Senior Data Scientist

Who We Are

Nithio is an AI-driven platform transforming climate finance and clean energy access through innovative, product-focused solutions. At the core of our offering is an advanced Risk Analytics Engine that leverages AI and machine learning to deliver precise, scalable credit underwriting software. Our platform automates lending and enhances credit scoring for businesses, capital providers, and governments in the distributed renewable energy sector across Africa. By standardizing risk assessments and streamlining capital delivery through its investment vehicles, Nithio empowers companies to scale product access for solar home systems, clean cooking solutions, and other renewable energy innovations, driving sustainable impact in underserved communities.

We’re seeking passionate, talented team members to help reshape the future. Join us in building a world where clean energy is accessible to all and the planet thrives for generations to come.

About the role

As a Senior Data Scientist, you will have a strong applied quantitative research background, experience working with Python, and an entrepreneurial, inventive, experiment-driven mindset. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in relevant sector expertise (clean energy, climate finance, credit assessments, etc.).

This role offers the unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the company's mission and gain hands-on experience in climate finance/data.

What you'll do

• Drive applied research & innovation – Lead the end-to-end development of algorithmic models that power Nithio’s products and services. Design, prototype, validate, and implement data-driven solutions that are rigorous, scalable, and aligned with business objectives. Stay at the forefront of advancements, including applications of GenAI, to drive innovation.
• Own technical strategy & execution – Work autonomously to scope and deliver impactful data science projects. Define problem statements, select appropriate methodologies, assess trade-offs, and drive execution from concept to deployment.
• Shape product & business outcomes – Partner with analytics, product, and engineering teams to integrate data science solutions into Nithio’s products. Identify opportunities where advanced modelling, including GenAI-powered approaches, can create business value.
• Establish best practices – Ensure rigor, scalability, and consistent documentation in model development, evaluation, and monitoring.
• Communicate with impact – Present complex insights clearly through dashboards, visualizations, and reports for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Foster technical leadership and collaboration – Champion a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous learning while strengthening Nithio’s position as a technology leader, including through external partnerships and research presentations.

Qualifications

Master’s degree or higher in a quantitative field (Data Science/AI, Business, Finance, Mathematics, Economics, Engineering, or a related field) OR 5+ years of relevant work experience.

Required Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated track record of leading end-to-end, research-driven projects in data science, machine learning, or applied quantitative methods.
• Strong programming skills in Python, with expertise in data manipulation (Pandas, NumPy), modeling (Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch), and visualization (Matplotlib, Seaborn, Plotly).
• Strong statistical and mathematical foundation, including probability, optimization, and causal inference.
• Experience with ML model development, evaluation, and deployment, including feature engineering, hyperparameter tuning, and performance monitoring.
• Proficiency in working with large-scale data and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure).

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Spark, R, or SQL experience
• Familiarity with GenAI applications, LLMs, or NLP techniques.
• Experience with MLOps, model lifecycle management, and reproducibility best practices.
• Subject matter expertise in finance (e.g. credit risk assessments, small business lending, fintechs, etc.) and/or climate and energy sectors is preferred.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in Africa or emerging markets preferred.

Personal Attributes

• Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive approach.
• Attention to detail and ability to work independently and within a team.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

Please note that Nithio cannot sponsor employment visas. All applicants must have permanent work authorization.

Who You Are.

You are a self-starter passionate about driving meaningful change in developing markets. You bring focus, energy, and a proven ability to achieve impactful results. Highly entrepreneurial and self-motivated, you excel at managing time, solving complex problems, and making sound decisions.

With strong interpersonal skills, you thrive in independent and team settings, effectively prioritizing competing tasks with attention to detail. You align with Nithio’s values: Collaboration, Commitment, Growth, Making a Difference, and

Adaptability. Experience in Africa or emerging markets is a plus.

Why Join Nithio?

• Gain experience at the intersection of climate finance and technology.
• Collaborate with a diverse, purpose-driven, global team.
• Contribute to projects with measurable social and environmental impact.

Some of our benefits and perks include:

• Competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability.
• Flexible work environment and generous leave policies, including global holidays.
• Remote workforce with stipends to set up work-from-home
• Parental leave
• Monthly stipend for meals & phone
• Annual professional development funds
• An annual, in-person retreat

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Nithio, we value the diversity of perspectives and backgrounds that our team brings, recognising it as essential to achieving our mission of expanding energy and financial access. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, individuals with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with intersectional identities.

We are an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to fair recruitment, training, compensation, and promotion practices, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, family status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.