Data Scientist

About the Role

The number 1 Top Employer in South Africa. Certified by the Top Employer Institute 2026.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and evaluate machine learning and AI models using structured and unstructured data.
• Build predictive models, forecasting solutions, propensity models and optimization models.
• Design and develop GenAI applications using LLMs, RAG, prompt engineering and multimodal AI patterns.
• Design Agentic AI workflows incorporating planning, tool usage, orchestration, memory and human-in-the-loop approaches.
• Collaborate closely with Group Technology teams to support deployment, operationalization and lifecycle management of models and AI agents in production environments.
• Provide deployment requirements, model documentation, evaluation results, monitoring metrics and handover artefacts to technology teams.
• Deliver AI initiatives aligned to Vodacom Group priorities across employee productivity, customer experience, revenue growth and monetization.
• Contribute reusable AI assets, prompts, agent patterns and accelerators that can be leveraged across Vodacom operating markets.
• Present analytical findings and business recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Adhere to responsible AI, governance and model risk management standards.
• A Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering or related field.
• 2-5 years experience in Data Science, Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence.
• Strong Python and SQL capabilities.
• Experience developing machine learning solutions and data products.
• Hands-on experience with Generative AI, Agentic AI applications and prompt engineering.
• Experience collaborating with technology and engineering teams to transition analytical solutions into production.
• Exceptional interpersonal communication and presentation skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Analytical and expansive thinking with a strong desire to deliver and develop.
• Python & machine learning algorithms, SQL.
• Knowledge in developing production-ready solutions using any of the following frameworks: OpenAI Agents SDK, Microsoft AutoGen, CrewAI, Semantic Kernel Agents and LangGraph agent frameworks (Any).
• Experience in leveraging vector databases and search platforms such as Azure AI Search, Pinecone, Weaviate, FAISS, Chroma or Milvus (advantageous).
• RAG, model evaluation, prompt engineering, AI guardrails and observability.
• MLflow, Azure ML, Databricks and MLOps concepts (advantageous).
• Experience in developing visualization solutions using tools such as Power BI, Plotly, Grafana Dashboards.
• Enticing incentive programs and competitive benefit packages
• Retirement funds, risk benefits, and medical aid benefits
• Cell phone and data benefits, advantages fibre connection discounts, and exclusive staff discounts offered in collaboration with partner companies