Lead Data Scientist

Job description

This is a chance to join a multinational organisation that is building an AI Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi, with a clear mandate to move AI from experimentation into scaled deployment across the group.

The business is investing heavily in AI and advanced analytics, moving beyond pilots and proof-of-concepts to embed production AI across core functions and reshape how services are designed and delivered.

They’re now looking for a Lead Data Scientist to help make that happen.

You’ll lead a team of Data Scientists delivering advanced analytics, machine learning and AI solutions across the organisation, while staying close to the technical work yourself.

The focus is on turning real business challenges into production-ready solutions. You’ll work with senior stakeholders, Product, Engineering and governance teams to identify where AI can have the biggest impact, then take those initiatives from early experimentation through to deployment and adoption.

You’ll also help set the standards for how data science is delivered across the wider AI Centre of Excellence, introducing new tools and approaches while making sure everything meets the governance, privacy and regulatory standards expected within a highly regulated environment.

This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who can bridge the gap between technical teams and the business, and who has already delivered complex machine learning projects beyond the prototype stage.

• 5–8 years' experience across data science and machine learning, including technical leadership experience.
• Strong Python skills and hands‑on experience with frameworks such as PyTorch.
• Experience taking complex machine learning or AI solutions into production.
• Strong knowledge across areas such as supervised and unsupervised learning, deep learning, NLP, computer vision or generative AI.
• Experience working with large-scale data processing technologies such as Spark and deploying models across AWS, Azure or Google Cloud.
• Previous experience in a highly regulated environment such as banking, financial services or government.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing Data Scientists.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly.
• Master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science, Data Science or a related field.

Experience with platforms such as Sage Maker, Vertex AI or similar would be a plus.