Data Scientist Entry Level (Contract)

The Focus Group Sandton, South Africa 30 August 2025 Intern / Graduate 18000 - 21000 Contract Cost to Company 1 years - 3 years Skills Python R Big Data Statistics AWS Microsoft Azure Machine Learning PySpark Data Data Wrangling Industries Banking Financial Services Job Description
About the Role
Our client is looking for a curious, analytical, and collaborative Junior Data Scientist to join their growing data team. You’ll work on building models, uncovering insights, and helping drive data-driven decisions across the organization
Key Responsibilities
Develop and prototype statistical models and machine learning algorithms
Conduct exploratory data analysis (EDA) and feature engineering
Collaborate with BI teams and analysts to present actionable insights
Deploy, monitor, and maintain ML models in production
Stay updated on emerging tools and techniques under senior mentorship
Promote a culture of continuous improvement and data-driven thinking
Contribute to a collaborative and innovative team environment
Required Skills & Tools
Programming: Python , R , MATLAB
Big Data: Hadoop , Spark , Hive
Data Wrangling & Visualization
Statistical Modeling & Predictive Analytics
Version Control: Git (preferred)
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field (Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, etc.)
Master’s or PhD is a plus
Certifications in Data Science (Coursera, SAS, etc.)
Familiarity with Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure)
Exposure to DevOps or Data Engineering practices
Soft Skills
Strong communication and problem-solving abilities
Agility and openness to innovation
Passion for continuous learning
Team-oriented and collaborative mindset