Principal Data Scientist: Lead ML Strategy & Innovation

Placements24; LegKraal Gate; Hybrid; ZAR 1,300,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus structure

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Relocation assistance

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 in Mahikeng, North West, ZA seeks a Principal Data Scientist to lead complex ML projects, develop predictive models, and drive data-driven decisions across the company. You will mentor a team of data scientists and define the data science roadmap, collaborating with engineering and product teams to deploy solutions.

The role requires a PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field, 8+ years in data science, strong Python or R with ML libraries, and experience with Spark/Hadoop and cloud

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s in a quantitative field.
• 8+ years of experience in data science with a strong focus on ML and statistics.
• Proven track record of leading end-to-end data science projects from conception to deployment.
• Proficient in Python or R with ML libraries (e.g., Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Extensive experience with big data technologies and distributed computing (Spark, Hadoop).
• Strong understanding of statistical inference, experimental design, and data mining techniques.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills; ability to mentor teams.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and MLOps is desirable.
• Ability to translate complex business problems into data science solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of sophisticated ML models and algorithms.
• Analyze large, complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and actionable insights.
• Develop and implement advanced statistical and predictive models to solve business challenges.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to integrate data science solutions into production systems.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering technical and professional growth.
• Define data science strategy and roadmap for key projects and business initiatives.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in data science, ML, and AI.
• Design and execute A/B tests and other experiments to validate model performance.
• Ensure the quality, integrity, and scalability of data science solutions.

Skills

Machine learning

Statistical modeling

Python

R

Scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Spark

Hadoop

MLOps

Education

Ph.D. or Master’s in a quantitative field

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

Placements24 in Mahikeng, North West, ZA seeks a Principal Data Scientist to lead complex ML projects, develop predictive models, and drive data-driven decisions across the company. You will mentor a team of data scientists and define the data science roadmap, collaborating with engineering and product teams to deploy solutions.

The role requires a PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field, 8+ years in data science, strong Python or R with ML libraries, and experience with Spark/Hadoop and cloud