Senior ML Research Scientist - Lead Data Analytics & AI

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary + bonuses

Health insurance

Pension plan

Development budget

Computational resources

Collaborative environment

Sabbaticals

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Research Scientist in Cape Town to lead data analytics and machine learning initiatives. You will design methodologies, deploy advanced ML models, and translate results into practical applications across teams.

The role requires a PhD and 6–8 years of post-doctoral experience, with strong coding skills in Python or R and experience with TensorFlow/PyTorch. Expect collaboration, mentoring, and opportunity to publish.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in a quantitative field (CS/Statistics/Math).
• 6-8+ years of post-doctoral research experience in data analytics and ML.
• Proven ability to develop and deploy ML models (e.g., DL, NLP, RL).
• Strong programming skills in Python or R; proficient with ML libraries (TF, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Experience with big data tools (Spark, Hadoop).
• Excellent analytical, statistical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong publication record; effective communication and leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead research initiatives in data analytics and ML, defining scope and objectives.
• Develop and implement advanced ML models for diverse applications.
• Perform data mining, cleaning, and transformation on large datasets.
• Analyze experiments, interpret results, and provide actionable insights.
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to integrate research outcomes into products.
• Publish findings in top-tier journals and present at conferences.
• Mentor junior researchers and data analysts.
• Stay updated on ML, AI, and data science advancements.
• Contribute to research proposals and funding opportunities.
• Ensure ethical application of data analytics and ML techniques.

Skills

Python

R

Machine Learning

Statistics

Data Visualization

Leadership

Mentoring

Education

PhD in CS/Statistics/Math

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Research Scientist in Cape Town to lead data analytics and machine learning initiatives. You will design methodologies, deploy advanced ML models, and translate results into practical applications across teams.

The role requires a PhD and 6–8 years of post-doctoral experience, with strong coding skills in Python or R and experience with TensorFlow/PyTorch. Expect collaboration, mentoring, and opportunity to publish.