(USA) Staff, Data Scientist

Walmart•Sunnyvale, CA

3d•$143,000 - $286,000•Onsite

About The Position

As a Staff Data Scientist, you will be at the forefront of AI innovation, developing machine learning and reinforcement learning models for driver search and matching. You will be leading a team of Applied Scientist to design, train, evaluate, deploy, and monitor production models. You will collaborate closely with business, product, and engineering teams to ensure AI objectives align with Walmart’s business goals. Your work will directly improve driver experience, operational efficiency, and delivery reliability, driving measurable business impact. The Spark Driver Applied AI team advances machine learning, deep learning, Reinforcement Learning models, and LLM to improve platform efficiency and profitability. We build highly reliable and scalable production systems that drive the growth of the Spark Driver Platform. Our key focus areas include Capacity Planning, Driver Search, Driver Matching, Driver Offer Pricing, Driver Surge Pricing, Incentive Strategy, ETA Prediction, and Trust Safety.

Requirements

Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Operations Research, Economics, or a related field.
Extensive experience in machine learning, reinforcement learning, GenAI, and LLMs.
5+ Years of experience of deploying ML models in production, preferably in high-scale environments.
Strong programming skills in Python, Java, C, or C++.
Experience with large-scale data systems (Spark/Hive) and cloud computing (GCP/Azure).
Demonstrated ability to drive projects from conception to production in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence and inspire cross-functional teams.
Bachelors degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or related field and 4 years' experience in an analytics related field.
Masters degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or related field and 2 years' experience in an analytics related field.
6 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
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

Lead a team of applied scientists in developing innovative AI-driven solutions.
Research and implement state-of-the-art machine learning techniques, including reinforcement learning and deep learning.
Collaborate cross-functionally with business, product, and engineering stakeholders to ensure AI solutions align with Walmart’s strategic objectives.
Design and optimize machine learning pipelines to ensure scalability, efficiency, and real-time processing capabilities.
Build and deploy end-to-end models, balancing accuracy, computational efficiency, and measurable business impact.
Explore and integrate the latest advancements in AI, ensuring Walmart remains at the forefront of AI-driven delivery solutions.

Benefits

Incentive awards for performance
401(k) match
Stock purchase plan
Paid maternity and parental leave
PTO
Multiple health plans
Competitive pay
Performance-based bonus awards
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.
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.