Senior Data Scientist

Placements24; Soweto; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits

Professional development & research

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to join its R&D team in Soweto, Gauteng. You will own the data science lifecycle from exploration to deployment, building scalable models that drive business value through AI and ML.

The role requires strong statistics, deep learning knowledge, and a track record of delivering practical data-driven solutions. You will mentor teammates, create insightful visuals, and stay abreast of advances in the field.

Qualifications

• Master's/PhD in a quantitative field; 5+ years data science experience.
• Strong Python or R programming with ML libraries.
• Experience with SQL and big data tech like Spark/Hadoop is a plus.
• Ability to translate business problems into data science solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement statistical models and ML algorithms.
• Preprocess large datasets for analysis.
• Develop predictive models and validate their performance.
• Deploy models to production and monitor them.
• Collaborate with engineers and product managers.
• Present findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Mentor junior data scientists.
• Develop visualizations and dashboards.

Skills

Python

R

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

NumPy

SQL

Spark

Hadoop

Data visualization

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related field

Tools

Tableau

Matplotlib

Seaborn

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering AI and machine learning solutions provider, is seeking a highly skilled and innovative Senior Data Scientist to join their research and development team in Soweto, Gauteng . This role is at the forefront of developing advanced analytical models and predictive solutions that drive significant business value. You will be responsible for the entire data science lifecycle, from data exploration and feature engineering to model development, deployment, and monitoring. The ideal candidate possesses a strong theoretical foundation in statistics and machine learning, practical experience with large datasets, and a passion for uncovering insights that shape strategic decisions. This is a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI technologies and contribute to groundbreaking advancements in the field.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement statistical models and machine learning algorithms to solve complex business problems.
• Clean, preprocess, and transform large and complex datasets to prepare them for analysis.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis to identify patterns, trends, and opportunities.
• Build and validate predictive models, ensuring their accuracy, robustness, and scalability.
• Deploy machine learning models into production environments and monitor their performance over time.
• Collaborate with engineers and product managers to integrate data science solutions into existing products and workflows.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Stay current with the latest research and advancements in data science, machine learning, and AI.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's knowledge base.
• Develop visualizations and dashboards to present data insights effectively.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in data science or a related analytical role.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant data science libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy).
• In-depth knowledge of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning), and their practical applications.
• Experience with SQL and working with relational databases.
• Familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.
• Proven ability to translate business problems into data science solutions.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Matplotlib, Seaborn, Tableau).

Benefits

Join an innovative and intellectually stimulating environment in Soweto, Gauteng . Our client offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and significant opportunities for professional development and research. You will have the chance to work on challenging, impactful projects that push the boundaries of AI and machine learning. Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous learning within a supportive and collaborative team.