Overview

Senior Data Scientist role at Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN). Base location: Havant and Reading. Salary: £competitive + performance-related bonus and a range of benefits. Working pattern: Permanent | Full Time | Flexible First options available.

The role sits within the Data Science team in Technology, Digital & Data (TD&D) supporting SSEN Distribution across core use cases including transitioning to net zero, delivering the ED2 agreed business plan, driving efficiency via automation, and building market-leading ML solutions to deliver best-in-class service to customers.

We are looking for a Senior Data Scientist to drive innovation and the use of machine learning technology to support key business use cases, leveraging Azure, Python, Spark, GenAI/LLMs, Databricks, SQL, DevOps, and geospatial data knowledge to create end-to-end products. Experience in the energy industry is ideal.

Responsibilities

• Support the creation and adoption of data and AI products across the SSEN business, including traditional ML, generative AI, advanced analysis, and statistics.
• Work closely with business stakeholders to create high-impact, value-driving products that affect key business metrics.
• Create sustainable, cost-optimised solutions (FinOps) and collaborate with data quality/governance teams while ensuring compliance with data security, GDPR, and ethical AI best practices.
• Leverage advances in AI to develop data science innovation products and prototypes in emerging fields (Agentic AI).
• Apply best practices for coding standards, repositories, DevOps sprints, and Agile boards to align with TD&D ways of working.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience with Microsoft Azure, Python, Databricks, SQL, geospatial tools, Azure DevOps, and data pipeline creation.
• ML experience on Azure, including AutoML or Python.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with end-to-end ownership of business use cases.
• Early experience with new tech such as NLP and generative AI, including awareness of ethical AI and information security concerns.
• Front-end development (GUI) experience with the ability to leverage Azure Databricks to create user-friendly tools from data science products.

About SSE

SSE aims to be a leading energy company in a net-zero world. We invest in homegrown energy to power a cleaner, more secure future. SSEN Distribution, part of SSE, powers 3.9 million UK homes and businesses and employs over 4,200 people to keep customers connected and support a low-carbon future.

Benefits

Flexible benefits to fit your life, including discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships, wellbeing services (online GP, 24/7 counselling), interest-free loans for tech and transport, Cycle to Work, and generous family entitlements such as maternity/paternity leave.

Equal opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer. We will make reasonable adjustments to support your application. For discussion, please contact David.Brickell@sse.com / 01738 275846.

Ready to apply? Start your online application using the Apply Now box on this page. We only accept online applications. We will contact applicants after the closing date. If offered a role, you will need to complete a criminality and credit check before you start work.