Senior Data Scientist (Machine Learning)

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive salary

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist specializing in Machine Learning to join its Richards Bay team in KwaZulu-Natal. The role offers a hybrid work arrangement with a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration, focusing on developing and deploying advanced ML models to solve business problems.

You will leverage statistics, ML methods, and big data tools, mentor juniors, and collaborate with stakeholders to translate needs into data-driven solutions.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in a quantitative field.
• Minimum 5 years of data science/machine learning experience.
• Proficient in Python or R and ML libraries.
• Strong statistics, modelling, and evaluation skills.
• Experience with SQL and large relational databases.
• Familiarity with big data technologies (Spark/Hadoop).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, train, and deploy ML models for predictive analytics, classification, clustering, and recommendations.
• Design end-to-end data science pipelines from data extraction to deployment.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate needs into data science problems.
• Perform exploratory data analysis to identify patterns and insights.
• Evaluate and compare ML algorithms to determine effective solutions.
• Communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay current with ML/AI advancements.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to knowledge sharing.
• Work with big data technologies and cloud platforms.

Skills

Python

R

Statistical modelling

Machine learning

SQL

Cloud platforms

Communication

Mentoring

Education

Master's degree in CS/Statistics/Math

PhD in related quantitative field

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Keras

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leader in leveraging data for business insights, is looking for a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist specializing in Machine Learning to join their innovative team in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal . This is a hybrid role offering a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. You will be responsible for developing and deploying advanced machine learning models to solve complex business problems, drive data-driven decision-making, and uncover new opportunities. This role requires a strong theoretical foundation in statistics and machine learning, coupled with practical experience in applying these techniques to real-world datasets. You will have the opportunity to work with large, diverse datasets and contribute to cutting-edge projects that have a significant impact on the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, train, and deploy sophisticated machine learning models for predictive analytics, classification, clustering, and recommendation systems.
• Design and implement end-to-end data science pipelines, from data extraction and cleaning to model evaluation and deployment.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into data science problems.
• Perform exploratory data analysis (EDA) to identify patterns, trends, and insights within complex datasets.
• Evaluate and compare different machine learning algorithms and techniques to determine the most effective solutions.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's knowledge sharing efforts.
• Work with big data technologies and cloud platforms to manage and process large datasets.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Data Scientist with a strong focus on machine learning.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras).
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and evaluation metrics.
• Experience with SQL and working with large relational databases.
• Familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) for data science workflows is desirable.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, commensurate with experience and expertise.
• Comprehensive medical aid benefits and a retirement annuity are included.
• Employees enjoy a generous annual leave policy.
• Opportunities for professional development, including attending conferences and pursuing further education, are encouraged.
• The hybrid work model in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal offers flexibility.
• Our client values a culture of innovation and collaboration.