Senior Data Scientist

Your Mission

You are an experienced, hands-on Data Scientist who enjoys working broadly across the entire data journey — from understanding real customer problems and messy sensor data to deploying scalable solutions in production. You are comfortable switching between analysis, modelling, engineering, and collaboration, depending on the actual needs.

At TALPA, you will work on real-world challenges such as anomaly detection, predictive and preventive maintenance, machine activity recognition, and root-cause analysis for heavy and construction machinery. You will collaborate closely with Data Scientists, ML Engineers, MLOps Engineers, and domain experts to build solutions that are technically strong and create measurable value for customers.

This is a role for people who want to build, ship, and continuously improve — not just prototype models. You will have ownership, autonomy, and responsibility, and you will see your work running on thousands of machines in the field.

Key Responsibilities

• Own data science projects end-to-end: From problem framing and data exploration to modeling, deployment, and production iteration together with ML and MLOps Engineers.
• Design, develop, and deploy algorithms: Transform raw machine data into actionable insights, including predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and machine activity detection.
• Work with complex data: Handle noisy, unlabelled, and heterogeneous datasets across time series, image, and text data where relevant.
• Collaborate cross-functionally: Discuss assumptions, trade-offs, and results openly to achieve the best possible solutions.
• Translate real-world needs: Engage with engineers, domain experts, and customers to build scalable, data-driven solutions.
• Contribute to production-quality systems: Apply strong software engineering principles and quality practices across the stack.

Your Profile

• Experience: At least 3 years of experience (post Master’s degree) developing and deploying ML models for real-world problems in industrial, commercial, or academic environments.
• Theoretical foundation: Strong understanding of machine learning algorithms and underlying statistical principles.
• Time series expertise: Experience working with multi-variate and multi-scale sensor data.
• Full ML lifecycle ownership: Proven ability to manage requirements gathering, data processing, model development, deployment, and validation.
• Deep learning skills: Hands-on experience with TensorFlow or PyTorch.
• Communication skills: Ability to explain complex technical topics clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Mindset: Self-motivated learner who thrives in interdisciplinary and diverse environments.
• Location: Willingness to work hybrid from the Essen Rüttenscheid office once or twice per week.

Nice to Have

• Modern AI systems: Experience with RAG systems, AI agents, large language models (ChatGPT, Llama, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek), HuggingFace, and LangChain.
• Research background: Published papers in machine learning or artificial intelligence.
• Open-source involvement: Contributions to open-source projects or visible personal projects (e.g., Git repositories).

Why Join Us?

TALPA is a value-driven organization built around Exploration, Collaboration, Empowerment, Accountability, and Empathy. If these values guide you, you will fit right in.

• Diverse & inclusive culture: One team with many voices and backgrounds.
• Agile performance model: Set your own objectives and key results, with continuous feedback and coaching.
• €1200 annual training budget: For conferences (national or international), online learning platforms, and courses of your choice.
• Trust-based flexibility: Free choice of hardware and operating system, flexible working hours, and unlimited vacation policy.
• Well-being support: Free food and drinks in the office kitchen.
• In-house gym: Fully equipped and available 24/7 at the office premises.
• Community & belonging: Bring your whole self to work and connect with like-minded colleagues.
• Team happiness activities: Regular events that bring everyone together.
• Relocation support: Guidance and knowledge-sharing if you are relocating to Germany.

People are at the center of everything we do. As an equal-opportunity employer, TALPA prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sexual identity, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, nationality, citizenship, age, disability, medical condition, or any other unlawful consideration. Applications are evaluated based on merit, and information is handled confidentially according to local law and best practices.

About Us

Join TALPA and help shape the future of industrial analytics.

We harness advanced technology to transform how industries understand and improve equipment performance. Our platform integrates real-time and historical data to deliver actionable insights across sectors such as mining, construction, and logistics.

At TALPA, we foster a culture of exploration and empathy, where collaboration and accountability go hand in hand. We empower each other to take initiative, grow through challenges, and contribute meaningfully to our shared mission.