Lead Data Scientist

Lead Data Scientist

Salary: £115,000 – £125,000

Location: London/Hybrid

Data Idols are partnered with a leading technology distributor that is continuing to invest heavily in data. They are looking for a Lead Data Scientist who can act as the senior technical expert within the team, someone who delivers high-impact models, sets technical standards, and leads complex projects through to production.

The Opportunity

As a Lead Data Scientist, you’ll be the go-to technical authority, taking ownership of challenging modelling work and driving end-to-end delivery. You’ll work deeply hands-on, developing advanced models, improving existing pipelines, and ensuring solutions are scalable and production-ready.

You’ll collaborate closely with the Head of Data Science, shaping the technical approach, advising on best practices, and leading major initiatives. While not a people manager, you will support and mentor others by setting the bar for technical excellence and helping guide their development.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives as a senior IC and wants to stay close to the code and modelling while having a strong voice in technical decision-making.

Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience building, validating, and deploying machine learning models into production
• Strong hands-on Python and SQL skills
• Experience working in cloud environments (GCP preferred)
• Deep understanding of experimentation, evaluation, and scalable ML design
• Ability to mentor others and influence technical direction without formal line management

If you’re looking for a role where you can remain hands-on while owning major technical challenges, please submit your CV for initial screening.

Lead Data Scientist