(USA) Principal, Data Scientist at Walmart

Bentonville, Arkansas, United States

Walmart Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Retail, Technology, Human ResourcesIndustries

Requirements

  • Proven experience deploying high-risk NLP applications in real-world, production environments—such as those involving regulatory compliance, privacy, safety, or fairness
  • Advanced proficiency in Python and common ML/DS libraries such as NumPy, pandas, scikit-learn, as well as deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch
  • Hands-on experience with Text-to-SQL or Text-to-Cypher based application, or the design of modern recommender systems
  • Experience developing or fine-tuning large language models (LLMs), including prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), or open-weight model customization
  • Publication history in top-tier ML/NLP conferences such as NeurIPS, ICML, ACL, EMNLP, or ICLR

Responsibilities

  • Develop LLM-powered intelligent experiences that interpret and generate insights from both tabular and unstructured data
  • Build and optimize personalized Q&A systems using large language models, enabling context-aware responses tailored to user needs
  • Design and enhance conversational talent recommendation systems, combining autonomous agent architectures with personalized recommendation algorithms
  • Advance traditional recommendation systems by evolving them from simple ranked lists to multi-topic, interactive experiences that better reflect user intent
  • Collaborate within a highly cross-functional team, including data scientists, machine learning engineers, product managers, and UX designers
  • Partner with fellow data scientists to design, prototype, and iterate on AI/ML models and system architectures

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Machine LearningStatistical AnalysisData VisualizationLarge Language ModelsLLMQ&A SystemsConversational AIRecommendation SystemsAutonomous AgentsPersonalized RecommendationsTabular DataUnstructured Data

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What technical skills are required for the Principal Data Scientist role?

The role requires advanced proficiency in Python and ML/DS libraries like NumPy, pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow, and PyTorch, along with hands-on experience in Text-to-SQL or Text-to-Cypher, recommender systems, and developing or fine-tuning LLMs using techniques like prompt engineering, RAG, or model customization.

What is the salary or compensation for this position?

This information is not specified in the job description.

Is this Principal Data Scientist role remote or office-based?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What is the team structure like for this role?

You will collaborate within a highly cross-functional team including data scientists, machine learning engineers, product managers, and UX designers, as part of the People.AI team within People Technology that develops AI/ML solutions for associate experience.

What experience stands out for a strong candidate?

Proven experience deploying high-risk NLP applications in production environments involving regulatory compliance, privacy, safety, or fairness, plus a publication history in top-tier ML/NLP conferences like NeurIPS, ICML, ACL, or EMNLP.

Walmart

Global retail chain offering affordable products

About Walmart

Walmart operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores, providing a wide variety of products at low prices to everyday consumers, families, and communities. The company combines physical retail locations with an e-commerce platform, allowing customers to shop for groceries, apparel, electronics, and household items both in-store and online. Walmart's efficient supply chain management and large-scale purchasing enable it to maintain affordability, setting it apart from competitors. The company also offers financial services and health and wellness services, including pharmacies and vision centers. Walmart's goal is to save people money and support communities, as demonstrated by its efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and its commitment to social responsibility, including programs for veterans and military families.

Bentonville, ArkansasHeadquarters
1962Year Founded
$5,515MTotal Funding
IPOCompany Stage
Financial Services, Consumer GoodsIndustries
10,001+Employees

Benefits

PTO: Paid vacation, sick time, personal time and holiday time
10% discount on regularly priced general merchandise and fresh fruits and vegetables
6% 401(k) match to all employees, including hourly workers, after one year
Roth IRA available
Associate Stock Purchase Plan
maximum and eligible preventive care covered at 100%
Health reimbursement plans

Risks

Rising U.S. labor costs could pressure profit margins.
Amazon's grocery delivery expansion threatens Walmart's market share.
Fintech investments expose Walmart to financial regulatory risks.

Differentiation

Walmart's omnichannel strategy integrates physical and online retail seamlessly.
The company offers a wide range of products at consistently low prices.
Walmart's commitment to community support enhances its brand reputation.

Upsides

Walmart's investment in fintech expands its financial services offerings.
Robotics integration in distribution centers boosts operational efficiency.
Culturally themed product lines attract diverse customer segments.

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