Senior Machine Learning Engineer - Predictive Analytics

Placements24; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Equity

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Machine Learning Engineer in Johannesburg to design, develop, and deploy advanced ML models for predictive analytics and business insights.

You will own end-to-end ML solutions, collaborate with data scientists and software engineers, and mentor junior team members. The role blends in-office collaboration with remote flexibility in a fast-growing AI startup.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in CS, ML, stats or math.
• 5+ years in ML engineering or related role.
• Proven track record deploying ML models to production.
• Strong Python and ML library proficiency.
• Experience with cloud ML services and MLOps tools.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy advanced ML models for predictive analytics and related tasks.
• Perform feature engineering, model training, evaluation, and optimization.
• Deploy ML models into production using MLOps practices.
• Collaborate with data scientists, software engineers, and stakeholders to translate requirements into ML solutions.
• Identify and integrate relevant data sources for model development.
• Research state-of-the-art ML techniques and their applications.
• Develop robust data pipelines and ETL processes for ML workflows.
• Monitor model performance in production and retrain as needed.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to team growth.

Skills

Python programming

ML theory & concepts

Model deployment

Education

Master's or PhD in Computer Science / ML / Statistics / Mathematics

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

Keras

Docker

Kubernetes

Cloud ML services (AWS/Azure/GCP)

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly growing AI startup that is revolutionizing data-driven decision-making, is looking for a highly skilled and experienced Senior Machine Learning Engineer to join their dynamic team in Johannesburg, Gauteng. This role is pivotal in developing and deploying sophisticated machine learning models that drive predictive analytics and generate actionable insights from complex datasets. You will work on challenging problems across various industries, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to build scalable, robust, and efficient ML solutions. The ideal candidate possesses a strong theoretical foundation in ML, extensive practical experience in model development and deployment, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve. This hybrid role offers the best of both worlds: in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Designing, developing, and implementing advanced machine learning models for predictive analytics, classification, regression, and other key applications.
• Performing feature engineering, model training, evaluation, and optimization.
• Deploying ML models into production environments using MLOps best practices.
• Collaborating closely with data scientists, software engineers, and business stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into ML solutions.
• Identifying and integrating relevant data sources for model development.
• Conducting research on state-of-the-art ML techniques and their potential applications.
• Developing robust data pipelines and ETL processes for ML workflows.
• Monitoring model performance in production and implementing necessary updates or retraining.
• Mentoring junior engineers and contributing to the team's technical growth.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in machine learning engineering or a closely related role.
• Proven track record of developing and deploying ML models into production environments.
• Strong proficiency in Python and core ML libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Keras).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their ML services.
• Solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, and software engineering principles.
• Experience with MLOps tools and methodologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD for ML).
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, hybrid team environment.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary, performance-based bonuses, and a generous equity package.
• Employees receive comprehensive health insurance, retirement benefits, and paid time off.
• You will have access to the latest tools and technologies, ongoing professional development opportunities, and the chance to work on impactful projects that shape the future of AI.
• The hybrid work model provides flexibility, and the role is based in the vibrant economic hub of Johannesburg.