Senior Data Scientist - Predictive Modeling

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

Professional development

Remote work

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to join a fully remote team. You will build advanced predictive models, derive actionable insights, and drive strategic decisions across product, marketing, and operations.

The role emphasizes statistical modeling, ML deployment, data pipelines, and collaboration with stakeholders. A strong academic background and 5+ years in data science are required, with excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a quantitative field (Statistics, CS, Mathematics, Economics, or related).
• Minimum of 5 years of professional Data Scientist experience focusing on predictive modeling.
• Experience developing and deploying ML models in production.
• Proficiency in Python or R with libraries like scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, pandas, NumPy.
• Strong statistical modeling, hypothesis testing, and experimental design.
• Experience with SQL and large datasets in relational DBs.
• Familiarity with Spark/Hadoop and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) is a plus.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, validate, and deploy predictive models using ML and statistics.
• Analyze large datasets to identify trends and opportunities.
• Design and conduct experiments to test hypotheses.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define problems and gather requirements.
• Build and maintain data pipelines for training and deployment.
• Perform data cleaning, feature engineering, and visualization.
• Stay updated on data science advancements.
• Develop and implement A/B testing frameworks and analyze results.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to knowledge base.
• Document methodologies, models, and results clearly.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Predictive modeling

Python

R

SQL

Data visualization

A/B testing

Communication

Independent work

Education

Master's or PhD in quantitative field

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

pandas

NumPy

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leader in data-driven innovation, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist to join their fully remote team. This role is integral to developing advanced predictive models and deriving actionable insights from complex datasets to drive strategic business decisions. You will leverage your expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning, and data mining to solve challenging business problems across various domains. The ideal candidate possesses a strong quantitative background, exceptional analytical skills, and a proven ability to translate data into meaningful recommendations. You will collaborate with stakeholders from different departments, including product, marketing, and operations, to understand their needs and deliver impactful data solutions. We are looking for a self-motivated and results-oriented individual who thrives in a remote work environment and is passionate about uncovering hidden patterns in data. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge data science initiatives and influence key business strategies, all while enjoying the flexibility of remote work.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, validate, and deploy sophisticated predictive models using machine learning and statistical techniques.
• Analyze large, complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for business improvement.
• Design and conduct experiments to test hypotheses and measure the impact of interventions.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to define problem statements, gather requirements, and communicate findings.
• Build and maintain data pipelines for model training and deployment.
• Perform data cleaning, feature engineering, and data visualization to support analysis.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Develop and implement A/B testing frameworks and analyze results.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's knowledge base.
• Document methodologies, models, and results clearly and comprehensively.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a Data Scientist, with a strong focus on predictive modeling.
• Proven experience in developing and deploying machine learning models in a production environment.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, pandas, NumPy).
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, hypothesis testing, and experimental design.
• Experience with SQL and working with large datasets in relational databases.
• Familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) is a plus.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and effectively in a fully remote team.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, attractive stock options, and a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance. We provide a generous 401k matching program and ample paid time off. Continuous professional development is supported through access to online learning platforms and conference attendance. This fully remote role offers the ultimate flexibility, allowing you to work from your preferred location while contributing to impactful data science projects.