Lead Data Scientist - Financial Analytics

Placements24; Vereeniging; Híbrido; ZAR 1 400 000 - 2 100 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Stock options

Retirement plan

Fully remote

Career development

Resumo da oferta

Placements24, a cutting-edge fintech, is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to drive financial analytics from Vereeniging, with full remote flexibility. You will build and deploy advanced ML models to forecast outcomes, optimize products, and enhance customer experiences while mentoring a team of data scientists.

You will define the data science roadmap, partner with product and engineering teams, ensure robust data governance and MLOps, and stay up-to-date with the latest techniques in finance.

Qualificações

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum 7 years of experience leading data science projects and teams.
• Expertise in ML algorithms (regression, classification, clustering, deep learning) and their finance applications.
• Strong Python or R programming skills with Pandas/NumPy.
• Experience with Spark/Hadoop and SQL databases.

Responsabilidades

• Lead design, development, and deployment of advanced ML models for financial forecasting and risk assessment.
• Mentor and guide a team of data scientists with technical leadership.
• Define and drive the data science roadmap aligned with business goals.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and business stakeholders to prioritize data science projects.
• Extract, clean, and transform large datasets from diverse sources.
• Develop and evaluate A/B testing frameworks to measure impact.
• Present findings to technical and non-technical audiences clearly.
• Stay current with advances in data science and ML for finance.

Conhecimentos

Leadership

Machine learning

Python/R

Pandas/NumPy

Big data

SQL

Cloud platforms

Data visualization

Communication

Mentoring

Formação académica

Master's or PhD in CS/Statistics/Math/Data Science

Ferramentas

Spark

Hadoop

SQL databases

Python

R

Descrição da oferta de emprego

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge financial technology firm, is looking for a Lead Data Scientist to spearhead their financial analytics initiatives. This role, based in **Vereeniging, Gauteng**, offers full remote flexibility, empowering top talent to contribute from any location. You will be responsible for building and deploying advanced machine learning models to drive key business decisions, optimize financial products, and enhance customer experiences. The Lead Data Scientist will mentor a team of data scientists, guide the technical roadmap, and collaborate closely with product and engineering teams. This is an exciting opportunity to leverage vast datasets and sophisticated analytical techniques to shape the future of financial services. The ideal candidate possesses a strong blend of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced machine learning models for financial forecasting, risk assessment, and customer segmentation.
• Mentor and guide a team of data scientists, providing technical leadership and project oversight.
• Define and drive the data science roadmap, aligning it with business objectives and strategic goals.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and business stakeholders, to identify and prioritize data science projects.
• Extract, clean, and transform large, complex datasets from various sources.
• Develop and implement A/B testing frameworks to evaluate model performance and business impact.
• Present complex findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences in a clear and concise manner.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and financial analytics.
• Contribute to the development of best practices in data governance, model deployment, and MLOps.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in data science roles, with a proven track record of leading projects and teams.
• Expertise in machine learning algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning) and their application in finance.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with data manipulation libraries (e.g., Pandas, NumPy).
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and SQL databases.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and data visualization tools.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor junior team members in a remote environment.
• Experience in financial services or FinTech is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous stock options and retirement plan contributions.
• Significant opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
• Fully remote work environment with flexible hours.
• Collaborative and innovative company culture in **Vereeniging**.