(USA) Principal, Data Scientist: GenAI/ML

Wal-Mart•Bentonville, AR

40d•$143,000 - $286,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a seasoned Principal Data Scientist with deep expertise in building and scaling ML products in production. This role is ideal for someone with a strong background in recommender systems, GenAI, and LLMs, and who thrives in a fast-paced, technically rigorous environment. About Walmart Global Tech Imagine working in an environment where one line of code can make life easier for hundreds of millions of people. That's what we do at Walmart Global Tech. We're a team of software engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity expert's and service professionals within the world's leading retailer who make an epic impact and are at the forefront of the next retail disruption. People are why we innovate, and people power our innovations. We are people-led and tech-empowered. We train our team in the skillsets of the future and bring in experts like you to help us grow. We have roles for those chasing their first opportunity as well as those looking for the opportunity that will define their career. Here, you can kickstart a great career in tech, gain new skills and experience for virtually every industry, or leverage your expertise to innovate at scale, impact millions and reimagine the future of retail. Walmart's culture is a competitive advantage, and it's fostered by being together. Working together in person allows us to collaborate, align quickly and innovate with greater speed. We use our campuses to create purposeful connection rooted in deepening understanding and investing in the development of our associates.

Requirements

12+ years in applied data science/ML (or 8+ with a PhD)
5+ years leading end-to-end ML products in production
Proven success in recommender systems, personalization at scale, or search-especially using LLMs and embeddings
Experience with GenAI systems, including RAG and agentic LLM workflows
Fine-tuning LLMs (LoRA, DPO), reducing hallucinations, and implementing safety guardrails
Designed LLM evaluation pipelines for factuality, consistency, and relevance
Optimizing LLM inference: prompt caching, quantization, retrieval filtering
ML modeling for classification tasks (e.g., boosted trees)
Strong experimentation background: A/B testing, multi-armed bandits, causal inference
Deep learning expertise with PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Keras
Data engineering collaboration: SQL/Spark pipelines, feature stores, batch serving
MLOps: deployment, monitoring, drift detection, CI/CD
Domain fluency in retail/food signals, seasonality, substitutions, and consumer engagement
Technical leadership: mentors team, sets roadmap, elevates code standards
Tooling: Python, SQL, PyTorch/TensorFlow, Spark, Airflow, GCP/Azure, Docker/Kubernetes, Git
Bachelors degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or related field and 5 years' experience in an analytics related field.
Masters degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or related field and 3 years' experience in an analytics related field.
7 years' experience in an analytics or related field

Nice To Haves

Data science, machine learning, optimization models, PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Information Technology, Operations Research, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Econometrics
Publications or active peer reviewer in related journals or conference
Successful completion of one or more assessments in Python, Spark, Scala, or R
Using open source frameworks (for example, scikit learn, tensorflow, torch)
We value candidates with a background in creating inclusive digital experiences, demonstrating knowledge in implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and integrating digital accessibility seamlessly. The ideal candidate would have knowledge of accessibility best practices and join us as we continue to create accessible products and services following Walmart's accessibility standards and guidelines for supporting an inclusive culture.

Benefits

Beyond our great compensation package, you can receive incentive awards for your performance.
Other great perks include 401(k) match, stock purchase plan, paid maternity and parental leave, PTO, multiple health plans, and much more.
Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage.
Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance.
Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting.
Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more.
You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes.
Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart.

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