Remote Senior Data Scientist - Insurance Analytics

Placements24; South Africa; Remote; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-friendly culture

Stock options

Home office stipend

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to join a fully remote team. You will build advanced analytical models for insurance products, pricing, risk, and customer experience, using large datasets to derive actionable insights and communicate results to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in statistical modeling, machine learning, and data mining, with practical insurance domain experience.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in CS, Statistics, Mathematics, or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on data science, building and deploying production models.
• Strong Python or R skills with data science libraries.
• SQL proficiency and experience with large databases.
• Insurance/financial services industry experience is desirable.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy ML models for insurance analytics (fraud, churn, risk).
• Prepare and transform large datasets from multiple sources.
• Perform statistical analyses to identify trends and insights.
• Implement A/B testing to assess model performance.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and business stakeholders.
• Communicate findings via visuals and presentations.
• Stay updated on new DS/AI advances and mentor juniors.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Data mining

Communication skills

Independent remote work

Education

PhD or Master’s in CS/Statistics/Math

5+ years data science experience

Tools

Python

R

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

SQL

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking insurance technology company, is seeking an experienced Senior Data Scientist to join their fully remote team. This role is central to driving data-driven decision-making across the organization, focusing on developing advanced analytical models to optimize insurance products, pricing, risk assessment, and customer experience. You will leverage large datasets to extract actionable insights, build predictive models, and communicate complex findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in statistical modeling, machine learning, and data mining, combined with practical experience in the insurance domain. As a remote-first organization, we foster a collaborative and flexible work environment where your contributions are valued regardless of location. This is a unique opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and make a significant impact on the future of insurance analytics from the comfort of your home office, supporting operations across Limpopo and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy sophisticated machine learning models for insurance analytics (e.g., fraud detection, customer churn prediction, risk scoring).
• Extract, clean, and transform large, complex datasets from various sources.
• Conduct in-depth statistical analysis and identify key trends and patterns.
• Develop and implement A/B testing frameworks to evaluate model performance.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders to define analytical requirements.
• Communicate findings and insights effectively through visualizations and presentations.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and AI.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's knowledge base.
• Ensure the ethical and responsible use of data and AI technologies.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience as a Data Scientist, with a focus on building and deploying production-level models.
• Expertise in Python or R, including relevant data science libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas).
• Proficiency in SQL and experience working with large databases.
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data mining techniques.
• Experience in the insurance or financial services industry is highly desirable.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts clearly.
• Proven ability to work independently in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive remote salary and potential for stock options.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Generous home office setup stipend and internet reimbursement.
• Flexible working hours and remote work flexibility.
• Opportunities for continuous learning, professional development, and conference attendance.
• Be part of an innovative and collaborative remote-first culture, impacting the global insurance market.