Principal Data Scientist - Lead Predictive Modeling

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

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Health benefits

Pension plan

Professional development

Career progression

Training programs

Durban office

Employee assistance program

Team events

Job summary

Placements24 in Durban is seeking a highly experienced Principal Data Scientist to join our analytics team. The role focuses on advanced statistical modeling, machine learning, and translating complex analyses into strategic business actions.

You will mentor graduates and fellow data scientists, design experiments, build robust data pipelines, and collaborate with stakeholders to drive data-driven decisions.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• 10+ years of professional experience in data science or a related analytical role, with a proven track record of delivering impactful projects.
• Expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms (regression, classification, clustering, time series analysis), and deep learning.
• Proficiency in Python or R, and experience with data manipulation libraries (Pandas, dplyr).
• Strong experience with SQL and database technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end development of sophisticated predictive models using advanced statistical and machine learning techniques.
• Identify, analyze, and interpret complex data sets from various sources to extract actionable insights and trends.
• Design and implement A/B testing frameworks and experimental designs to validate model performance and business hypotheses.
• Collaborate closely with business stakeholders to understand their challenges and translate them into data science problems.
• Develop robust data pipelines and ensure data quality and integrity for analytical purposes.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists, providing technical expertise and fostering their professional growth.
• Communicate complex analytical findings and recommendations clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and statistical modeling.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the data science function within the organization.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Deep learning

Python

SQL

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, or related field

Tools

Pandas

dplyr

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

Placements24 in Durban is seeking a highly experienced Principal Data Scientist to join our analytics team. The role focuses on advanced statistical modeling, machine learning, and translating complex analyses into strategic business actions.

You will mentor graduates and fellow data scientists, design experiments, build robust data pipelines, and collaborate with stakeholders to drive data-driven decisions.