Remote Senior Data Scientist - AI/ML Innovation

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 2,306,000 - 3,458,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus potential

Health and wellness stipend

Equity/stock options

Remote work flexibility

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to join a fully remote, global team focused on developing and deploying advanced AI/ML models for complex business challenges.

The ideal candidate will lead end-to-end data science initiatives, collaborate with data engineers and product managers, and mentor junior team members. Strong production ML, cloud, and MLOps experience are highly valued.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related field.
• 7+ years hands-on data science and machine learning experience.
• Production-ready ML models deployment experience (classification, regression, clustering, DL).
• Proficiency in Python or R and libraries like TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Pandas.
• Strong statistical modeling, experimental design, and A/B testing knowledge.
• Experience with Spark/Hadoop and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and collaboration skills.
• Remote work readiness and ability to work with global teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement ML models and algorithms.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis to uncover insights.
• Perform feature engineering and selection to optimize performance.
• Validate and test models for accuracy and reliability.
• Deploy ML models into production and monitor performance.
• Collaborate with data engineers to build scalable data pipelines.
• Work with product managers to translate business needs into DS solutions.
• Communicate findings clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Stay current with AI/ML research and advancements.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to best practices.

Skills

Python

R

Production ML

Statistical modeling

Experimental design

A/B testing

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Critical thinking

Communication

Collaboration

Project management

MLOps

Education

PhD or Master’s in CS/Statistics/Math

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

Pandas

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge technology firm specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning, is seeking a highly accomplished Senior Data Scientist to join their fully remote, global team. This pivotal role will focus on developing and deploying advanced AI/ML models to solve complex business challenges and drive innovation. You will work on challenging projects, from data exploration and feature engineering to model development, validation, and deployment. As a remote contributor, you will collaborate extensively with data engineers, software developers, and product managers across various locations. This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned data scientist to contribute to groundbreaking AI initiatives and have a significant impact on the company's trajectory, all while enjoying the flexibility of remote work. The ideal candidate is a pragmatic problem-solver with a strong theoretical foundation and practical experience in building and deploying ML models in production environments. We value deep analytical thinking and a proactive approach to tackling complex datasets.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement machine learning models and algorithms.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis to uncover insights and identify patterns.
• Perform feature engineering and selection to optimize model performance.
• Validate and test models rigorously to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Deploy ML models into production environments and monitor their performance.
• Collaborate with data engineers to build scalable data pipelines.
• Work closely with product managers and stakeholders to understand business needs and translate them into data science solutions.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay current with the latest research and advancements in AI/ML.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to best practices within the team.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of hands-on experience in data science and machine learning.
• Proven experience in developing and deploying production-ready ML models (e.g., classification, regression, clustering, deep learning).
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R and relevant libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Pandas).
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, experimental design, and A/B testing.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical-thinking skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, especially for remote team dynamics.
• Ability to work independently and manage complex projects effectively.
• Experience with MLOps practices is a plus.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous stock options or equity.
• Remote work flexibility with a home office stipend.
• Unlimited paid time off.
• Access to cutting-edge AI/ML research and development.
• Opportunities for professional growth and attending top conferences.
• Collaborative and innovative global team culture.