Principal Data Scientist

Principal Data Scientist Smartgroup Corporation invites you to join our Enterprise Data team as a Principal Data Scientist. This senior, individual‑contributor role focuses on the full data science lifecycle—from scoping business problems to deploying production solutions and delivering measurable business outcomes. What you will do Lead and execute all aspects of data science projects, from ideation to deployment. Design and build robust, scalable Data Science and Machine Learning solutions on Databricks. Deliver hands‑on advanced analytics workstreams, generating actionable insights for Smart clients. Apply machine learning to drive growth, retention, and new commercial opportunities. Set standards and frameworks for predictive modelling and analytics, ensuring best practices. Manage vendor relationships and represent data science in internal and external forums. Stay ahead of emerging AI technologies and foster a culture of innovation. About you You love rolling up your sleeves and delivering real, commercial results. Deep technical expertise in machine learning, predictive modelling, and advanced analytics. Expert‑level proficiency in Python, SQL, and cloud platforms (especially Databricks). Strong business acumen and proven track record of translating data science into commercial outcomes. Excellent communication skills, able to engage confidently with both technical and business stakeholders. Comfortable working independently, setting direction, and writing production‑ready code. 5+ years in data science, with 3+ years in leadership or senior individual‑contributor roles. Experience building and deploying machine learning solutions in real‑world settings. Postgraduate qualifications (Masters/PhD) in mathematics, statistics, physics, or a related quantitative field preferred. What’s in it for you Smart Leave: an additional week of leave each year. Free lunch every week. Up to 20 weeks Paid Parental Leave with superannuation contributions. Make a Difference Days – paid days off to volunteer for community and environment. Salary packaging and novated leasing benefits. Free flu vaccinations. Employee Share Plan. Grow with Purpose At Smart, we support individual and team growth through varied learning opportunities, open communication, and leaders who focus on fundamentals—quality and regular one‑to‑one meetings, clear goals, success metrics, and growth conversations. Show us you have what it takes If this sounds like the opportunity for you and you have something to offer, APPLY ONLINE today. Our Talent Acquisition team will be in touch to discuss next steps. If you require adjustments to the recruitment process or are seeking part‑time work, let us know—we’re here to help. Diversity & Inclusion We’re committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity. We welcome all people—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, veterans, people with disability, LGBTQ+ individuals, all gender identities, and people of any socioeconomic status, age, race, national origin or ethnicity. We’re proud to hold diversity and inclusion accreditations, including: WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality since 2019 DCA Inclusive Employer 2023–2024 Member of Reconciliation Australia’s RAP network All successful candidates will be required to complete background checks including a police clearance prior to confirmation of employment. Candidates must have unlimited Australian work rights to be considered for this role. Respectfully, no agencies please. Seniority level Mid‑Senior level Employment type Full‑time Job function Engineering, Information Technology, and Science #J-18808-Ljbffr