Lead/Principal Data Scientist
Mondra is a high-growth tech start-up delivering a food system environmental insights platform to accelerate the planet’s progress toward NetZero carbon emissions.
The Lead/Principal Data Scientist plays a pivotal role in shaping and driving Mondra’s AI and data science initiatives. This position emphasizes strong stakeholder management, cross-team collaboration, strategic planning, and the ability to communicate complex data concepts effectively to non-technical audiences. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader who combines technical expertise with exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership and Stakeholder Management
- Lead the development and execution of AI strategies that align with Mondra’s mission of environmental sustainability and business objectives.
- Collaborate with stakeholders across the Executive, Product, Data, Engineering, and Operational teams to fully understand project requirements before initiation, ensuring alignment with business goals.
- Act as the primary point of contact for stakeholders, translating technical AI insights into actionable, non-technical presentations that drive decision-making.
- Cultivate relationships with multiple teams to foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, and shared ownership of AI-driven solutions.
Technical Leadership and Innovation
- Design and implement cutting-edge AI and machine learning models to address complex business challenges and enhance the platform’s intelligence.
- Build scalable, maintainable AI systems and reusable code modules to support long-term innovation.
- Stay at the forefront of AI advancements, introducing best practices and emerging technologies to keep Mondra ahead of the curve.
- Oversee the creation of AI tools and frameworks that empower teams to interact with and derive insights from large, complex data sets.
Team Leadership and Mentorship
- Lead and mentor a team of data scientists and developers, fostering technical growth and professional development.
- Inspire and guide the team in delivering high-quality AI models and solutions, ensuring adherence to best practices and ethical AI standards.
- Develop and execute forward-looking objectives and actionable strategies to achieve team goals.
Operational Excellence and Collaboration
- Drive cross-functional collaboration in a dynamic, agile environment to ensure projects are delivered on time and within scope.
- Lead efforts to optimize internal processes, including automating AI-driven workflows, enhancing model architecture, and improving deployment efficiency.
- Ensure AI models meet both functional and non-functional business requirements, with a strong focus on scalability, security, and performance.
- Promote a deep understanding of projects within the team before execution, ensuring clarity and alignment across all involved parties.
Communication and Presentation
- Translate complex AI and data science concepts into clear, concise, and compelling narratives for non-technical audiences.
- Regularly present project updates, findings, and strategic insights to stakeholders, ensuring alignment and shared understanding.
- Advocate for the value of AI and data-driven insights across the organization, building trust and buy-in from diverse teams.
Technical Skills and Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
- 8+ years of experience in AI development, data science, or software engineering, with at least 4 years in a leadership role.
- Expertise in AI/ML algorithms, model development, and deployment, including Large Language Models (LLMs), deep learning architectures, and NLP techniques.
- Proficiency in programming languages and frameworks such as Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-learn.
- Strong experience with cloud platforms (Azure preferred) and DevOps practices for AI model deployment.
- Skilled in data pipeline and workflow management tools, including MLflow, Airflow, and CI/CD pipelines.
- Familiarity with big data tools such as Spark, Databricks, or Kafka.
- Demonstrated ability to design and optimize AI-driven processes, ensuring efficiency and reliability.
- Fluent in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Soft Skills and Core Competencies
- Exceptional stakeholder management, with the ability to align diverse perspectives and drive consensus.
- Strong leadership and team-building capabilities, with a track record of mentoring and inspiring high-performing teams.
- Outstanding presentation and storytelling skills, capable of bridging the gap between technical and non-technical audiences.
- Collaborative mindset with a passion for fostering cross-team partnerships and driving collective success.
- Strategic thinker with a proactive approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
- Detail-oriented and organized, ensuring thorough project planning and execution.
Join Mondra as a Lead/Principal Data Scientist and play a transformative role in harnessing AI to drive environmental sustainability and business success. Your leadership, vision, and expertise will shape the future of our platform and contribute to a more sustainable planet.