Principal Data Scientist, ML Leader (On-site in Rustenburg)

Placements24; Rustenburg; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Training opportunities

Relocation assistance

Conference attendance

Internal mobility

Job summary

Placements24 in Rustenburg is seeking a Principal Data Scientist with a machine learning specialization to lead advanced analytics initiatives on-site. You will design, implement, and deploy ML models, mentor junior data scientists, and collaborate with engineers, product managers, and domain experts to translate complex analytics into strategic actions.

The role requires a PhD or MSc, 8+ years of data science experience, and proficiency in Python or R with libraries like scikit-learn,

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's in a quantitative field.
• 8+ years of data science experience focusing on ML.
• Proven track record deploying ML models and leading DS projects.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy advanced ML models for analytics and optimization.
• Lead full DS lifecycle: data collection to deployment.
• Collaborate with domain experts to translate business needs into data solutions.
• Analyze large datasets for trends and opportunities.
• Develop robust data pipelines and MLOps frameworks.
• Communicate findings to technical and executive audiences.
• Mentor junior data scientists and grow the team.
• Stay updated on ML/AI advancements and industry best practices.
• Contribute to strategic data initiatives and governance.

Skills

Machine learning expertise

Python or R

Big data technologies

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Statistical modeling & experimental设计

Education

PhD or MSc in CS/Stats/Math/Physics

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

Placements24 in Rustenburg is seeking a Principal Data Scientist with a machine learning specialization to lead advanced analytics initiatives on-site. You will design, implement, and deploy ML models, mentor junior data scientists, and collaborate with engineers, product managers, and domain experts to translate complex analytics into strategic actions.

The role requires a PhD or MSc, 8+ years of data science experience, and proficiency in Python or R with libraries like scikit-learn,