Principal Data Scientist

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Flexible hours

Health, dental, vision insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Data Scientist for a fully remote role, ideally near Polokwane. You will lead the design and deployment of advanced statistical models and ML algorithms to solve complex business problems, mentoring junior data scientists and shaping the firm’s analytics strategy.

You will work on large datasets, run experiments, and collaborate with engineering to productionize models, delivering measurable business impact while communicating insights to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's in a quantitative field.
• 7+ years applying data science, ML and modeling.
• Proficient in Python or R with relevant libraries.
• Experience with big data tech and SQL.
• Strong design of experiments and causal inference.
• Ability to translate business problems into data solutions.
• Excellent communication and mentoring skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply advanced statistical models and ML algorithms.
• Analyze large datasets to identify trends and insights.
• Design and run A/B tests and experiments.
• Build and deploy predictive models for business use cases.
• Communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Mentor junior data scientists and analysts.
• Shape data strategy and collaborate with engineering for productionization.

Skills

Python

R

Machine Learning

Statistical Modeling

Experiment Design

Communication

Education

PhD in Statistics/CS/Math/Phys

MS in related field

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

Spark

SQL

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading analytics and insights firm, is looking for an exceptional Principal Data Scientist to join their innovative team, ideally located in or near Polokwane. This is a senior role focused on developing advanced statistical models and machine learning algorithms to solve complex business problems. You will lead projects from conception to deployment, leveraging large datasets to extract actionable insights and drive data-informed decision-making across the organization. The ideal candidate will have a strong academic background in a quantitative field, extensive experience in applying data science techniques to real-world challenges, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of predictive analytics. You will mentor junior data scientists, contribute to the company's data strategy, and play a key role in shaping our client's analytical capabilities. This is a fully remote position, offering flexibility while maintaining a high level of impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement sophisticated statistical models and machine learning algorithms.
• Analyze large, complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and insights.
• Design and execute A/B tests and other experiments to validate hypotheses.
• Build and deploy predictive models for various business applications (e.g., customer segmentation, forecasting, risk assessment).
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists and analysts.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and AI.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate models into production systems.
• Define data requirements and work with data engineers to ensure data quality and availability.
• Contribute to the overall data strategy and best practices within the organization.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a related quantitative field.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in data science, with a focus on machine learning and statistical modeling.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas).
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and SQL.
• Strong understanding of experimental design and causal inference.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business problems into data science solutions.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling skills.
• Experience mentoring team members.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Previous experience working remotely is a plus.
• Proximity to Polokwane is not required for this remote role.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary and bonus structure, commensurate with experience and qualifications. As a fully remote employee, you will benefit from flexible working hours and the ability to work from anywhere. We provide comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, along with a generous retirement savings plan and life insurance. Opportunities for continuous learning and professional development are abundant, including access to online courses, workshops, and industry conferences. Our client fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and intellectual curiosity. You will be part of a team that values data-driven decision-making and works on challenging, impactful projects. Enjoy the autonomy and flexibility of a remote role while contributing to a leading data analytics firm.