Principal Machine Learning Scientist - Bioinformatics

Placements24; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 3,000,000 - 4,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonuses and equity

Healthcare coverage

Stock options

Professional development budget

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Placements24 is recruiting a Principal Machine Learning Scientist for a global AI-driven drug discovery leader, based in Centurion, Gauteng. You will design, develop, and deploy ML models to tackle complex biological challenges and accelerate therapeutic development.

Lead end-to-end ML pipelines, mentor scientists, and collaborate across bioinformatics, cheminformatics, and computational biology teams. A PhD and 10+ years in ML for biomedicine are required.

Qualifications

• PhD in a quantitative field with strong publication track record.
• 10+ years hands-on ML experience, with 5+ years in biological/biomedical applications.
• Expertise in diverse ML methods including deep learning, gradient boosting, and ensembles.
• Proficiency in Python and ML libraries (TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Strong data wrangling, feature engineering, and interpretable modeling skills.
• Experience with cloud platforms and MLOps practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead research and development of novel ML algorithms for biological data (genomics, proteomics, imaging, clinical data).
• Design end-to-end ML pipelines: preprocessing, feature engineering, training, validation, deployment.
• Collaborate with bioinformatics, computational biology, and cheminformatics teams to integrate ML in drug discovery.
• Communicate complex results to technical and non-technical stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Mentor junior scientists and build ML competency within the organization.
• Stay ahead of ML advancements and evaluate new technologies for life sciences.

Skills

Deep learning (CNNs, RNNs, Transformer

Python programming

Data wrangling & feature engineering

Model interpretability

Cloud computing & MLOps

Team leadership

Effective communication

Education

PhD in Computer Science, ML, Bioinformatics, or related field

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a global leader in AI-driven drug discovery, is searching for a highly accomplished Principal Machine Learning Scientist to join their pioneering bioinformatics team. Based in Centurion, Gauteng, this role is critical for driving the application of advanced machine learning techniques to unravel complex biological challenges and accelerate therapeutic development. You will be instrumental in designing, developing, and deploying novel ML models that analyze diverse biological datasets, identify predictive biomarkers, and optimize drug candidate selection. This is a unique chance to influence the future of medicine by working at the intersection of cutting‑edge AI and biological sciences. The Centurion location offers a strategic base for this influential role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the research and development of novel machine learning algorithms and predictive models for biological data analysis (genomics, proteomics, imaging, clinical data).
• Design and implement end-to-end ML pipelines, from data preprocessing and feature engineering to model training, validation, and deployment.
• Collaborate with bioinformatics, computational biology, and cheminformatics teams to integrate ML solutions into drug discovery and development workflows.
• Interpret complex ML model results and communicate findings effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to building a strong machine learning competency within the organization.
• Stay at the forefront of ML advancements and their applications in life sciences, evaluating and adopting new technologies as appropriate.
• Drive innovation by identifying new opportunities for applying ML to address key challenges in drug discovery.
• Contribute to scientific publications and present at leading AI and bioinformatics conferences.
• Ensure the robustness, scalability, and reproducibility of all developed ML solutions.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, Bioinformatics, or a related quantitative field.
• 10+ years of hands‑on experience in machine learning, with at least 5 years focused on biological or biomedical applications.
• Deep expertise in various ML methodologies, including deep learning (CNNs, RNNs, Transformers), gradient boosting, and ensemble methods.
• Proficiency in Python and ML libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn.
• Strong experience in data wrangling, feature engineering, and model interpretability techniques for complex biological datasets.
• Familiarity with cloud computing environments (e.g., "AWS", "Azure", "GCP") and MLOps principles.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Proven ability to lead complex research projects and mentor technical teams.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills, with a track record of effectively conveying complex technical information.
• Experience with large-scale biological data (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, etc.) is essential.

Benefits

• Exceptional salary commensurate with experience, plus significant performance bonuses and equity.
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage (medical, dental, vision) with premium benefits.
• Generous stock option plan.
• Opportunities for leadership and significant scientific impact.
• Access to world‑class computing infrastructure and large datasets.
• Professional development budget for conferences and training.
• Flexible working arrangements and a supportive work‑life balance.
• Retirement savings plan and other attractive employee perks.