Remote Senior Data Scientist - Energy Analytics

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote position

Competitive salary

remote work stipend

Health insurance

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to join a distributed analytics team focused on renewable energy forecasting and grid optimization. The role is fully remote within South Africa, leveraging large energy datasets to deliver actionable insights and drive decision-making across engineering, operations, and product teams.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in data science, strong Python/R skills, and expertise in ML, time-series, and big data technologies.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Data Science, Statistics, CS, Physics, or related field.
• 7+ years of professional experience in data science with predictive modeling focus.
• Proficiency in Python or R and libraries such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas.
• Experience with SQL and big data technologies like Spark and Hadoop.
• Strong background in statistical modeling, time series, and optimization.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advanced statistical models and ML algorithms for energy data.
• Analyze large-scale energy datasets including consumption, production, and weather data.
• Build predictive models for energy demand forecasting and generation optimization.
• Design experiments (A/B tests) to evaluate model performance and impact.
• Create data visualization tools and dashboards for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineers, grid operators, and product managers to define data requirements.
• Contribute to data infrastructure and pipelines for efficient processing.
• Stay current with data science and AI advancements in energy.
• Mentor junior data scientists and support team growth.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and privacy in analytics.

Skills

Python

R

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

SQL

Spark

Hadoop

Time series

Optimization

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Data Science/Statistics/CS/Physics or related field

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a global leader in sustainable energy solutions, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist to join their advanced analytics team on a fully remote basis. This role will focus on leveraging vast datasets to extract actionable insights, optimize energy grid operations, predict demand, and drive innovation in renewable energy forecasting. You will work with cutting-edge technologies and methodologies to solve complex challenges in the energy sector. This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced data scientist passionate about renewable energy to contribute to significant environmental and economic impact from anywhere in South Africa . You will be part of a collaborative, distributed team focused on data-driven decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advanced statistical models and machine learning algorithms for energy data analysis.
• Analyze large-scale datasets related to energy consumption, production, weather patterns, and grid performance.
• Build predictive models for energy demand forecasting, load balancing, and renewable energy generation.
• Design and execute A/B tests and other experiments to evaluate model performance and impact.
• Develop data visualization tools and dashboards to communicate complex findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with energy engineers, grid operators, and product managers to define data requirements and analytical solutions.
• Contribute to the development of data infrastructure and pipelines for efficient data processing.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and AI relevant to the energy industry.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's technical growth.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and privacy in all analytical activities.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Physics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in data science, with a strong focus on predictive modeling and machine learning.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas).
• Experience with SQL and big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is essential.
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, time series analysis, and optimization techniques.
• Experience working with large, complex datasets, preferably within the energy sector.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to translate business problems into data science solutions.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a remote, distributed team.
• Self-motivated and able to manage priorities independently.
• Must be legally authorized to work in South Africa and comfortable working remotely.

Benefits

• This is a fully remote position offering significant flexibility.
• Our client provides a highly competitive salary, performance bonuses, and a comprehensive remote work stipend.
• Employees benefit from excellent health insurance, generous paid time off, and opportunities for professional development, including online courses and conference attendance.

Join a pioneering team that is using data to shape the future of the energy industry across South Africa and beyond.