Principal, Data Scientist

Walmart•Bentonville, AR

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The data science team at the Enterprise Business Services Pillar at Walmart Global Tech focuses on using the latest research in machine learning, statistics, and optimization to solve business problems. We mine data, distill insights, extract information, build analytical models, deploy machine learning algorithms, and use the latest technology to empower business decision-making. Additionally, we work with engineers to build reference architectures and machine learning pipelines in a big data ecosystem to productize our solutions. Advanced analytical algorithms driven by our team help Walmart optimize business operations, improve business practices, and change the way our customers shop. The data science community at Walmart Global Tech is active in most hack events, utilizing the petabytes of data at our disposal to build some of the coolest ideas. All the work we do at Walmart Labs will eventually benefit our operations and associates, helping customers save money and live better. As a Principal Data Scientist for Walmart Global Tech, you'll have the opportunity to: Drive data-derived insights across a wide range of retail and finance divisions by developing advanced statistical models, machine learning algorithms, and computational algorithms based on business initiatives. Direct the gathering of data, assess data validity, and synthesize data into large analytics datasets to support project goals. Build and train AI/ML models for replication in future projects. Communicate recommendations to business partners and influence future plans based on insights.

Requirements

Bachelors, Masters, or Ph.D. with 10-15 years of relevant experience.
Educational qualifications should be in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related area.
Minimum 10 years of experience as a data science technical lead.
Ability to lead multiple data science projects end-to-end.
Deep experience in building data science solutions in areas like fraud prevention, forecasting, shrink and waste reduction, inventory management, recommendation, assortment, and price optimization.
Deep experience in simultaneously leading multiple data science initiatives end-to-end from translating business needs to analytical asks, leading the process of building solutions, and the eventual act of deployment and maintenance of them.
Strong experience in machine learning: classification models, regression models, NLP, forecasting, unsupervised models, optimization, graph ML, causal inference, causal ML, statistical learning, experimentation, and Gen-AI.
Ability to scale and deploy data science solutions.
Strong experience with one or more of Python and R.
Experience in GCP/Azure.
Strong experience in Python, Py Spark.
Google Cloud Platform, Vertex AI, Kubeflow, model deployment.
Strong experience with big data platforms Hadoop (Hive, Map Reduce, HQL, Scala).
Experience with GPU/CUDA for computational efficiency.
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

In Gen-AI, it is desirable to have experience in embedding generation from training materials, storage and retrieval from vector databases, setup and provisioning of managed LLM gateways, development of retrieval-augmented generation-based LLM agents, model selection, iterative prompt engineering and fine-tuning based on accuracy and user feedback, monitoring, and governance.
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.

Responsibilities

Consult with business stakeholders regarding algorithm-based recommendations and be a thought leader to develop these into business actions.
Closely partner with the Senior Manager and Director of Data Science to drive data science adoption in the domain.
Guide data scientists, senior data scientists, and staff data scientists across multiple sub-domains to ensure on-time delivery of ML products.
Drive efficiency across the domain in terms of DS and ML best practices, ML Ops practices, resource utilization, reusability, and multi-tenancy.
Lead multiple complex ML products and guide senior tech leads in the domain in efficiently leading their products.
Drive synergies across different products in terms of algorithmic innovation and sharing of best practices.
Proactively identify complex business problems that can be solved using advanced ML, finding opportunities and gaps in the current business domain.
Evaluate proposed business cases for projects and initiatives.
Translate business requirements into strategies, initiatives, and projects, align them with business strategy and objectives, and drive the execution of deliverables.
Set relevant deliverables based on established success criteria and define key metrics to measure progress and effectiveness of the solution.
Quantify business impact and ensure regular impact measurement of all ML products in the domain.
Identify and review model evaluation metrics based on analytical requirements.
Ensure testing information is documented and maintained by the team.
Play a key role in solving complex problems pivotal to Walmarts business and driving actionable insights.
Utilize a product mindset to build, scale, and deploy holistic data science products after successful prototyping.
Demonstrate an incremental solution approach with agile and flexible ability to overcome practical problems.
Articulate and present recommendations to business partners and influence plans based on insights.
Partner and engage with associates in other regions to deliver the best services to customers around the globe.
Work with a customer-centric mindset to deliver high-quality business-driven analytic solutions.
Drive innovation in approach, method, practices, process, outcome, delivery, or any component of end-to-end problem solving.
Proactively engage in the external community to build Walmarts brand and learn more about industry practices.
Promote and support company policies, procedures, mission, values, and standards of ethics and integrity.

Benefits

incentive awards for your performance
maternity and parental leave
PTO
health benefits
medical, vision and dental coverage
401(k)
stock purchase
company-paid life insurance
parental leave
family care leave
bereavement
jury duty
voting
short-term and long-term disability
company discounts
Military Leave Pay
adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement
PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes
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.