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- Tasks: Lead a team to create impactful AI/ML models and drive innovation.
- Company: Join a well-established, product-led business focused on data-driven solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work with one day in the office every two weeks.
- Why this job: Shape the future of machine learning in a collaborative, data-rich environment.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in data science, advanced degree, strong Python and SQL skills required.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor junior scientists and influence key business decisions.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.
A well-established, product-led business is looking for a Lead Data Scientist to spearhead innovation and drive measurable value through advanced machine learning, experimentation, and the development of production-grade models. Sitting within a cross-functional data team, this is a hands-on leadership role with the autonomy to shape the modelling roadmap, contribute to R&D strategy, and influence pricing and risk decisions across multiple business lines. You’ll manage a small team of data scientists, guiding them through delivery while remaining actively involved in technical implementation and experimentation. This is a unique opportunity for someone passionate about building machine learning systems that go beyond prototypes — models that deliver real-world commercial outcomes in a data-rich, regulated environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead a high-performing team of data scientists to deliver cross-functional, impactful AI/ML initiatives
- Design and implement predictive models and machine learning solutions for core business areas
- Build and productionise models in collaboration with data engineers and platform teams
- Apply advanced statistical techniques to extract insights and guide product and pricing strategies
- Work closely with stakeholders to understand requirements, define modelling goals, and demonstrate business value
- Evaluate vendor data sources, assess economic and technical feasibility, and lead test-and-learn initiatives
- Contribute to the modelling roadmap, experimentation frameworks, and internal data science tooling
- Produce clean, maintainable, version-controlled code and refactor solutions into reusable libraries and APIs
- Coach junior team members and promote best practices across the wider data and analytics community
Requirements
- Ideally, 6+ years of hands-on experience applying data science techniques in commercial or research-led environments, delivering clear business outcomes
- Advanced academic background (MSc or PhD) in a technical or quantitative field such as Machine Learning, Computer Science, or Statistics
- Strong programming ability in Python (data science ecosystem) and SQL, with proven experience handling large, complex datasets
- Solid track record of building, validating, and deploying machine learning models into real-world systems
- Practical experience designing experiments, selecting evaluation metrics, and applying multivariate testing frameworks
- Leadership mindset — you’ve mentored or managed data science colleagues or helped steer technical decisions in a collaborative team
- Comfortable with version control (Git) and familiar with engineering workflows like CI/CD and containerised environments
- Skilled at working with both structured and unstructured data to unlock insights and power models
- Hands-on experience with Databricks, Apache Spark, or similar tools used in large-scale data processing
- Exposure to machine learning model deployment using APIs or lightweight serving frameworks like Flask or Keras
- Familiarity with geospatial data would be a great bonus!
If this role interests you and you would like to learn more, please apply here or contact us via niall.wharton@Xcede.com (feel free to include a CV for review).
Lead Data Scientist (Surrey) employer: Xcede
Contact Detail:
Xcede Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Data Scientist (Surrey)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest advancements in machine learning and data science. Being able to discuss recent trends or breakthroughs during your interview can demonstrate your passion and commitment to the field.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to showcase your leadership experience by thinking of specific examples where you've successfully guided a team or influenced technical decisions. This will help you illustrate your capability to lead a high-performing team effectively.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your programming skills, particularly in Python and SQL. Be ready to discuss your experience with large datasets and how you've built and deployed machine learning models in real-world applications.
✨Tip Number 4
Understand the business context of the role by researching the company’s products and services. This knowledge will allow you to tailor your discussions around how your data science expertise can drive measurable value for their specific business needs.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Data Scientist (Surrey)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in data science, particularly your hands-on work with machine learning models and leadership roles. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to deliver business outcomes.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for data science and your vision for leading a team. Mention how your skills align with the company's goals and how you can contribute to their innovation and R&D strategy.
Showcase Technical Skills: In your application, emphasise your programming abilities in Python and SQL, as well as your experience with tools like Databricks and Apache Spark. Provide examples of projects where you've successfully built and deployed machine learning models.
Highlight Leadership Experience: If you've mentored or managed other data scientists, make sure to include this in your application. Discuss your approach to coaching and promoting best practices within a team, as this is a key aspect of the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Xcede
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with Python, SQL, and machine learning frameworks. Bring examples of models you've built and the impact they had on business outcomes. This will demonstrate your hands-on expertise and ability to deliver real-world solutions.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Since this role involves managing a team, share specific instances where you've led projects or mentored colleagues. Highlight how you guided your team through challenges and contributed to their professional growth, showcasing your leadership mindset.
✨Understand the Business Context
Research the company and its products thoroughly. Be ready to discuss how your data science initiatives can drive value in their specific business areas. This shows that you can align technical work with strategic goals, which is crucial for this role.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions on statistical techniques, model evaluation metrics, and experimental design. Brush up on these topics and be ready to explain your thought process clearly. This will help you demonstrate your depth of knowledge and problem-solving skills.
