Principal Data Scientist/MLE
London
Deployment /
Full-time /
Hybrid
WovenLight is creating a new category of investment firm. We combine traditional private equity investing with deep capabilities in AI and machine learning - in order to drive outsized value creation at our portfolio companies. Our north star is sustainable, repeatable, outsized returns for the benefit of our partners, investors, and colleagues.
During H1 2025, WovenLight has taken decisive steps towards making our vision a reality.
- We have executed on our first two deals - partnering with leading PE firms to co-sponsor investments. For more details, please see our current portfolio at https://www.wovenlight.com/portfolio
- Entered into a strategic partnership with leading European PE firm – Altor. Through this partnership, WovenLight acts as an AI transformation partner to Altor and its portfolio companies. For more details, please see https://www.wovenlight.com/perspectives/altor-advances-ai-leadership-through-a-strategic-partnership-with-wovenlight
To execute our mission we are building an integrated team of world class data, investment, technology and operations professionals.
As a Principal Data Scientist/MLE you will lead a WovenLight team that is deployed into one of our portfolio companies. You will be in charge of driving the end-to-end process of developing and deploying models to significantly improve the operational performance in a portfolio company.
Examples of deployment projects you would be lead include:- optimisation modelling to improve manufacturing throughput, predictive modelling to anticipate/avoid asset downtime, predicting and reducing customer churn, identifying next best action for sales agents, geospatial modelling to improve store footprint; and many more.
You will apply a combination of leadership skills and deep technical expertise in data, machine learning, statistics and software development to deliver high quality technical projects. With support from the deployment lead and deal team, you will align scope, organise the work, distribute the tasks, estimate timelines and track progress of the projects. You will apply commercial/business understanding to ensure that end users trust and implement the solutions developed. You will be responsible to share progress regularly to stakeholders.
On top of the project management responsibilities, you will be line manager of junior WovenLight Data Scientists/MLE/Data Engineers. You should be comfortable giving and receiving feedback, as well as helping set personal development objectives.
The bulk of your time will be spent driving performance improvement at our portfolio companies. However, you will also have the opportunity to work closely with our investment team as they assess the impact of analytics projects in new deals and also with the product engineering group as they build cutting edge software that embeds data and technology within search, diligence, monitoring and sale of portfolio companies.
The successful candidate should have some of the following attributes:
- Passion and expertise applying data science methods to deliver commercial impact (6+ years)
- Project management skills and ability to lead technical teams in the end to end delivery of analytics projects in a business context
- Excllent communication skills - able to explain complex analytical concepts to people from other fields
- Ability to manage (line and/or project manage) the work of junior team members
- MSc/PhD Degree in STEM subject
- Fluent in Python (Pandas, Numpy, Sci-Kit) and/or other relevant languages
Our core team is based in London. Interviews for this role will be conducted via a combination of phone, video-conference and in person.
WovenLight is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other basis as protected by applicable law.
