Senior Data Scientist - AI and Machine Learning

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

Medical insurance

Annual leave

Learning opportunities

Hybrid work model

Retirement plan

Job summary

Placements24 in Nelspruit is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to develop, deploy, and optimize predictive models that drive strategic business decisions. You will lead data analysis, feature engineering, and model validation while collaborating with engineers and analysts.

You will mentor junior data scientists, deliver actionable insights, and translate complex results into understandable business recommendations.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Data Scientist, with a focus on machine learning.
• Strong proficiency in Python or R for data analysis and modeling.
• Experience with ML libraries such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch.
• Solid understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data mining techniques.
• Experience with SQL and working with large datasets.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid team environment within Nelspruit.

Responsibilities

• Develop, train, and deploy machine learning models to address business challenges.
• Perform in-depth data analysis, including data cleaning, feature engineering, and exploratory data analysis.
• Identify opportunities for leveraging AI and ML to improve business processes and outcomes.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate models into production systems.
• Design and conduct A/B tests and other experiments to evaluate model performance.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and AI.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's knowledge sharing.
• Develop dashboards and reports to visualize insights and model performance.

Skills

Python

R

Machine Learning

Statistical Modeling

SQL

Data mining

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Master's or PhD in a quantitative field

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a forward-thinking company dedicated to leveraging AI and machine learning to drive business innovation. We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist to join our team in **Nelspruit**. This role is crucial for developing and deploying advanced predictive models, extracting actionable insights from complex datasets, and contributing to the strategic direction of our AI initiatives. You will work with a talented group of data scientists, engineers, and business analysts to tackle challenging problems and deliver data-driven solutions. If you have a passion for uncovering patterns, building sophisticated models, and translating data into tangible business value, this opportunity is for you. Join us in **Nelspruit** and be part of a team that is shaping the future through data science.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, train, and deploy machine learning models to address business challenges.
• Perform in-depth data analysis, including data cleaning, feature engineering, and exploratory data analysis.
• Identify opportunities for leveraging AI and ML to improve business processes and outcomes.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate models into production systems.
• Design and conduct A/B tests and other experiments to evaluate model performance.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and AI.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's knowledge sharing.
• Develop dashboards and reports to visualize insights and model performance.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Data Scientist, with a focus on machine learning.
• Strong proficiency in Python or R for data analysis and modeling.
• Experience with ML libraries such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch.
• Solid understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data mining techniques.
• Experience with SQL and working with large datasets.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid team environment within **Nelspruit**.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous annual leave and holiday package.
• Opportunities for continuous learning and professional development.
• Access to advanced data analytics tools and resources.
• A dynamic and collaborative work environment in **Nelspruit**.
• Hybrid work model for work-life balance.
• Retirement savings plan.