Senior Data Scientist - Machine Learning Engineering

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement contributions

Performance bonuses

Professional development budget

Hybrid work model

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, seeks a Senior Data Scientist with ML engineering focus to design, develop and deploy scalable ML models end-to-end. You will lead data pipelines, feature engineering, model training and production deployment in a hybrid work environment.

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. or Master’s in a quantitative field, with 7+ years of data science and ML experience, strong Python or R, and cloud/big data expertise. Relocation support is available for Stellenbosch.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in a quantitative field.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in data science and ML with deployment focus.
• Strong programming in Python or R.
• Extensive experience with ML libraries (TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and ML deployment tools.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain scalable ML models and algorithms.
• Perform data exploration, feature engineering, and model selection.
• Develop robust data pipelines for training and inference.
• Deploy ML models into production environments with reliability and performance.
• Collaborate with software engineers to integrate models.
• Evaluate model performance and drive iterative improvements.
• Stay updated on ML research and communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Mentor junior data scientists and promote best practices in ML engineering.
• Ensure code quality, reproducibility, and adherence to MLOps principles.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Hybrid collaboration

Education

Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

Python

R

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking technology firm specializing in AI-driven solutions, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist with a strong background in Machine Learning Engineering. This role is pivotal in designing, developing, and deploying sophisticated machine learning models that address complex business challenges. You will be responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of ML projects, from data acquisition and feature engineering to model training, evaluation, and production deployment. The successful candidate will join a dynamic and innovative team in Stellenbosch, Western Cape , contributing to cutting-edge advancements in artificial intelligence. This is an outstanding opportunity for a data scientist passionate about translating data into actionable insights and scalable ML solutions. We are looking for a proactive individual to drive innovation in our Stellenbosch -based R&D efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain scalable machine learning models and algorithms.
• Perform data exploration, feature engineering, and model selection for various predictive and analytical tasks.
• Develop and implement robust data pipelines for model training and inference.
• Deploy machine learning models into production environments, ensuring scalability, reliability, and performance.
• Collaborate with software engineers to integrate ML models into existing applications and platforms.
• Evaluate model performance, identify areas for improvement, and implement iterative enhancements.
• Stay abreast of the latest research and advancements in machine learning, deep learning, and AI.
• Communicate complex technical findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to best practices within the data science team.
• Ensure code quality, reproducibility, and adherence to MLOps principles.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in data science and machine learning, with a focus on practical implementation and deployment.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R.
• Extensive experience with machine learning libraries and frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Deep understanding of various machine learning algorithms, including supervised, unsupervised, and deep learning techniques.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and ML deployment tools.
• Familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation abilities.
• Experience working in a hybrid environment in Stellenbosch, Western Cape .

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement contributions, and performance bonuses.
• Employees benefit from a generous professional development budget for training, conferences, and certifications.
• This role provides the opportunity to work on challenging and impactful AI projects.
• The work environment in Stellenbosch, Western Cape is innovative and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on learning and growth.
• We foster a culture of technological advancement and encourage work-life balance through our hybrid model.
• Relocation assistance is available for candidates joining our team in Stellenbosch .