Senior Data Scientist - Fintech

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonuses based on performance

Comprehensive health insurance

Retirement plan with company match

Learning and development opportunities

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to join a fintech-focused team in Pretoria. The role blends in-office collaboration with remote work to drive product development, improve customer experience, and optimize operations through advanced analytics and modeling.

You will design models, build data pipelines, and mentor junior data scientists while contributing to the company’s data strategy and roadmap.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s in a quantitative field required.
• 5+ years in data science or related analytical role.
• Proficiency in Python or R and data science libraries.
• Strong SQL and data management experience.
• Expertise in ML algorithms and statistical modeling.
• Experience with big data technologies is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
• Experience in a hybrid work environment.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy ML models for predictive analytics, anomaly detection, and customer segmentation.
• Analyze large datasets to identify trends, patterns, and actionable insights.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and stakeholders to define data science projects.
• Develop and implement A/B testing frameworks to evaluate features and strategies.
• Build data pipelines and ensure data quality for analysis and model training.
• Communicate complex findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay current with advances in data science, ML, and AI.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to team growth.
• Contribute to data strategy and roadmap.
• Visualize data and model results for reporting and decision support.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

ML algorithms

Statistics

Pandas

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Big data

Cloud platforms

Education

Ph.D. or Master’s in CS/Data Science/Statistics

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly growing fintech company, is looking for an experienced Senior Data Scientist to join their innovative team based in Pretoria . This hybrid role will focus on leveraging advanced data analytics, machine learning, and statistical modeling to drive product development, enhance customer experience, and optimize business operations. You will work with large, complex datasets to uncover insights, build predictive models, and contribute to strategic decision-making in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. This position offers a blend of in-office collaboration for team synergy and remote flexibility for focused work.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy machine learning models for predictive analytics, anomaly detection, and customer segmentation.
• Analyze large, complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and actionable insights.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders to define data science projects and deliver impactful solutions.
• Develop and implement A/B testing frameworks to evaluate new features and strategies.
• Build data pipelines and ensure data quality for analysis and model training.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and AI.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's technical growth.
• Contribute to the development of the company's data strategy and roadmap.
• Visualize data and model results effectively for reporting and decision support.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in data science or a related analytical role, preferably in fintech or a similar fast-paced industry.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R and associated data science libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas).
• Strong experience with SQL and database management.
• Expertise in various machine learning algorithms and statistical modeling techniques.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and presentation abilities.
• Experience working in a hybrid environment, balancing remote and in-office collaboration.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) is beneficial.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary, commensurate with experience, plus performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans are provided.
• A generous retirement savings plan with company matching is available.
• Opportunities for continuous learning and professional development, including access to conferences and training programs.
• A flexible hybrid work model that supports work-life balance.
• Stock options or equity grants for eligible employees.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and a collaborative work environment.
• Generous paid time off policy, including vacation, sick leave, and public holidays.
• Company-sponsored social events and team-building activities.