Remote Senior Data Scientist

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work flexibility

Performance-based bonuses

Profit sharing potential

Health and retirement benefits

Access to advanced data science tools

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist for a leading data analytics firm focused on financial risk modeling. The role is fully remote within South Africa, with work spanning banking and finance applications.

You will design predictive models, analyze large datasets, mentor juniors, and contribute to strategic data initiatives. Strong in ML, statistics, and stakeholder communication is essential for success.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in a quantitative field as listed.
• Minimum of 6 years hands-on data science or ML experience in finance.
• Proficiency in Python or R and libraries (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas).
• Strong statistical modeling, ML techniques, and experimental design.
• Experience with Spark, Hadoop and SQL.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work autonomously in a fully remote environment.
• Randburg/Gauteng experience not required; strong financial modeling background preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement statistical models and ML algorithms for financial applications.
• Clean, process, and analyze large datasets from various sources.
• Evaluate model performance, validate results, and ensure robustness and scalability.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate needs into data science problems.
• Communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to team growth.
• Stay updated with advancements in data science, ML, and AI.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines and analytical workflows.
• Contribute to data-driven strategies and product enhancements.
• Ensure data privacy and security best practices throughout the lifecycle.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Experimental design

Autonomy

Remote collaboration

Education

Ph.D. or Master's degree in a quantitative field such as Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a related discipline.

Tools

Python

R

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

Spark

Hadoop

SQL

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading data analytics firm specializing in financial risk modeling, is seeking an experienced Senior Data Scientist to join their fully remote team. This is an exciting opportunity to leverage advanced statistical and machine learning techniques to solve complex problems within the banking and finance industry. You will be responsible for developing predictive models, analyzing large datasets, and communicating insights to stakeholders. As a Senior Data Scientist, you will also mentor junior team members and contribute to the strategic direction of data science initiatives. This role offers the ultimate flexibility of working remotely from anywhere in South Africa, with a focus on delivering high-impact analytical solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement statistical models and machine learning algorithms for financial applications (e.g., fraud detection, credit scoring, market prediction).
• Clean, process, and analyze large, complex datasets from various sources.
• Evaluate model performance, validate results, and ensure the robustness and scalability of solutions.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into data science problems.
• Communicate complex findings and insights clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's technical growth.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines and analytical workflows.
• Contribute to the development of data-driven strategies and product enhancements.
• Ensure data privacy and security best practices are followed throughout the data lifecycle.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in a quantitative field such as Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 6 years of hands-on experience in data science, machine learning, or statistical modeling, preferably in the financial sector.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas).
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning techniques, and experimental design.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and SQL.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and productively in a fully remote environment.
• Previous experience in Randburg or Gauteng is not required; a strong background in financial modeling is key.

Benefits

• Highly competitive annual salary of R , reflecting your expertise and impact.
• Significant performance-based bonuses and potential for profit sharing.
• Full remote work flexibility, allowing you to work from anywhere in South Africa.
• Opportunity to work on challenging and impactful data science projects.
• Collaborative and intellectually stimulating remote work culture.
• Comprehensive health and retirement benefits.
• Access to advanced data science tools and resources.