Lead Data Scientist

Job Description: Role: Lead Data Scientist Location: UAE (Dubai or Abu Dhabi) Department: Data (Data Science, BI, Data Engineering, Data Governance) About Astra Tech Astra Tech is a UAE-based technology group building an integrated digital ecosystem across FinTech and communication platforms, including BOTIM. We operate at scale in a fast-growing, multicultural environment, combining financial services, payments, and communication technologies into a unified platform. Our culture is collaborative, meritocratic, and impact-driven, with strong ownership and healthy work-life balance. Role Overview We are looking for a Lead Data Scientist to head the Data Science vertical within the Data organization. This is a hands-on leadership role combining technical depth, ownership, and cross-functional collaboration. You will lead the design, development, and deployment of advanced machine learning solutions, partnering closely with Product, Engineering, Risk, Finance, and Commercial teams. We are looking for someone who can turn a strategic discussion into a clear execution plan, and independently drive it through to production. CULTURAL FIT & LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS We Are Looking For Someone Who Is open, collaborative, and proactive in sharing knowledgeThrives in cross-functional environments and engages comfortably with non-technical stakeholdersIs intellectually curious and keen to experiment with new tools and approachesCommunicates clearly and confidently, translating complexity into clarityWorks transparently — no silos, no gatekeepingTakes ownership and accountability for outcomes, not just modelsBalances speed with rigor in a fast-paced but structured environmentDemonstrates strong ethical judgment, particularly in FinTech use cases Key Responsibilities Lead the Data Science vertical within the Data teamDesign, develop, and deploy machine learning models end-to-endOwn high-impact use cases such as:Credit scoringFraud detectionFinancial forecastingRisk modelingAnomaly detectionCollaborate with Data Engineering to productionize modelsWork with BI and Data Governance to ensure data quality and consistencyTranslate business problems into measurable ML objectivesDefine technical standards and modeling best practicesContribute to hiring, mentoring, and team development TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES Core Requirements Approximately 10+ years of experience in Data Science / Machine LearningStrong Python expertise (pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, XGBoost, LightGBM, etc.)Deep understanding of supervised and unsupervised learning, feature engineering, validation, and model interpretabilityStrong statistical foundationAdvanced SQL proficiency (multiple dialects)Experience with Spark SQL and PySparkExperience working in Jupyter environmentsExperience taking models from concept to productionStrong collaboration experience with Data Engineering teams Nice To Have FinTech industry experienceAzure ecosystem experienceExposure to Microsoft FabricFamiliarity with Power BIPrior hiring or team leadership experience IDEAL PROFILE Strong academic background in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, or related fields (Master’s or PhD preferred)Comfortable working independently with minimal supervisionAble to move from ambiguity to structured execution quicklyPragmatic, business-oriented problem solver with strong technical rigorRequirements: