Remote Principal Data Scientist

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Conference allowances

Remote work

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Data Scientist for a fully remote role, focused on leading advanced ML models and data-driven strategies. You will work from anywhere in South Africa and collaborate across engineering, product and domain experts to solve high-impact problems.

The ideal candidate has a PhD or MSc, 7+ years in data science, strong ML, stats, Python/R, SQL, and cloud experience. You will mentor juniors, design experiments, publish or contribute to open source, and stay at the

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's in a quantitative field.
• 7+ years data science and ML experience.
• Expertise in statistical modeling and ML techniques.
• Proficient in Python and R.
• Strong SQL and big data tooling.
• Cloud ML services experience.
• Ability to translate business problems into data solutions.
• Excellent communication and leadership.
• Publications/open-source contributions a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead ML model design and implementation.
• Analyze data to derive actionable insights.
• Develop and deploy predictive models (forecasting, classification, clustering, anomalies).
• Collaborate with engineering to productionize models.
• Design and run A/B tests and experiments.
• Mentor junior data scientists.
• Stay updated with ML research and AI advancements.
• Communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Develop data strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Ensure ethical use of data and AI.

Skills

Advanced degree

7+ years data science

ML model development

Python ML

SQL & big data

Cloud platforms

Mentoring & leadership

Communication skills

Education

PhD/MSc in quantitative field

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Job description

About the Role

Our client, an innovative AI research and development firm, is seeking a distinguished Principal Data Scientist to lead critical data-driven initiatives. This is a fully remote position, offering the opportunity to work on complex, impactful projects from the comfort of your own location. You will be responsible for developing advanced statistical models, machine learning algorithms, and predictive analytics solutions to solve challenging business problems. The ideal candidate is a thought leader in the field of data science, with a proven track record of delivering high-impact insights and driving product innovation through data. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineers, product managers, and domain experts, to translate data into actionable strategies and intelligent systems. This role is perfect for an experienced data scientist looking for autonomy, intellectual stimulation, and the chance to make a significant contribution to the advancement of AI and machine learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of sophisticated machine learning models and algorithms.
• Conduct in-depth data analysis, identify trends, and derive actionable insights from large datasets.
• Develop and deploy predictive models for forecasting, classification, clustering, and anomaly detection.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate data science models into production systems.
• Design and execute A/B tests and other experiments to validate hypotheses and measure impact.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's technical growth.
• Stay current with the latest research and advancements in machine learning, AI, and data science.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Develop data strategies and roadmaps to align with business objectives.
• Ensure the ethical and responsible use of data and AI technologies.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, or a related quantitative field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in data science and machine learning, with a focus on building and deploying models.
• Expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning techniques (e.g., deep learning, gradient boosting, SVMs), and experimental design.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python (with libraries like scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch) and R.
• Strong SQL skills and experience working with large-scale datasets using tools like Spark, Hadoop, or cloud data warehouses.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their data science/ML services.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex business problems into data science solutions.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to lead projects and mentor team members.
• Publications or contributions to open-source data science projects are a plus.

Benefits

• Our client offers an exceptional compensation package, including a top-tier salary, significant performance bonuses, and substantial equity options.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance are provided, along with robust retirement planning benefits.
• We support continuous learning through generous allowances for conferences, training, and educational resources.
• This is a fully remote position, allowing for flexible working hours and location independence.
• You'll join a world-class team of researchers and engineers, tackle intellectually challenging problems, and contribute to groundbreaking AI advancements.
• Our client fosters a culture of innovation, autonomy, and collaboration, providing the resources and support needed to excel.
• Experience the freedom and impact of a leading remote role in data science.