Senior Data Scientist - Agricultural Analytics (Remote)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Global health insurance

Stock options

Professional development budget

Fully remote with flexible schedule

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist for a fully remote role supporting agricultural initiatives. You will build and deploy predictive models, clean and integrate data from sensors, imagery, and records, and drive data-driven decisions across teams.

You will collaborate with agronomists, researchers, and product teams, mentor juniors, and contribute to scalable analytics solutions while advancing industry practices and sustaining data governance.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a quantitative field.
• 5+ years as a Data Scientist with predictive models.
• Strong Python or R programming skills and libraries.
• Extensive SQL experience with large-scale databases.
• Solid ML algorithms knowledge and experimental design.
• Experience with data visualization tools.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy ML models for agriculture.
• Extract, clean, and transform large diverse datasets.
• Develop robust data pipelines and analytics workflows.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define data needs.
• Create visualizations and dashboards for stakeholders.
• Stay current with DS research and techniques.
• Mentor junior data scientists and share best practices.
• Contribute to data analytics strategy and governance.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and ethical use.
• Participate in code reviews and reproducible research

Skills

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Data visualization

Independent work

Remote collaboration

Communication

Education

Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or related field

Tools

Python

R

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

SQL

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading AgriTech innovator, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist to join their fully remote team. This role is central to unlocking insights from vast datasets generated across diverse agricultural operations, driving data-driven decision-making and technological advancements. You will work with cutting-edge tools and methodologies to develop predictive models, optimize farming practices, and identify new opportunities for growth and efficiency. The ideal candidate possesses a strong background in statistical modeling, machine learning, and data visualization, with a passion for applying these skills to the agricultural sector. You will collaborate closely with agronomists, researchers, and product developers to translate complex data into actionable strategies. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of agriculture through data science, from anywhere.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy advanced machine learning models and statistical analyses to address key agricultural challenges, such as yield prediction, disease detection, and resource optimization.
• Extract, clean, and transform large, complex datasets from various sources, including sensor data, satellite imagery, historical records, and operational logs.
• Develop and maintain robust data pipelines and analytical workflows for continuous monitoring and reporting.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (agronomists, engineers, product managers) to define data requirements, interpret findings, and implement data-driven solutions.
• Create compelling data visualizations and dashboards to communicate insights and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Stay at the forefront of data science and machine learning research, identifying and implementing new techniques and technologies relevant to agriculture.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's technical expertise and best practices.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of data analytics initiatives within the organization.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and ethical use across all analytical projects.
• Participate in code reviews and advocate for reproducible research and maintainable code.

Requirements

• A Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a Data Scientist, with a proven track record of building and deploying complex predictive models.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant data science libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas).
• Extensive experience with SQL and working with large-scale databases.
• Solid understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning), and experimental design.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Matplotlib, Seaborn).
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically about complex data challenges.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote team environment.
• A passion for agriculture and a desire to leverage data to solve real-world problems in the sector.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary, reflecting the senior nature of the role and the in-demand skill set.
• This position is fully remote, offering exceptional flexibility.
• Benefits include a comprehensive global health insurance plan, a generous stock options package, and a substantial professional development budget for conferences, courses, and certifications.
• We foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• The opportunity to work on impactful projects that are transforming the agricultural industry, with a team of passionate experts, is a significant advantage.