Principal Data Scientist - Machine Learning in Bioinformatics

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 3,000,000 - 4,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Annual bonus

Stock options

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement savings plan

Professional development opportunities

Wellness programs

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Data Scientist in Cape Town to spearhead machine learning initiatives within the bioinformatics division. You will lead projects from conception to deployment, shape the data science strategy, and mentor a team of data scientists and bioinformaticians.

You will develop and deploy advanced ML models for drug discovery, collaborating with biologists, chemists, clinicians, and software engineers to integrate ML into research workflows and drive innovation across

Qualifications

• PhD in a quantitative field with a strong ML focus.
• 10+ years of data science experience in a research environment.
• Proven ability to develop and deploy ML models, including deep learning (CNNs, RNNs, Transformers).
• Strong Python proficiency and ML ecosystem (TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Experience with large-scale biological datasets (genomics, proteomics, etc.).
• Statistical modeling, experimental design, and data mining techniques.
• Cloud computing (AWS/Azure/GCP) and distributed computing (Spark).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management; publication record.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of ML models for predictive analytics in biological data.
• Develop algorithms for diverse datasets including genomic and proteomic data.
• Collaborate with biologists, chemists, clinicians, and software engineers to integrate ML into workflows.
• Architect and manage scalable ML infrastructure and pipelines.
• Translate research problems into defined data science projects.
• Evaluate new ML technologies relevant to the pharmaceutical industry.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Mentor junior data scientists and bioinformaticians to foster innovation.

Skills

Leadership

Data storytelling

Mentoring

Communication

Education

PhD in CS/Bioinformatics

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Spark

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a cutting-edge pharmaceutical research company looking for a highly experienced Principal Data Scientist to spearhead machine learning initiatives within their bioinformatics division. This critical role, based in the vibrant city of **Cape Town, Western Cape, ZA**, will involve developing and deploying advanced ML models to tackle complex biological challenges, accelerating drug discovery and development pipelines. You will play a key role in shaping the data science strategy, leading projects from conception to implementation, and mentoring a team of talented data scientists and bioinformaticians. This is an exceptional opportunity to make a significant impact on human health by harnessing the power of data and artificial intelligence. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of machine learning algorithms, extensive experience with large biological datasets, and a passion for scientific innovation. You will work at the forefront of technological advancement, contributing to groundbreaking research that has the potential to revolutionize medicine. Your leadership and technical expertise will be vital in driving our organization's success in this domain.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of sophisticated machine learning models for predictive analytics, pattern recognition, and knowledge discovery in biological and chemical data.
• Develop and optimize algorithms for analyzing diverse datasets, including genomic, proteomic, clinical, and chemical data.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams of biologists, chemists, clinicians, and software engineers to integrate ML solutions into existing research workflows.
• Architect and manage data science infrastructure, ensuring scalability, reproducibility, and efficiency of ML pipelines.
• Translate complex business and research problems into well-defined data science projects.
• Evaluate and benchmark new ML technologies and methodologies relevant to the pharmaceutical industry.
• Communicate research findings, model performance, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership and stakeholders through clear and concise presentations.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Bioinformatics, Physics, or a related quantitative field with a strong focus on machine learning.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in data science, with a significant portion focused on machine learning in a research-intensive environment.
• Proven expertise in developing and deploying machine learning models, including deep learning architectures (CNNs, RNNs, Transformers).
• Strong proficiency in Python and its ML ecosystem (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Extensive experience working with large-scale, complex datasets, including biological data types (genomics, proteomics, etc.).
• Solid understanding of statistical modeling, experimental design, and data mining techniques.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and distributed computing frameworks (e.g., Spark).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and drive projects forward.
• Demonstrated ability to publish or present research findings.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive compensation package, including a substantial base salary, annual bonus, and stock options.
• We provide comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as a generous retirement savings plan.
• Opportunities for continuous professional development, including attending leading industry conferences and workshops, are readily available.
• Employees benefit from a stimulating and collaborative work environment in **Cape Town**, with ample room for career growth and impact.
• Additional perks include wellness programs and on-site amenities.
• Join a team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of medical science.