(USA) Principal, Data Scientist
About The Position
Walmart is seeking a Principal Data Scientist to lead advanced analytics initiatives that drive strategic business decisions. This role involves developing and deploying machine learning models, performing complex data analysis, and collaborating across functions to translate business challenges into data-driven solutions. The ideal candidate will apply expertise in statistical modeling, software engineering, and data visualization to deliver impactful insights. Additionally, this position requires mentoring team members, ensuring model robustness, and supporting scalable deployment to enhance Walmart’s data capabilities and operational effectiveness. Sam’s Club Applied AI Labs develops advanced AI solutions that empower merchants and club teams to make faster, data-driven decisions. The team delivers impactful machine learning and agentic tools across assortment, pricing, and replenishment, transforming data into actionable insights used daily throughout the business. Operating with high ownership, the team manages projects end to end, focusing on real-world adoption and measurable impact. Members collaborate closely to build scalable AI systems that drive business value, continuously innovating and deploying solutions that enhance operational efficiency and decision-making across the organization.
Requirements
- Deep experience building and deploying machine learning and LLM/agentic systems in production.
- Strong Python and SQL, with solid software engineering and MLOps/LLMOps skills.
- Hands-on expertise with agentic frameworks, tool-calling, retrieval-augmented generation, and prompt and evaluation design.
- Proven ability to design evaluation, guardrails, and observability for generative AI.
- Skill translating ambiguous business needs into scalable, well-architected AI solutions.
- A track record of technical leadership — setting direction, raising the bar, and mentoring teams.
- A bias for impact: you measure success by real adoption and business outcomes, not demos.
- Option 1: Bachelors degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or related field and 5 years' experience in an analytics related field.
- Option 2: Masters degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or 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
- 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
- Architect and scale agentic AI copilots that help merchants and business teams make faster, sharper decisions.
- Design and ship LLM and agentic systems — tool-calling, retrieval, multi-step reasoning — from prototype to production.
- Build rigorous evaluation, guardrails, and observability so AI solutions stay accurate, safe, and trusted at scale.
- Turn complex business workflows and large datasets into reliable, high-impact AI capabilities.
- Partner with product, engineering, and business stakeholders to translate real problems into technical solutions.
- Set technical direction and mentor data scientists on agentic AI, modeling, and engineering best practices.
Benefits
- Competitive pay
- Performance-based bonus awards
- Medical coverage
- Vision coverage
- Dental coverage
- 401(k)
- Stock purchase
- Company-paid life insurance
- PTO
- Parental leave
- Family care leave
- Bereavement
- Jury duty
- Voting leave
- PPTO
- Short-term disability
- Long-term disability
- Company discounts
- Military Leave Pay
- Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement
- Live Better U (company paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
