At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and development of AI models for product discovery.
- Company: Fast-growing early-stage AI company revolutionising consumer recommendations.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonuses, equity options, and a chance to shape the future.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with significant career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in AI and influence product direction from day one.
- Qualifications: Experience in search, ranking, retrieval, or recommendation systems required.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
We are working with a fast growing early stage company that is building a new intelligence layer for the next era of product discovery. With AI assistants becoming the first place consumers turn to for information and recommendations, brands need to understand how these systems interpret products, surface them and prioritise them across different conversational and search environments. This is exactly what this company solves.
They already partner with global consumer brands and now want to hire a Lead Data Scientist to architect and own the modelling engine that powers the platform. This is a hands-on role with serious technical ownership. You will design and build the systems that identify the signals that matter most for visibility, the retrieval and embedding architecture that feeds the models, the ranking and scoring framework that prioritises actions and the evaluation layer that measures how different LLMs behave across queries, surfaces and contexts.
You will work across ranking signals, vector and semantic representations, entity understanding, graph-based relationships, model serving, observability, cost and latency optimisation, and the connection between unstructured signals and automated recommendations. You will also help shape the long-term ML strategy, including platform design, experimentation frameworks and the future of the discovery engine.
This role suits someone who has experience in search, ranking, retrieval or recommendation systems at scale and who enjoys building practical production models rather than working in isolation. You will work closely with the founder and have real influence over the direction of the product and the future of the intelligence stack.
The package is strong and comes with a competitive base plus bonus and meaningful early-stage equity with genuine upside. If you are interested in joining a company at a stage where your work will directly shape the product, the system and the category, we would like to speak with you.
Lead Data Scientist employer: Zazu Digital Talent
Join a forward-thinking B2B technology scale-up that champions a fully remote work culture, fostering collaboration and connection through regular in-person offsites. With a strong emphasis on transparency and structured compensation, this role offers the opportunity to lead a respected People function while driving meaningful change in a dynamic environment. Enjoy competitive salary packages, stock options, and comprehensive health benefits, all while being part of a company that values your contributions and supports your professional growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Data Scientist
✨Get Involved in Data Science Meetups
Tap into local data science meetups or workshops to connect with fellow enthusiasts and professionals. These events are goldmines for networking, and sometimes even lead directly to job openings at companies like Zazu Digital Talent!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Start building a public portfolio showcasing your data science projects on platforms like GitHub or personal websites. Highlight unique analyses or models you've developed. This not only demonstrates your skills but also gets your name out there for roles like Lead Data Scientist at Zazu Digital Talent.
✨Leverage Professional Networks
Join professional bodies related to data science, like the Data Science Society or similar organisations. Getting involved can lead to mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about full-time positions at companies like Zazu Digital Talent.
✨Apply Directly through Our Website
When you find a suitable opening like Lead Data Scientist at Zazu Digital Talent, make sure to apply directly through our website. It gives you an edge and shows you're keen to join our team. Plus, who doesn’t love a direct application? It’s easier than navigating through job boards!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Data Scientist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love numbers! When drafting your CV, highlight your achievements with quantifiable results. For instance, mention how your data analysis led to a certain percentage increase in efficiency or revenue at a previous job or project. These details can really make your application pop!
Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at Zazu Digital Talent, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.
Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at Zazu Digital Talent. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zazu Digital Talent
✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!
✨Get Comfortable with Python and R
Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at Zazu Digital Talent!
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.