Senior Data Scientist - Real-Time Esports Predictions (m/f/x)
GRID
Hirezar Summary for South African Applicants
This fully remote full time position at GRID is open worldwide, so South Africans can apply. This role is suited for senior-level professionals. As a remote position, you can work from anywhere in South Africa — whether you're based in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, or a smaller town.
Job Description
(100% remote, anywhere in Europe)
Are you excited about building ML systems that make predictions in real-time? Are you driven by building things end-to-end, from research to live systems?
AtGRID, we are building real-time prediction systems for competitive esports (CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends). Our models power live betting markets, producing continuously updated win probabilities, handicap lines, over/under totals, and specialty markets during matches.
We are looking for a Senior Data Scientist to lead the research, design, and continuous improvement of our core predictive models. You will be the driving force behind the math, statistical logic, and feature engineering that make our models highly accurate and profitable. You will tackle complex problems in high-frequency data, design rigorous backtesting frameworks, and work on bridging theoretical research and live product features.
Requirements
What you will do
* Lead Model R&D:Design, build, and optimise the machine learning models and statistical frameworks that power our real-time odds and betting markets.
Lead Model R&D:Design, build, and optimise the machine learning models and statistical frameworks that power our real-time odds and betting markets.
* Advanced Feature Engineering:Extract deep predictive signals from raw, high-frequency esports telemetry, turning complex in-game mechanics into structured modelling features.
Advanced Feature Engineering:Extract deep predictive signals from raw, high-frequency esports telemetry, turning complex in-game mechanics into structured modelling features.
* Build state-of-the-art models:Focus on model performance and probability calibration. Design rigorous backtesting frameworks to prevent data leakage and evaluate performance against historical market baselines.
Build state-of-the-art models:Focus on model performance and probability calibration. Design rigorous backtesting frameworks to prevent data leakage and evaluate performance against historical market baselines.
* Develop Market Logic:Create the mathematical rules and probabilistic derivations that translate baseline win probabilities into complex derivative markets (handicaps, totals, player props).
Develop Market Logic:Create the mathematical rules and probabilistic derivations that translate baseline win probabilities into complex derivative markets (handicaps, totals, player props).
* Deploy real-time production systems:Ensure your models are seamlessly translated into production-grade pipelines and microservices.
Deploy real-time production systems:Ensure your models are seamlessly translated into production-grade pipelines and microservices.
Your skills will include
Required
* Experience:5+ years of professional experience in data science, quantitative research, or statistical modelling.
Experience:5+ years of professional experience in data science, quantitative research, or statistical modelling.
* Advanced Mathematical Foundations:Deep, intuitive understanding of probability, statistics, and machine learning theory.
Advanced Mathematical Foundations:Deep, intuitive understanding of probability, statistics, and machine learning theory.
* Advanced Python Proficiency:Expert-level skills in the Python data stack. You write clean, production-grade code.
Advanced Python Proficiency:Expert-level skills in the Python data stack. You write clean, production-grade code.
* Evaluation Expertise:Proven experience designing complex backtesting environments and defining custom evaluation metrics for unique business problems.
Evaluation Expertise:Proven experience designing complex backtesting environments and defining custom evaluation metrics for unique business problems.
Nice to Have
* Esports Domain Expertise:Deep knowledge of competitive esports (CS2, Dota 2, LoL), the underlying game mechanics, and the competitive meta.
Esports Domain Expertise:Deep knowledge of competitive esports (CS2, Dota 2, LoL), the underlying game mechanics, and the competitive meta.
* High-Frequency/Real-Time Data:Experience modeling off streaming data or data that updates continuously over time.
High-Frequency/Real-Time Data:Experience modeling off streaming data or data that updates continuously over time.
* Software Engineering Basics:Understanding of modern MLOps principles and experience with tools like MLFlow, Airflow, etc.
Software Engineering Basics:Understanding of modern MLOps principles and experience with tools like MLFlow, Airflow, etc.
Highlights
Passionate about real-time ML and esports? JoinGRIDas a Senior Data Scientist! Lead research and build predictive models powering live betting odds for CS2, Dota 2, and LoL. Apply now!
Originally posted onHimalayas
Tips for South African Applicants
Timezone Advantage
South Africa (SAST, UTC+2) overlaps well with European business hours and has a few hours of overlap with US East Coast. Mention your timezone flexibility in your application.
Salary in Context
Even without a listed salary, international remote roles typically pay 2-3x more than equivalent local positions in South Africa due to the exchange rate advantage.
Application Tips
Tailor your CV to international standards — use a clean format, highlight remote work experience, and include your English proficiency. Many SA applicants succeed by emphasising their strong work ethic and cultural adaptability.
Load Shedding Preparedness
If you're applying for a remote role, having a backup power solution (UPS, inverter, or generator) and mobile data as a backup internet connection shows employers you're prepared for South Africa's infrastructure challenges.
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About GRID
GRID is a company in the Data Science industry that hires remote workers from South Africa.