Senior Lead Data Scientist — ML Strategy & Team Mentor

Placements24; Soweto; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Pension scheme

Performance-based bonuses

Gym membership

Team social events

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Data Scientist in Soweto to head a team of data professionals and drive AI-powered decisions. You will define the strategic direction for data science projects and deliver actionable insights from complex datasets.

The role requires 7+ years in data science with leadership experience, strong Python or R skills, and expertise in ML, SQL, and data visualization. You will shape data pipelines and collaborate with stakeholders to improve products and operations.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or related quantitative field.
• 7+ years of experience in data science or analytical roles with leadership track record.
• Proficiency in Python or R and libraries such as pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch.
• Extensive SQL experience with large relational/non-relational databases.
• Deep understanding of statistical modeling, ML techniques, and experimental design.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of data scientists.
• Develop and implement advanced statistical models and ML algorithms for complex problems.
• Identify opportunities to leverage data to drive growth and efficiency.
• Design data exploration and analysis strategies to uncover trends.
• Translate business requirements into data science projects.
• Communicate analytical findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders via visualizations.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines and infrastructure for DS workflows.
• Stay updated on data science advancements.
• Ensure ethical and responsible use of data.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Python

R

SQL

Big data

Data visualization

Education

Master's or PhD in quantitative field

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

pandas

NumPy

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Data Scientist in Soweto to head a team of data professionals and drive AI-powered decisions. You will define the strategic direction for data science projects and deliver actionable insights from complex datasets.

The role requires 7+ years in data science with leadership experience, strong Python or R skills, and expertise in ML, SQL, and data visualization. You will shape data pipelines and collaborate with stakeholders to improve products and operations.