Senior Data Scientist (Remote)

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health coverage

Paid time off

Home office budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist for a remote-first role. You’ll extract insights from large datasets, build predictive models, and influence data-driven strategies across the organization.

Lead junior data scientists, mentor peers, and help shape the data science roadmap while collaborating with product, engineering, and business analytics teams in a distributed setup.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience as a Data Scientist or in a similar analytical role.
• Proficiency in Python (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow/PyTorch) and R.
• Strong experience with SQL and relational databases.
• Deep understanding of ML algorithms (regression, classification, clustering, deep learning).
• Experience with big data technologies (Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.
• Excellent data visualization, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and in remote teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and deploy advanced ML models and statistical analyses to solve business problems.
• Analyze large datasets to identify trends and actionable insights.
• Create data pipelines for ETL processes and data governance.
• Collaborate with engineering to deploy models in production."
• Communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

Statistics

Machine Learning

Data Visualization

Mentoring

Remote collaboration

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/Statistics/Math/Economics

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Airflow

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge financial analytics firm, is seeking an experienced Senior Data Scientist to join their distributed team. This is a fully remote position, allowing you to work from anywhere. You will play a crucial role in extracting actionable insights from vast datasets, developing predictive models, and driving data-informed strategies across the organization. The ideal candidate possesses a strong foundation in statistical modeling, machine learning, and data mining techniques, coupled with expertise in programming languages commonly used in data science. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and business analysts, to identify key business challenges and opportunities addressable through data analysis. As a senior member, you will guide junior data scientists, mentor them in best practices, and contribute significantly to shaping the firm's data science roadmap and infrastructure in this remote -first environment.

Key Responsibilities

Design, develop, and implement advanced machine learning models and statistical analyses to solve complex business problems. Explore and analyze large, complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and actionable insights. Develop data pipelines and processes for data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL). Collaborate with engineering teams to deploy machine learning models into production environments. Communicate findings and recommendations clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders through visualizations and presentations. Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment. Design and conduct A/B tests and other experiments to measure the impact of product changes and strategies. Contribute to the development of data governance policies and best practices.

Requirements

Master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, or a related quantitative field. 5+ years of hands‑on experience as a Data Scientist or in a similar analytical role. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python (with libraries like Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow/PyTorch) and R. Strong experience with SQL and working with relational databases. Deep understanding of machine learning algorithms (regression, classification, clustering, deep learning) and statistical modeling techniques. Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is a plus. Excellent data visualization skills. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities. Effective communication and presentation skills, comfortable presenting complex findings. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote team setting.

Benefits

This fully remote position offers significant flexibility and work-life balance. Our client provides a competitive salary, performance bonuses, and stock options. Comprehensive health coverage, generous paid time off, and a dedicated budget for professional development and home office setup are included. The company culture emphasizes innovation, continuous learning, and collaboration among its globally distributed team. Opportunities for career advancement into leadership roles within data science are significant. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce.