Sr Applied Data Scientist - 1:1 Personalization, Audience and Experimentation (applied ML, PyToch, A/B testing)

Target • Brooklyn Park, NC

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Sr Data Scientist supports the development of machine learning models that power one-to-one personalization at scale. The role designs, builds, and deploys advanced models to deliver relevant, individualized experiences across marketing and digital channels. It works with product, engineering, marketing, and analytics partners to define strategy, lead experimentation, and ensure personalization produces measurable impact for guests and the business.

The position is part of Target Data Sciences, where data science and machine learning teams develop and manage predictive algorithms that use data at scale to automate and optimize decisions. The role combines modeling and data science with software and product development, including highly performant code for model performance at scale. This is a Hybrid/Flex for Your Day role requiring work both onsite at the assigned Target HQ Minnesota location and virtually, according to role, team, and task needs. Work duties cannot be performed outside the country of the primary work location unless otherwise prescribed by Target. Job duties may change due to business needs.

Requirements

• A four-year degree in a quantitative discipline such as Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or Statistics, or equivalent industry experience.
• At least 3 years of end-to-end applied data sciences experience with digital marketing and measurement teams.
• Experience with statistical tools for A/B testing at both the customer level and in matched-market testing.
• Hands-on experience in personalization or recommendations, applied machine learning, natural language processing, and deep learning.
• Experience with real-time systems, online learning, and recommendation algorithms at scale.
• Proficiency in Python, SQL, and modern machine learning libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-learn.
• Experience with large-scale data platforms such as GCP Vertex AI, Spark, Databricks, or Snowflake.
• A proven track record of building and deploying applied machine learning models in production environments.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to develop creative, innovative data science solutions to real-world business problems.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across global teams.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to tell data-driven stories through appropriate visualizations, graphs, and narratives.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and optimize machine learning models for one-to-one personalization, including recommendation systems, ranking models, customer propensity models, and reinforcement learning approaches.
• Develop testing frameworks, including A/B testing, multi-armed bandits, and causal inference, to rigorously measure personalization initiatives in marketing optimization.
• Partner with product managers, engineers, and business stakeholders to translate business problems into data science solutions.
• Ensure models are production-ready, scalable, and integrated into digital platforms with high reliability and performance.
• Stay current on advances in machine learning and AI, including deep learning, embeddings, transformers, large language models, and reinforcement learning, and evaluate their application to personalization use cases.

Benefits

• Eligible team members and their dependents may receive medical, vision, dental, and life insurance.
• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability
• Paid sick leave
• Paid national holidays
• Paid vacation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior