Principal Data Scientist (AI/ML)

Placements24; George; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & bonus

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Professional development opportunities

Flexible remote work

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 in George, Western Cape, seeks a Principal Data Scientist to lead AI/ML strategy, build scalable models, and mentor a team of data scientists. This senior role involves shaping the research roadmap and driving innovation across product lines.

You will translate complex business problems into data-driven solutions, collaborate with engineering and product teams, and contribute to the company's strategic technology roadmap for massive datasets and cutting-edge compute resources.

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc in a quantitative field is required.
• At least 7 years of progressive Data Scientist experience with a focus on AI/ML development and deployment.
• Deep knowledge of ML algorithms and DL frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras).
• Proficiency in Python or R with libraries like scikit-learn, pandas, NumPy.
• Experience with big data tech (Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy advanced ML/DL models to solve complex business challenges.
• Lead end-to-end data science projects from data extraction to deployment.
• Perform exploratory data analysis to uncover trends and insights.
• Build robust data pipelines and feature engineering strategies.
• Evaluate model performance and iterate for improvement.
• Collaborate with software, product, and domain experts to integrate AI/ML solutions.
• Mentor junior data scientists and guide project contributions.
• Stay abreast of AI/ML research and adapt new methodologies.
• Communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ensure ethical and responsible AI deployment.

Skills

Python

R

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Keras

scikit-learn

Pandas

NumPy

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Leadership

Mentoring

Data Modeling

Education

Ph.D. or Master's in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Git

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leader in cutting-edge technological solutions, is seeking a highly experienced and visionary Principal Data Scientist specializing in AI and Machine Learning to join their advanced research division in George, Western Cape, ZA . This senior role is central to developing and implementing sophisticated AI/ML models that drive innovation across our product lines. The ideal candidate will possess a profound understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, deep learning frameworks, and data mining techniques, coupled with a strong ability to translate complex business problems into data-driven solutions. You will lead ambitious projects, mentor junior data scientists, and contribute significantly to the company’s strategic technological roadmap. This position offers a unique opportunity to work with massive datasets, advanced computational resources, and a team of brilliant minds in a stimulating and forward-thinking environment. Our client is dedicated to fostering a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy advanced machine learning and deep learning models to solve complex business challenges.
• Lead the end-to-end data science project lifecycle, from data extraction and cleaning to model training, validation, and deployment.
• Conduct in-depth exploratory data analysis to identify trends, patterns, and insights.
• Develop and implement robust data pipelines and feature engineering strategies.
• Evaluate model performance using appropriate metrics and techniques, iteratively improving accuracy and efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with software engineers, product managers, and domain experts to integrate AI/ML solutions into products and services.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering their technical growth and project contributions.
• Stay abreast of the latest research and advancements in AI/ML, exploring new methodologies and technologies.
• Communicate complex technical findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ensure the ethical and responsible development and deployment of AI/ML systems.
• This role offers full remote flexibility for candidates located in George or elsewhere.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or M.Sc. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience as a Data Scientist, with a strong focus on AI/ML model development and deployment.
• Demonstrated expertise in machine learning algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, time series analysis) and deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras).
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, pandas, NumPy).
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and software engineering principles.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Proven leadership and mentoring experience.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills.

Benefits

• Our client provides a highly competitive salary and bonus structure, reflecting the seniority and impact of this role.
• A comprehensive benefits package includes excellent health, dental, and vision insurance, along with a generous retirement savings plan with company matching.
• Employees are encouraged to pursue continuous professional development through training, conferences, and educational resources.
• This role offers significant flexibility with remote work options.
• We foster a collaborative and innovative culture, promoting a healthy work-life balance with ample paid time off.
• Our client invests in employee well-being and provides a stimulating work environment.