Lead Data Scientist (Data Science and AI) - HMRC - G6 in Leicester

We are seeking a Data Scientist to join a growing team delivering data‑driven solutions across a range of complex and innovative projects. Working alongside experienced data scientists, engineers, and business stakeholders, you will contribute to the development, deployment, and optimisation of machine learning models and analytical solutions. You will gain exposure across the full data science lifecycle, including data exploration, feature engineering, model development, validation, and deployment. This role is well suited to someone with a solid foundation in data science who is looking to further develop their technical expertise in a collaborative, fast‑paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development, testing, and deployment of machine learning models and analytical solutions.
• Clean, transform, and analyse structured and unstructured datasets from multiple sources.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis (EDA) to identify trends, patterns, and business insights.
• Collaborate with data scientists, engineers, and stakeholders to understand requirements and solve business challenges.
• Create clear documentation, reports, and visualisations for both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Contribute to code reviews and continuous improvement of data science practices and workflows.
• Assist with model monitoring, validation, retraining, and performance optimisation activities.
• Support workshops, demonstrations, and stakeholder presentations where required.

Required Skills & Experience

• 1‑3 years of experience in a Data Scientist, Data Analyst, or related analytical role.
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or R.
• Experience using machine learning frameworks and libraries such as scikit‑learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch.
• Good understanding of statistics, data preparation, feature engineering, and exploratory data analysis.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to communicate technical concepts effectively.
• Experience with data visualisation tools and libraries such as Matplotlib, Seaborn, Tableau, or Power BI.
• Ability to work effectively within a collaborative team environment.
• Desirable: Exposure to cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP; experience writing SQL and working with relational databases; understanding of model deployment approaches and MLOps concepts; awareness of AI governance, ethics, bias mitigation, and data privacy principles.
• Degree qualification in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related discipline.

Start date: As soon as possible. Location: Derby, 5 days per week onsite. Candidates must have the right to work in the United Kingdom. Due to the nature and urgency of this post, candidates holding or who have held high level security clearance in the past are most welcome to apply. Successful applicants will be required to be security cleared prior to appointment, which can take a minimum of 10 weeks.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of background or identity, and we encourage candidates who may not meet every listed requirement to still apply. If you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure a fair and accessible experience.

Please note: if a high volume of applications is received, only candidates shortlisted will be contacted.