Chief Data Scientist / Lead Data Scientist
x2 days a week in the office (can be based in either Derry or Letterkenny)
About the Role & Company
Join a forward-thinking tech-enabled organisation with deep expertise in solving complex data problems across highly regulated industries. The team is investing heavily in AI and is now seeking a senior technical leader to shape its future. This includes everything from research and development to full-scale deployment and long-term AI strategy.
This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who can connect the dots between advanced technology, product thinking, and commercial value. You will guide a growing team, influence intelligent product design, and help ensure that AI is integrated throughout the organisation.
What You’ll Be Doing
* Define the organisation’s AI direction and lead high-level machine learning programmes across departments
* Oversee the development, testing, and deployment of production-ready ML models with measurable business value
* Lead and mentor a team of data scientists and engineers, fostering a culture of experimentation, innovation, and high performance
* Collaborate with stakeholders to communicate AI strategy and model outcomes clearly and confidently
* Work with engineering and product teams to identify opportunities for data-driven features and automation
* Stay up to date with the latest advances in AI, including generative models, LLMs, and agent-based systems
* Help maintain strong data governance and ensure all AI initiatives meet relevant compliance and security standards
* Act as an internal and external ambassador for the company’s AI capabilities, sharing insight and thought leadership
What They’re Looking For
* Circa 10 years’ experience in applied data science or AI, including at least a few years in a leadership or strategic delivery role
* Proven track record of building and deploying scalable ML systems
* Strong programming skills in Python and SQL, with hands-on experience in frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or scikit-learn
* Ability to work with large, complex datasets and create structured pipelines for both structured and unstructured data
* Commercial awareness and experience aligning AI initiatives with wider business goals
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially when working with non-technical teams
* Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP for data science workflows
* A good understanding of responsible AI principles and regulatory considerations in high-compliance sectors
* Desirable: exposure to LLMs, autonomous systems, or next-generation ML tooling
If this role interests you and you would like to find out more (or find out about other roles), please apply here or contact us via niall.wharton@Xcede.com (feel free to include a CV for review).