Senior Data Scientist - Machine Learning Focus

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Paid time off

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Placements24 in Bloemfontein invites an experienced Senior Data Scientist to lead machine learning projects from problem framing to deployment. You will work across the data science lifecycle, from data collection and preprocessing to model validation and production integration.

The role demands strong ML knowledge, proficiency in Python or R, SQL, and the ability to communicate complex findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading analytics firm, is seeking a highly analytical and experienced Senior Data Scientist with a strong focus on Machine Learning to join their team in Bloemfontein . This role will involve tackling complex business challenges by applying advanced statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data mining techniques. You will be responsible for the entire data science lifecycle, from data collection and preprocessing to model development, validation, and deployment. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of ML algorithms, a passion for uncovering insights from large datasets, and the ability to communicate complex findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. This is a vital position within a forward-thinking organization in Bloemfontein , Free State.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement machine learning models to solve business problems.
• Perform data exploration, feature engineering, and data preprocessing on large datasets.
• Evaluate and optimize model performance using appropriate metrics and validation techniques.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to deploy models into production environments.
• Stay current with the latest research and advancements in machine learning and data science.
• Communicate findings, insights, and recommendations to stakeholders through compelling visualizations and presentations.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines and analytical frameworks.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's knowledge base.
• Identify new opportunities to leverage data science and machine learning for business impact.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in data science, with a significant focus on machine learning.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant libraries (e.g., Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras).
• Strong experience with SQL and working with large datasets.
• Solid understanding of various machine learning algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning).
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Matplotlib, Seaborn, Tableau).
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.

Benefits

• Our client provides a competitive salary, performance incentives, and a comprehensive benefits package including medical aid, retirement fund contributions, and paid time off. The role offers a hybrid work arrangement, allowing for flexibility in work location within Bloemfontein . Opportunities for professional growth, attending conferences, and further academic development are strongly supported.