Principal Data Scientist - Machine Learning Applications

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Generous PTO

Flexible schedule

Professional development

Advanced compute resources

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Data Scientist in a fully remote role within South Africa, headquartered in Durban. You will lead the development and deployment of sophisticated ML models, mentor junior teammates, and drive AI innovation across multiple industries.

The ideal candidate has a PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field, 8+ years in data science, and strong experience with TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Spark on cloud platforms.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field.
• 8+ years hands-on data science and ML experience with impact.
• Expertise in ML algorithms including regression, classification, clustering, deep learning, and RL.
• Proficiency in Python or R and ML libraries (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn).
• Experience with Spark/Hadoop and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Strong statistical modeling, experimental design, and hypothesis testing.
• Ability to lead projects, mentor juniors, and drive technical strategy.
• Excellent communication and ability to explain complex concepts clearly.
• MLOps and model deployment experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development and deployment of advanced ML models.
• Design experiments to test hypotheses using large, complex datasets.
• Develop robust data pipelines for data extraction, transformation, and feature engineering.
• Deploy ML models into production environments with scalability and reliability.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business requirements into data science problems.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior data scientists and analysts.
• Stay current with latest ML, DL, and AI research.
• Communicate complex findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to IP through publications and patents.
• Champion best practices in data science, ML, and MLOps.

Skills

Python

R

ML algorithms

Statistical modeling

Experiment design

Mentorship

MLOps

Communication

Education

PhD or Master’s degree in CS/Stats/Math/Physics

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a global leader in advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, is looking for a Principal Data Scientist with a strong focus on Machine Learning applications to join their cutting-edge research team. This role is based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal , but offers a fully remote work arrangement, allowing you to contribute from anywhere within South Africa . You will spearhead the development and deployment of sophisticated ML models to solve complex business challenges across various industries. This position requires a deep understanding of machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and data mining techniques, along with the ability to translate business needs into data-driven solutions. As a Principal Data Scientist, you will provide technical leadership, mentor junior team members, and drive innovation in the application of AI and ML. This is an unparalleled opportunity to shape the future of data science and influence strategic decision-making through advanced analytical insights, working remotely for a dynamic company.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end development and implementation of advanced machine learning models and algorithms.
• Design and conduct experiments to test and validate hypotheses using large, complex datasets.
• Develop robust data pipelines for data extraction, transformation, and feature engineering.
• Deploy ML models into production environments, ensuring scalability, reliability, and performance.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business requirements and translate them into data science problems.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior data scientists and analysts.
• Stay current with the latest research and advancements in machine learning, deep learning, and AI.
• Communicate complex findings and insights clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to the company's intellectual property through publications and patents.
• Champion best practices in data science, machine learning, and MLOps within the organization.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 8 years of hands-on experience in data science and machine learning, with a proven track record of delivering impactful solutions.
• Expertise in various ML algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning, reinforcement learning).
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with ML libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn).
• Strong experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Excellent understanding of statistical modeling, experimental design, and hypothesis testing.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects, mentor junior team members, and drive technical strategy.
• Superior problem-solving skills and ability to work with ambiguous data.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts effectively.
• Experience in MLOps and model deployment is highly desirable for this remote position.

Benefits

• This fully remote role offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive health insurance, and generous paid time off.
• Employees benefit from a flexible work schedule, opportunities for professional development including online courses and conference attendance, and access to advanced computational resources.
• Our client fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, providing a stimulating environment for growth.
• You’ll work on challenging projects with a talented, diverse, and geographically distributed team.
• This is an exciting opportunity to advance your career in data science and machine learning from the comfort of your home office anywhere in South Africa .
• Join us in pushing the boundaries of AI and shaping the future of technology.