Principal Data Scientist

Placements24; Soweto; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Professional development and training

Conference opportunities

Soweto-based role

Job summary

Placements24 in Soweto, Gauteng is seeking a Principal Data Scientist to lead advanced analytics initiatives. The role requires designing data science strategies, mentoring a team of data scientists, and delivering predictive models that drive business growth and innovation.

The ideal candidate has a PhD or MSc in a quantitative field, 8+ years of data science experience, and expertise in ML, statistics, Python, and big data tools.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Data Science, Statistics, CS, Math, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in data science or analytical role, with leadership experience.
• Expertise in ML algorithms (regression, classification, DL, NLP) and statistical modeling.
• Proficient in Python or R and libraries like scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch.
• Experience with big data technologies (Spark, Hadoop) and SQL/NoSQL databases.
• Strong data visualization skills with Tableau, Power BI, or Matplotlib.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Proven leadership and team management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and deployment of advanced ML models and analyses.
• Define data science roadmaps aligned with business objectives.
• Ingest, clean, and transform large datasets from multiple sources.
• Design experiments to test hypotheses and validate models.
• Develop and deploy predictive models for forecasting, classification, clustering, and anomaly detection.
• Mentor junior data scientists and drive their technical growth.
• Communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to integrate DS solutions into production.
• Stay abreast of latest DS research and evaluate new tools and technologies.

Skills

Machine learning

Statistical modeling

Leadership

Python

Spark

SQL

Communication

Education

Master's degree or PhD in a quantitative field

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Spark

Hadoop

Tableau/Power BI

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent data-driven organization, is seeking a Principal Data Scientist to spearhead their advanced analytics initiatives in Soweto, Gauteng. This leadership role requires a deep understanding of machine learning, statistical modeling, and data mining techniques to extract valuable insights from complex datasets. You will be responsible for defining data science strategies, mentoring a team of data scientists, and delivering impactful predictive models and analytical solutions that drive business growth and innovation. This is a unique opportunity to influence key business decisions and shape the future of data science within a leading organization in South Africa.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of advanced machine learning models and statistical analyses.
• Define data science project roadmaps, aligning them with business objectives and opportunities in Soweto.
• Extract, clean, and transform large, complex datasets from various sources.
• Design and execute experiments to test hypotheses and validate model performance.
• Develop and deploy predictive models for forecasting, classification, clustering, and anomaly detection.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering their technical and professional development.
• Communicate complex analytical findings and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to integrate data science solutions into production systems.
• Stay current with the latest research and advancements in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Evaluate and recommend new tools and technologies to enhance the data science capabilities of the organization.

Requirements

• Master's degree or PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in data science or a related analytical role, with a proven track record of leading impactful projects.
• Expertise in machine learning algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, deep learning, NLP) and statistical modeling.
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in data science, such as Python or R, and relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and SQL/NoSQL databases.
• Strong data visualization skills and experience with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Matplotlib.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Proven leadership and team management capabilities.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts simply.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) for data science workflows is advantageous.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonus structure.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund benefits.
• Opportunities for advanced training, conferences, and professional development.
• Lead cutting-edge data science projects with significant business impact.
• Work in a collaborative and innovative environment in Soweto.
• Contribute to data-driven decision-making across a leading South African company.
• Support for research and exploration of new analytical techniques.