Lead Machine Learning Engineer - Predictive Analytics

Placements24; Centurion; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Paid annual leave

Professional development and training

On-site parking

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Machine Learning Engineer in Centurion to drive predictive analytics. You will design, develop, and deploy ML models, lead a team of engineers, and guide technical strategy while ensuring scalable, reliable ML pipelines.

You will mentor engineers, collaborate with data scientists and product stakeholders, and help translate research into production-ready systems in an office-based role.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, or related quantitative field.
• Proven experience as a Machine Learning Engineer focused on predictive modeling.
• Expertise in Python and ML libraries (Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Deep understanding of statistical modeling and ML algorithms.
• Experience with MLOps tools (Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD for ML).
• Experience leading technical teams and mentoring engineers.
• Strong problem-solving and collaboration skills; cloud familiarity (AWS/Azure/GCP) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of ML models for predictive analytics.
• Oversee the ML lifecycle from data prep to deployment.
• Mentor ML engineers and provide technical leadership.
• Collaborate with data scientists to productionize research models.
• Implement and maintain MLOps practices for scalable pipelines.
• Optimize model performance and production infrastructure.
• Contribute to the ML roadmap and strategy.

Skills

Python

Scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

MLOps

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD for ML

Cloud platforms

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science or Statistics

PhD in a related quantitative field

Tools

CI/CD tooling

AWS/Azure/GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and experienced **Lead Machine Learning Engineer** to drive their initiatives in predictive analytics within the **AI & Emerging Technologies** sector. This exciting opportunity is based in Centurion, Gauteng , and requires the candidate to work predominantly from the office, fostering strong team collaboration. You will be responsible for designing, developing, and deploying robust machine learning models that solve complex business challenges. As a lead, you will mentor a team of engineers, guide technical strategy, and ensure the efficient operation of our ML systems. This role is critical in advancing our predictive capabilities and delivering data-driven insights that enhance business performance. You will work closely with data scientists, product managers, and business stakeholders to translate insights into actionable strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models for predictive analytics.
• Oversee the end-to-end ML lifecycle, including data preparation, feature engineering, model training, validation, and deployment.
• Mentor and guide a team of machine learning engineers, providing technical leadership and support.
• Collaborate with data scientists to translate research models into production-ready systems.
• Implement and maintain MLOps practices to ensure scalability, reliability, and efficiency of ML pipelines.
• Optimize model performance and infrastructure for production environments.
• Identify opportunities for leveraging new ML techniques and technologies to solve business problems.
• Contribute to the technical roadmap and strategy for machine learning at Our client.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Proven experience as a Machine Learning Engineer, with a strong focus on predictive modeling.
• Expertise in Python and common ML libraries (Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Deep understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data mining techniques.
• Experience with MLOps tools and practices (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD for ML).
• Experience in leading technical teams and mentoring junior engineers.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to challenges.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Paid annual leave and public holidays.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• On-site parking and access to modern office facilities.
• Dynamic and collaborative team environment.