Data Scientist jobs in South Africa

To plan, build, optimise and implement innovative quantitative analytical methodologies, procedures, products and advanced mathematical models that provide analytical support and interpret insights, to address business opportunities and problems and implement business strategy, with minimal guidance.

Welcome to FNB, the home of the #changeables. We design for the shapeshifters and deliver products and services that make us incredibly proud of people that make it happen.

We are currently in search hands‑on Data Scientist / ML Engineer to build machine learning and data solutions.

• 3+ years in Data Science / ML
• Strong Python & SQL, beneficial Spark
• Solid grounding in ML principles, software engineering and statistics
• Experience with model development, evaluation, and deployment
• Strong communicator, strong problem‑solver

• Master’s in Data Science / Computer Science
• BSc / Honours in Data Engineering, Computer Science, or similar

• Challenging work
• A culture of collaboration

• Collect, clean, and preprocess data from multiple sources, including databases, APIs, and external datasets, ensuring data quality, integrity, and consistency.
• Perform exploratory data analysis (EDA) to understand the structure, distribution, and relationships within datasets, using statistical methods and visualization tools to identify patterns and insights.
• Develop predictive models and machine learning algorithms to solve business problems, such as fraud as well as customer personalisation.
• Apply advanced statistical techniques, such as regression analysis, clustering, classification, and time series analysis, to extract actionable insights from data and make data‑driven decisions.
• Design and implement experiments and A/B tests to evaluate hypotheses, measure performance, and optimize processes, products, or marketing campaigns.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including data engineers, software developers, and business analysts, to deploy machine learning models and integrate them into production systems.
• Interpret and communicate findings, insights, and recommendations to stakeholders, including executives, managers, and business partners, using data visualization tools and storytelling techniques.
• Monitor and evaluate model performance, accuracy, and effectiveness over time, adjusting models and algorithms as needed to improve predictive power and business outcomes.
• Stay updated on advances in data science, machine learning, and AI technologies
• Contribute to data governance and data management initiatives, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations, data security standards, and best practices for data handling and storage.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to define project requirements, scope, and success criteria, aligning data science initiatives with business goals and objectives.
• Conduct ad‑hoc analyses and data mining exercises to answer specific business questions, explore new opportunities, and uncover hidden insights in data.
• Mentor and coach junior data scientists, providing guidance, support, and feedback on technical skills, analytical methods, and professional development.
• Demonstrate integrity, ethics, and professionalism in handling sensitive data and maintaining confidentiality, ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards.

• Proven experience as a data scientist or in a similar role, with hands‑on experience in data analysis, machine learning, and statistical modeling.
• Proficiency in programming languages and tools used in data science, such as Python, R, SQL, and libraries/frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit‑learn, and pandas.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to formulate hypotheses, design experiments, and interpret results to derive actionable insights.
• Knowledge of statistical methods, machine learning algorithms, and data mining techniques, including supervised and unsupervised learning, regression, classification, clustering, and neural networks.
• Experience with data visualization tools and techniques, such as Matplotlib, Seaborn, Plotly
• Familiarity with big data technologies and distributed computing frameworks, such as Hadoop, Spark, and distributed databases, for handling and processing large‑scale datasets.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts and findings to non‑technical audiences in a clear and concise manner.
• Collaborative mindset and strong teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in cross‑functional teams and communicate with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Adaptability and continuous learning mindset, with a passion for exploring new technologies, methodologies, and approaches to data science and machine learning.
• Are you interested to take the step? We look forward to engaging with you further. Apply now!

Take note that applications will not be accepted on the 27/02/26 and onwards, kindly submit applications ahead of the closing date indicated below.

27/02/26

All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group’s Employment Equity plan. The Bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. In order for us to fulfill this purpose, candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis. The Bank will keep this information confidential unless we are required by law to disclose this information to other parties.