Principal Data Scientist / Lead Data Science Manager
We are partnering with a high impact engineering and technology consultancy to hire a senior data science leader who combines deep technical expertise with strong people leadership and real world delivery experience.
This role suits someone who enjoys staying hands on while leading teams, shaping data driven products and working closely with senior stakeholders to solve complex, high value problems.
The role
You will take ownership of end to end data science delivery across multiple projects, from early concept and methodological design through to production deployment and client adoption. You will act as the technical authority on projects, guiding teams on modelling approaches, data strategy and solution design while ensuring outputs are commercially valuable and robust.
Alongside delivery, you will play a key role in building and developing a high performing data science function. This includes mentoring early and mid career data scientists, contributing to hiring decisions, supporting career development and helping shape longer term capability and growth plans.
You will work directly with senior stakeholders and project sponsors, translating complex analytical outputs into clear insights, recommendations and decisions. There is also an opportunity to contribute to bids, proposals and the technical shaping of future work.
What you will be doing
Leading the design and delivery of data science and machine learning solutions including statistical modelling, NLP and bespoke algorithms
Owning data products through the full lifecycle from concept to rollout
Managing and mentoring multidisciplinary teams of data scientists and engineers
Providing technical oversight, code review and methodological guidance
Engaging with senior business stakeholders to define problems and demonstrate value
Translating analysis into clear insights through visualisation, reports and presentations
Supporting recruitment, resourcing and capability development within the data science team
Contributing to proposals, technical scoping and future pipeline development
What we are looking for
Significant experience in senior or principal level data science roles
Strong background in applied machine learning and statistical modelling in production environments
Proven experience leading and mentoring data science teams
Comfort working hands on with complex datasets while also operating at a strategic level
Experience delivering data driven solutions within engineering, infrastructure, transport or similarly complex domains
Excellent stakeholder communication skills with the ability to bridge technical and non technical audiences
Technical skills
Python and modern data science libraries such as pandas, scikit learn and NLP tooling
Strong statistical modelling background
SQL and experience working with large, complex datasets
Cloud platforms such as Azure or AWS
Experience with Databricks or similar data platforms
Exposure to Spark, geospatial data or time series analysis is highly desirable
Why this role
Genuine technical leadership rather than a pure management post
Opportunity to shape teams, strategy and delivery standards
High trust environment with complex, meaningful projects
Clear scope for long term growth and influence
We would underscore the need for management experience in this role. You should be able to clearly demonstrate where you have lead teams recently. Technical nous and management skills are both of equal importance here. For more information on the client / team. Feel free to contact Ryan Quinn directly on LinkedIN.