Lead Data Scientist (Stellenbosch)

Are you a visionary in AI and machine learning, ready to shape the future of data-driven banking?

Join one of South Africa’s top banks as a Lead Data Scientist, driving innovation in credit, fraud detection, and customer intelligence. You’ll lead high-impact AI initiatives, mentor emerging data talent, and shape the strategic direction of data science within the business.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end design, build, and deployment of predictive models that power smarter decisions and stronger customer trust.
• Drive the bank’s AI and ML strategy, positioning it as a leader in intelligent automation and data innovation.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering a high-performance, collaborative team.
• Partner with executive stakeholders to translate complex business challenges into scalable AI solutions.
• Champion data governance, ethical AI, and regulatory compliance across all projects.
• Act as a thought leader in applied machine learning and AI innovation within financial services

Qualifications and experience:

• PhD or master’s in data science, machine learning, AI, statistics, or applied mathematics.
• 10+ years in data science or ML-focused roles, with proven leadership experience.
• Proven delivery of production-grade ML models in banking, fintech, or high-stakes industries.
• Strong proficiency in Python or R, statistical modeling, and SQL/NoSQL databases.
• Advanced experience in:
• Credit scoring: Logistic regression, XGBoost, LightGBM
• Default prediction: Random forest, GBMs, logistic regression
• Loan approval automation: Decision trees, GBMs
• Fraud detection: Neural networks, isolation forest, SVM
• Collections prioritization: Clustering, gradient boosting
• Customer segmentation: K-means, DBSCAN, hierarchical clustering