Remote Automotive Data Scientist - Polokwane Specialist

Placements24; Polokwane; Remote; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Paid holidays and leave

Professional development budget

Conferences and certifications

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Remote Automotive Data Scientist to join a global, remote-first team. You will work with large vehicle telemetry datasets, build predictive models, and improve operations through data-driven insights.

The role emphasizes collaboration with engineers and product teams, strong programming in Python/R, and expertise in ML libraries, SQL, and visualization tools. Remote work offers flexibility and opportunities in automotive tech.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a quantitative field such as Data Science, Statistics, CS, Mathematics, or related.
• Proven Data Scientist experience with automotive or related industry preferred.
• Strong programming in Python or R with ML/DS libraries.
• Solid SQL skills and experience with big data tools (Spark, Hadoop).
• Experience with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities; strong communication.

Responsibilities

• Collect, clean, and preprocess large automotive datasets from sensors, telematics, manufacturing logs, and feedback.
• Develop, implement, and validate ML models for predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and optimization.
• Perform statistical analysis to identify trends and insights for operations and product development.
• Design and run A/B tests and experiments to evaluate new features or algorithms.
• Visualize data and model results using dashboards and reports for stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineers, product managers, and domain experts to translate business problems into data solutions.
• Stay current with advances in data science and big data tech.
• Contribute to data pipelines and cloud infrastructure Maintenance.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and privacy throughout the lifecycle.
• Identify opportunities to leverage data for business improvement and innovation.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

ML/DS

Data viz

Big data

Education

Master's or PhD in Data Science or related

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

Tableau

Power BI

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking automotive technology company with a growing presence that has historical ties to Polokwane, is actively seeking a talented and experienced Remote Automotive Data Scientist. This is a fully remote position, offering you the opportunity to leverage your expertise in data analysis, machine learning, and statistical modeling to drive innovation within the automotive sector, regardless of your geographical location. You will work with vast datasets generated from vehicle telemetry, manufacturing processes, and customer interactions to extract actionable insights, develop predictive models, and optimize various aspects of automotive operations, from predictive maintenance to driving behavior analysis and manufacturing efficiency. The ideal candidate possesses a strong quantitative background, excellent programming skills, and a passion for applying data science to real-world automotive challenges. Join a collaborative, global team that is shaping the future of intelligent mobility through data-driven decision-making. This role is designed for individuals who thrive in a remote-first environment and are eager to make a significant impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect, clean, and preprocess large datasets from various automotive sources (e.g., vehicle sensors, telematics, manufacturing logs, customer feedback).
• Develop, implement, and validate machine learning models for tasks such as predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, performance optimization, and customer behavior analysis.
• Perform statistical analysis and data mining to identify trends, patterns, and insights relevant to automotive operations and product development.
• Design and conduct A/B tests and other experiments to evaluate the impact of new features or algorithms.
• Visualize data and model results using dashboards and reports to communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineers, product managers, and domain experts to define data requirements and translate business problems into data science solutions.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and big data technologies.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of data pipelines and infrastructure in a cloud environment.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and privacy throughout the data lifecycle.
• Proactively identify opportunities to leverage data for business improvement and innovation.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in a quantitative field such as Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience as a Data Scientist, with a strong portfolio of projects, preferably in the automotive or related industry.
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in data science (e.g., Python, R).
• Experience with machine learning libraries and frameworks (e.g., Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong knowledge of SQL and experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Matplotlib).
• Excellent analytical, statistical modeling, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills for conveying complex findings.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fully remote setting.
• Understanding of automotive data sources and challenges is a significant advantage.

Benefits

• Fully remote work arrangement, offering maximum flexibility.
• Highly competitive salary and potential for performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous annual leave and paid holidays.
• Opportunities to work on cutting-edge automotive technology projects.
• Professional development budget for conferences, courses, and certifications.
• Collaborative and innovative team culture.
• Contribution to the advancement of data-driven automotive solutions.