technologies, and methodologies.
• Oversee the performance monitoring and continuous improvement of deployed models.
• Ensure the ethical and responsible use of data in all analytical endeavors.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience as a Data Scientist, with at least 3 years in a leadership or senior capacity.
• Proven experience in building and deploying machine learning models in a production environment, preferably within the energy sector.
• Expert proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and associated data science libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong experience with SQL and big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Deep understanding of statistical modeling, experimental design, and A/B testing.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading and managing a team of data scientists.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and MLOps principles is highly desirable.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and attractive bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Substantial contribution to a retirement fund.
• Flexible work hours and generous paid time off.
• Professional development budget for courses, conferences, and certifications.
• Opportunity to work with a talented, globally distributed team on cutting-edge projects.
• Company-provided equipment and a home office stipend.
• Significant impact on optimizing energy efficiency and sustainability.