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 managementIf 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