Remote Lead Data Scientist

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 2,266,000 - 3,723,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work flexibility

Equity options

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an exceptional Lead Data Scientist to join their fully remote team. You will drive data-driven innovation, guide ML model development, and mentor a team of scientists across time zones.

This senior role collaborates with product, engineering, and business units to define projects from concept to production, establish DS best practices, and stay ahead with the latest AI advances. The position offers high autonomy, equity options, and a strong emphasis on work-life balance.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 8+ years hands-on experience in data science with leadership of complex projects and teams.
• Proficiency in Python or R and libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn.
• Experience with big data technologies (Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of ML models and statistical analyses to address key business challenges.
• Mentor and manage a team of data scientists, providing technical guidance and career development support.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across product, engineering, and business units to identify opportunities for data science applications.
• Define and oversee data science projects from conceptualization to production deployment and monitoring.
• Develop and maintain best practices for data science workflows, including preprocessing, feature engineering, model validation, and MLOps.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in AI, ML, and data science and evangelize their adoption within the organization.

Skills

Python

R

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Leadership

Communication

Education

PhD or Master’s in CS/Statistics/Math

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an exceptional and experienced Lead Data Scientist take lead to join their fully remote team. This senior position is crucial for driving data-driven innovation and leveraging advanced analytics to solve complex business problems within the financial technology space. You will lead a team of data scientists, mentor junior members, and guide the development and deployment of machine learning models and advanced analytical solutions. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of data science at the company, working on cutting-edge projects with a high degree of autonomy, impacting strategic decisions across the organization from anywhere in the world.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models and statistical analyses to address key business challenges.
• Mentor and manage a team of data scientists, providing technical guidance and career development support.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across product, engineering, and business units to identify opportunities for data science applications.
• Define and oversee data science projects, from conceptualization and experimentation to production deployment and monitoring.
• Develop and maintain best practices for data science workflows, including data preprocessing, feature engineering, model validation, and MLOps.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in AI, machine learning, and data science, and evangelize their adoption within the organization.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 8+ years of hands‑on experience in data science, with a proven track record of leading complex projects and teams.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and proficiency with libraries like TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn.
• Strong knowledge of machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and data mining techniques.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non‑technical audiences.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and equity options.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering unparalleled flexibility and work‑life balance.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous paid time off and company‑wide holidays.
• Professional development budget and opportunities for attending conferences.