Remote Fintech Lead Data Scientist — ML & AI Leader

Placements24; Kempton Park; Remote; ZAR 2,538,000 - 3,723,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Retirement plan

Generous paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to spearhead Fintech initiatives from a remote-first setup. You will lead the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models for financial applications, mentor a team of data scientists, and collaborate across product, engineering, and business units to drive data-driven innovation.

The role requires 8+ years in data science, advanced degrees in a quantitative field, and strong Python or R expertise, with experience in

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a quantitative field (CS/Stats/Math/Data Science).
• 8+ years of data science experience with leadership of projects and teams.
• Proficiency in Python or R and relevant data science libraries (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy).
• Strong experience with big data tech (Spark, Hadoop) and SQL.
• Deep understanding of statistical modeling, ML algorithms, and experimental design.
• Fintech or financial services experience preferred.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fully remote, collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of ML models for financial applications (fraud detection, credit scoring, etc.).
• Mentor and guide a team of data scientists; ensure high-quality deliverables.
• Collaborate with engineers, product managers, and business units to identify opportunities for data-driven innovation.
• Define and champion best practices in data science, including model validation and MLOps.
• Conduct advanced statistical analyses and derive actionable insights from complex datasets.
• Stay abreast of AI/ML advancements and apply them to business problems.
• Communicate complex findings to technical and non-technical audiences alike.
• Drive the data strategy and roadmap for Fintech products.

Skills

Python

R

Machine Learning

Big Data

SQL

Cloud

Leadership

Remote collaboration

Education

Master's or PhD in Computer Science/Statistics/Data Science

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Pandas

NumPy

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to spearhead Fintech initiatives from a remote-first setup. You will lead the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models for financial applications, mentor a team of data scientists, and collaborate across product, engineering, and business units to drive data-driven innovation.

The role requires 8+ years in data science, advanced degrees in a quantitative field, and strong Python or R expertise, with experience in