Lead Data Scientist - Machine Learning

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work flexibility

Health benefits

Training budget

Impactful projects in AI

Job summary

Placements24 invites a highly experienced Lead Data Scientist to spearhead advanced analytics and ML initiatives from Cape Town. You will guide a team of data scientists, build predictive models, and translate complex data into actionable insights for business leaders.

You will collaborate with engineering and product teams to productionize ML solutions, identify new opportunities, and drive data-driven decision making across the organization.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in data science with a strong ML focus.
• Proven experience leading and mentoring a data science team.
• Proficiency in Python or R and ML libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and implementation of advanced ML models and algorithms.
• Manage and mentor a team of data scientists, providing technical guidance.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to deploy ML solutions into production.
• Identify new opportunities for data science to drive business value and innovation.
• Develop and maintain robust data pipelines and analytical frameworks.
• Communicate complex findings clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Public speaking

Team management

Education

Master's/PhD in quantitative field

Tools

Python

R

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

Our client is seeking a highly experienced and visionary Lead Data Scientist to spearhead their advanced analytics and machine learning initiatives in Cape Town . This role is critical in driving data-driven decision-making across the organization, building predictive models, and uncovering actionable insights from complex datasets. You will lead a team of talented data scientists, guiding them in developing and deploying sophisticated algorithms that solve challenging business problems and create new opportunities. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of data science within a progressive company located in the heart of the Western Cape .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced machine learning models and algorithms.
• Manage and mentor a team of data scientists, providing technical guidance and fostering professional growth.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to integrate ML solutions into production environments.
• Identify new opportunities for leveraging data science to drive business value and innovation.
• Develop and maintain robust data pipelines and analytical frameworks.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in data science , with a significant focus on machine learning.
• Proven experience leading and managing a team of data scientists.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and libraries like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.
• Strong understanding of big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences in Cape Town .

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary package with substantial performance bonuses.
• Full remote work flexibility, allowing you to work from anywhere within South Africa.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Generous budget for professional development, including training and conferences.
• Opportunity to work on impactful projects at the forefront of data science and AI .