(USA) Principal, Data Scientist
About The Position
The Principal Data Scientist will solve ambiguous, high-value retail problems using rigorous analytics, machine learning, experimentation, causal inference, and deployment of scalable solutions. The role partners closely with agentic AI teams to build data science capabilities, measurement frameworks, and causal reasoning skills that help answer users’ business-impact questions. The position shapes strategy, defines success metrics, validates outcomes, deploys decision-ready models and tools, and translates complex evidence into clear recommendations for product, engineering, and executive partners. The role is part of Walmart Data Ventures, which powers the data and AI platform supporting Walmart suppliers. The Walmart Scintilla team transforms data into actionable insights, recommendations, and innovations for customers, merchants, and suppliers. Its work includes generative AI, agentic intelligence, machine learning, measurement, and causal inference to improve retail experiences, optimize operations, and develop business models.
Requirements
- Deep expertise in data science, statistics, machine learning, experimentation, measurement, and causal inference.
- Ability to turn ambiguous business problems into clear hypotheses, scalable analytical plans, and measurable outcomes.
- Strong Python coding skills and experience building production-quality data science solutions.
- Experience deploying, monitoring, and improving models or decision tools in partnership with engineering teams.
- Familiarity with emerging agentic AI architectures, systems, and evaluation patterns.
- Experience using AI-assisted coding and engineering tools to improve development speed, quality, and iteration.
- Ability to mentor others on coding, modeling, visualization, and analytical communication.
- Strong business judgment and communication skills to influence product, engineering, and executive stakeholders.
- Option 1: Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field and 5 years’ experience in an analytics-related field.
- Option 2: Master’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field and 3 years’ experience in an analytics-related field.
- Option 3: 7 years’ experience in an analytics or related field.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in data science, machine learning, or optimization models.
- Ph.D. in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Information Technology, Operations Research, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or Econometrics.
- Publications or active peer reviewer in related journals or conferences.
- Successful completion of one or more assessments in Python, Spark, Scala, or R.
- Experience using open-source frameworks such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or Torch.
- Background creating inclusive digital experiences and knowledge of WCAG 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and digital accessibility best practices.
Responsibilities
- Drive high-impact data science initiatives across recommendations, customer voice, market research, product innovation, segmentation, forecasting, measurement, and decision intelligence.
- Frame ambiguous business questions as testable hypotheses with clear metrics and decision criteria.
- Build, validate, deploy, monitor, and improve predictive, causal, and machine learning solutions.
- Design experiments and causal measurement approaches, including A/B tests, uplift modeling, difference-in-differences, and synthetic control.
- Partner with agentic AI teams to answer user questions about measurement, impact, and causal drivers.
- Mentor team members on coding, modeling, visualization, and analytical storytelling.
- Communicate insights to influence decisions and drive business value.
- Translate complex evidence into recommendations for product, engineering, and executive partners.
Benefits
- Competitive pay and performance-based bonus awards.
- Medical, vision, and dental coverage.
- 401(k), stock purchase, and company-paid life insurance.
- Paid time off, including sick leave, parental leave, family care leave, bereavement leave, jury duty leave, and voting leave.
- Short-term and long-term disability.
- Company discounts.
- Military Leave Pay.
- Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement.
- PTO and/or PPTO for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes.
- Live Better U Walmart-paid education benefit, including tuition, books, and fees for eligible programs.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
