Remote Principal Data Scientist

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Performance bonuses

Professional development

Remote-friendly policy

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Data Scientist to lead advanced analytics initiatives within a fully remote team. The role focuses on delivering impactful insights from complex data, mentoring junior data scientists, and shaping the company’s data strategy.

You will work on large-scale datasets, design experiments, and collaborate with stakeholders to translate problems into analytical frameworks. Strong leadership and communication are essential for success in a remote, globally distributed

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field (Statistics, CS, Math, Physics, Economics, etc.).
• 9+ years of professional data science experience with leadership in significant projects.
• Expertise in ML algorithms, statistical modeling, and experimental design.
• Proficiency in Python or R with core data-science libraries (pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong SQL skills and experience with large-scale data warehousing/big data (Spark, Hadoop).
• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills for a remote role.
• Experience mentoring junior data scientists and contributing to team strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development and deployment of advanced analytical models and ML solutions.
• Identify new data sources and techniques to address business challenges.
• Perform complex data mining, statistics, and predictive modeling on large datasets.
• Develop data-driven strategies and provide actionable recommendations to senior leadership.
• Mentor junior data scientists and guide their technical growth.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and business to implement solutions.
• Communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay updated on latest data science advances and perform experiments to measure impact.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and ethical use across projects.

Skills

Machine learning

Statistical modeling

Experimental design

Python/R

SQL

Big data technologies

Communication

Mentoring

Remote collaboration

Education

PhD or Master’s degree in quantitative field

Tools

pandas

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Spark

Hadoop

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and rapidly growing data analytics firm, is seeking an exceptional Principal Data Scientist to join their fully remote team. This senior position offers the opportunity to lead complex data science initiatives and drive significant business impact through advanced analytics, machine learning, and statistical modeling. You will work with vast datasets, tackling challenging business problems across various domains. As a Principal Data Scientist, you will mentor junior data scientists, contribute to the company's data strategy, and collaborate closely with stakeholders to identify opportunities for data-driven insights. This role is entirely remote, allowing you to work from anywhere while contributing to a high-performing, collaborative team. We are committed to providing a stimulating and rewarding remote work experience. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a proven ability to deliver actionable insights from complex data.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end development and deployment of advanced analytical models and machine learning solutions.


• Identify and explore new data sources and analytical techniques to address business challenges.


• Perform complex data mining, statistical analysis, and predictive modeling on large, diverse datasets.


• Develop robust data-driven strategies and provide actionable recommendations to senior leadership.


• Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering their technical skills and career development.


• Collaborate effectively with engineering, product management, and business teams to implement data science solutions.


• Communicate complex analytical findings and insights clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences.


• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and related technologies.


• Design and conduct A/B tests and other experiments to measure the impact of data science initiatives.


• Ensure the quality, integrity, and ethical use of data throughout all projects.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Economics, or a related quantitative field.


• A minimum of 9 years of professional experience in data science, with a proven track record of leading significant data projects.


• Expertise in machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and experimental design.


• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and extensive experience with relevant data science libraries (e.g., pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).


• Strong SQL skills and experience working with large-scale data warehousing and big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).


• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, crucial for a remote role.


• Demonstrated ability to translate complex business problems into analytical frameworks.


• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) is a plus.


• Proven ability to work independently and thrive in a fully remote team environment.


• Experience mentoring junior team members and contributing to team strategy.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive health insurance, a generous retirement savings plan, and significant performance-based bonuses.


• We provide excellent opportunities for professional development, including access to online courses, industry conferences, and advanced training.


• As a remote-first organization, we prioritize work-life balance and offer the flexibility to work from anywhere.

Join a leading team of data experts and contribute to impactful, data-driven decision-making from the comfort of your own space.