Remote Senior Data Scientist

Placements24; Klerksdorp; Remote; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Home office budget

Remote-first culture

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to join a remote-first fintech team. The role focuses on building and deploying ML models, conducting data exploration, and delivering actionable insights to stakeholders across the organization.

You will work with large datasets, use cutting-edge algorithms, and mentor junior data scientists while maintaining ethical use of data. Strong communication and collaboration with product and engineering teams are essential.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related field.
• 6+ years of professional data science experience with emphasis on ML and statistical modeling.
• Proficiency in Python or R and data science libraries (Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy).
• Strong SQL skills; NoSQL knowledge is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of ML models and advanced analytics.
• Prepare data via cleaning, transformation, and feature engineering on large datasets.
• Develop predictive models for customer behavior, fraud detection, and risk assessment.
• Perform EDA to uncover trends and insights; communicate results effectively.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

Machine Learning

Data Visualization

Education

Master's or PhD in Data Science/related quantitative field

Tools

Scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

NumPy

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking fintech company, is seeking a highly experienced Senior Data Scientist to join its fully remote team. This role is central to leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning techniques to drive product innovation and enhance customer experience. As a remote-first organization, we provide the infrastructure and support for you to excel from anywhere. The successful candidate will spearhead complex data projects, from conception and data exploration to model development, deployment, and performance monitoring. You will work with large, diverse datasets, employing cutting-edge statistical methods and AI algorithms. This position requires a blend of technical expertise, business acumen, and strong communication skills to translate complex findings into actionable insights for stakeholders across the organization. Join a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment dedicated to pushing the boundaries of data science in the financial sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of machine learning models and advanced statistical analyses.
• Extract, clean, and transform large, complex datasets from various sources to prepare them for analysis.
• Develop and deploy predictive models for customer behavior, fraud detection, risk assessment, and other business applications.
• Perform exploratory data analysis (EDA) to uncover trends, patterns, and insights.
• Design and conduct A/B tests and other experiments to validate hypotheses and measure the impact of new features.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences through visualizations and reports.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to integrate data-driven solutions into products and services.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to building a strong data-driven culture.
• Ensure the ethical and responsible use of data and machine learning models.

Requirements

• A Master's or PhD degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 6 years of professional experience in data science, with a strong focus on machine learning and statistical modeling.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant data science libraries (e.g., Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy).
• Strong experience with SQL and working with relational databases; experience with NoSQL databases is a plus.
• Solid understanding of various machine learning algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning) and their applications.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Matplotlib).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to a non-technical audience.
• Experience working in a remote team environment and managing projects independently.
• Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) for data science is advantageous.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary, commensurate with experience and expertise, along with significant performance-based bonuses. As a fully remote position, you will benefit from ultimate flexibility and autonomy. We provide a generous budget for home office setup and ongoing professional development, including access to online courses, conferences, and certifications. Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance are provided, along with a competitive retirement savings plan. You will be part of an innovative, collaborative, and inclusive work culture that values continuous learning and professional growth. This is an exceptional opportunity to make a substantial impact as a Senior Data Scientist in a dynamic, remote-first environment, contributing to the future of financial technology.