Senior Data Scientist

Placements24; Upington; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid work model

Medical coverage

Pension fund

Professional development

Office amenities

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24 in Upington seeks a Senior Data Scientist to extract insights from complex datasets, build predictive models, and drive data‑driven decisions across the organization. You will work with ML, statistics and visualization, mentoring junior data scientists.

The role offers a hybrid work model and access to advanced analytics tools, with collaboration across engineering and product teams to deploy data science solutions at scale.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's in Statistics, CS, Math, Physics or related field.
• 5+ years in data science, ML or statistical modeling.
• Proficiency in Python or R, with relevant ML libraries.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement advanced statistical models and ML algorithms.
• Analyze large datasets to identify trends and insights.
• Develop predictive models to forecast outcomes and optimize strategies.
• Communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to deploy solutions.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines for model training.
• Conduct A/B tests and experimental designs to validate hypotheses.
• Mentor junior data scientists and analysts.
• Create compelling data visualizations to illustrate findings.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

ML

Data visualization

Communication

Mentoring

Team collaboration

Education

PhD or Master's in quantitative field

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Spark

Tableau/Power BI

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent analytics firm, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist to join their innovative team in Upington, Northern Cape. This role is central to extracting valuable insights from complex datasets, developing predictive models, and driving data-informed decision-making across the organization. You will work with state‑of‑the‑art tools and technologies, tackling challenging problems in areas such as machine learning, statistical modeling, and data visualization. The position offers a hybrid work arrangement, combining the benefits of in‑office collaboration and the flexibility of remote work. We are looking for a proactive, analytical individual with a strong passion for data and a proven ability to translate complex findings into actionable business strategies. You will have the opportunity to mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the growth of our data science practice. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of data analytics within a forward‑thinking company.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement advanced statistical models and machine learning algorithms.
• Analyze large, complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and actionable insights.
• Develop predictive models to forecast business outcomes and optimize strategies.
• Communicate complex findings clearly and effectively to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to integrate data science solutions into production systems.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines for model training and evaluation.
• Perform A/B testing and other experimental designs to validate hypotheses.
• Stay current with the latest research and advancements in data science and machine learning.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists and analysts.
• Create compelling data visualizations to illustrate key findings and recommendations.
• Ensure the ethical and responsible use of data.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of experience in data science, machine learning, or statistical modeling.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant libraries (e.g., scikit‑learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong experience with SQL for data extraction and manipulation.
• Expertise in statistical modeling, hypothesis testing, and experimental design.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their data services.
• Excellent data visualization skills using tools like Matplotlib, Seaborn, Tableau, or Power BI.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance bonus structure.
• Hybrid work model offering flexibility.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous annual leave and public holiday allowance.
• Opportunities for continued professional development and conference attendance.
• Access to advanced analytics tools and resources.
• Pension fund contributions.
• Employee assistance program for well-being support.
• Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates.
• On‑site amenities and vibrant office culture.