(USA) Staff, Data Scientist

Position Summary...

What you'll do...

As a Staff Data Scientist at Walmart, you will leverage advanced analytical techniques and machine learning to transform complex data into actionable business insights. This role requires designing, implementing, and scaling high-throughput supervised fine-tuning (SFT) pipelines to train foundation models to follow user prompts, perform ranking tasks, and optimize training hyperparameters such as learning rate schedules and related configurations. You will collaborate across functions to identify and evaluate data sources, ensure data quality, and communicate findings through effective visualizations. Your contributions will drive innovation and operational excellence by applying rigorous statistical methods and scalable solutions that align with Walmart's strategic objectives and commitment to delivering customer value. About the Team Our team develops foundational models tailored for Walmart's e-commerce platform by leveraging large-scale user interactions to create rich representations of users, products, and search queries. These models power scalable search, advertising, recommendation, and personalization solutions. Team members apply expertise in data science, machine learning, and software engineering to optimize model performance, training, and deployment. With a strong focus on data quality, advanced analytics, and impactful visualization, the team delivers actionable insights that influence key business outcomes. Cross-functional collaboration drives innovation and enables continuous improvement in data-driven decision-making within a dynamic technology environment. What You'll Do

• Identify and evaluate data sources aligned with business requirements and quality standards.
• Design, implement, and scale high-throughput SFT pipelines to train foundation models for instruction following, ranking, and related tasks.
• Manage high-quality dataset mixtures and optimize training hyperparameters, including learning rate schedules and other training configurations.
• Drive model alignment toward helpfulness, accuracy, and safety through preference optimization techniques and reinforcement learning approaches.
• Create clear, insightful visualizations to effectively communicate findings and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Translate complex business challenges into data-driven solutions and actionable insights.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deploy, monitor, and improve machine learning models in production environments.
• Mentor junior team members on analytical methodologies, coding best practices, machine learning techniques, and data storytelling.

What You'll Bring

• Proven expertise in data science, including predictive analytics, machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and hypothesis testing.
• Strong programming skills in Python and experience with data visualization tools such as Matplotlib, Plotly, Tableau, or Power BI.
• Hands-on experience designing, training, and deploying machine learning models, with a focus on transformer-based architectures and large language models.
• Experience optimizing large-scale training pipelines, including hyperparameter tuning and implementing high-throughput workflows using frameworks such as PyTorch.
• Experience applying reinforcement learning methods (e.g., RLHF) for preference optimization, model alignment, and safety-focused applications.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex business requirements into analytical models and actionable business insights.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present technical findings effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. 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. You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The amount you receive depends on your job classification and length of employment. It will meet or exceed the requirements of paid sick leave laws, where applicable. For information about PTO, see https://one.walmart.com/notices. Live Better U is a 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.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms.
For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.
The annual salary range for this position is $143,000.00 - $286,000.00 Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include :
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Minimum Qualifications...

Outlined below are the required minimum qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no minimum qualifications.

Option 1: Bachelors degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or related field and 4 years' experience in an analytics related field. Option 2: Masters degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or related field and 2 years' experience in an analytics related field. Option 3: 6 years' experience in an analytics or related field

Preferred Qualifications...

Outlined below are the optional preferred qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no preferred qualifications.

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.

Primary Location...

1345 Crossman Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1114, United States of America

Walmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.