Remote Lead Data Scientist

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus potential

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Remote-friendly

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Data Scientist for a remote role in South Africa. You will lead a team of data scientists, developing and deploying advanced ML models to drive insights, optimize financial products, and enhance customer experiences across the Banking & Finance sector.

The ideal candidate has a PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field, 7+ years in data science (3+ in leadership), strong Python/R skills, and a track record of production ML deployments.

Qualifications

• PhD or master's in a quantitative field.
• 7+ years in data science, with 3+ in leadership.
• Proven track record deploying ML models in production.
• Experience in Banking & Finance sector is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of data scientists, providing guidance and oversight.
• Develop and deploy ML models for fraud detection, segmentation, credit scoring.
• Design experiments and A/B tests to measure impact.
• Clean, transform, and analyze large datasets from diverse sources.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and business teams to deploy solutions.
• Communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ensure data governance, ethics, and privacy best practices.

Skills

Leadership

Machine learning

Data analysis

Education

PhD in Data Science or related

Tools

Python

R

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

SQL

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering firm in the Banking & Finance technology space, is seeking an exceptional Lead Data Scientist to spearhead their advanced analytics initiatives. This is a prestigious Remote opportunity for individuals based anywhere in South Africa. You will lead a team of data scientists in developing and deploying sophisticated machine learning models to drive business insights, optimize financial products, and enhance customer experiences. The role requires a visionary leader with deep expertise in data science, machine learning, statistical modeling, and a strong understanding of the Banking & Finance sector. You will be instrumental in shaping the data strategy and fostering a data-driven culture, working remotely to support the broader company objectives, potentially including Gauteng-based projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of data scientists, providing technical guidance, mentorship, and project oversight.
• Develop and implement advanced machine learning models for areas such as fraud detection, customer segmentation, credit scoring, and predictive analytics.
• Design and execute A/B tests and other experiments to evaluate model performance and business impact.
• Clean, transform, and analyze large, complex datasets from various sources.
• Identify new opportunities for leveraging data science to solve business challenges.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders to integrate data science solutions into production.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and AI.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ensure best practices in data governance, ethics, and privacy are followed.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of hands-on experience in data science, with at least 3 years in a leadership or senior role.
• Proven track record of successfully developing and deploying machine learning models in a production environment.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and proficiency with relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong experience with SQL and big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Deep understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data mining techniques.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in the Banking & Finance sector is highly desirable.
• Must be eligible to work fully Remote from South Africa.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and significant bonus potential.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous retirement savings plan.
• Exceptional opportunities for professional growth and career advancement in a cutting-edge field.
• Flexible and autonomous Remote work environment.
• Work on challenging and impactful projects with a leading global firm.
• Be at the forefront of innovation in financial technology.