W

Walmart

Sells groceries and essentials in stores and online

Principal Data Scientist

Full-TimePosted on 10/27/2026
$132k - $286k/yr+ Performance bonuses + Stock
Expert
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
Bellevue, WA, USA+2 moreMore locations: Hoboken, NJ, USA | Sunnyvale, CA, USA
In Person
AI & Machine LearningApplied Machine Learning
Company Historically Provides H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field and five years of experience in an analytics-related field; alternatively, a master's degree in those fields and three years of experience in an analytics-related field; alternatively, seven years of experience in an analytics or related field.
  • At least 10 years of experience as a data science technical lead.
  • Ability to drive projects from conception to production in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
  • Experience building data science solutions in fraud prevention, forecasting, shrink and waste reduction, inventory management, recommendation, assortment, or price optimization.
  • Experience leading multiple data science initiatives end-to-end, from translating business needs to analytical asks and building solutions through deployment and maintenance.
  • Experience with machine learning, including classification, regression, natural language processing, forecasting, unsupervised models, optimization, graph machine learning, causal inference, causal machine learning, statistical learning, experimentation, and generative AI.
  • Ability to scale and deploy data science solutions.
  • Experience with one or more of Python and R.
  • Experience with Google Cloud Platform or Azure.
  • Experience with Python, PySpark, Google Cloud Platform, Vertex AI, Kubeflow, and model deployment.
  • Experience with Hadoop and its Hive, MapReduce, HQL, and Scala technologies.
  • Experience with GPU/CUDA for computational efficiency.
Responsibilities
  • Consult with business stakeholders on algorithm-based recommendations and develop them into business actions.
  • Partner with the Senior Manager and Director of Data Science to drive data science adoption in the domain.
  • Guide data scientists, senior data scientists, and staff data scientists across multiple sub-domains to ensure timely delivery of machine-learning products.
  • Drive domain-wide efficiency in data science and machine-learning best practices, machine-learning operations practices, resource utilization, reusability, and multi-tenancy.
  • Lead multiple complex machine-learning products and guide senior technical leads in efficiently leading their products.
  • Drive synergies across products through algorithmic innovation and sharing best practices.
  • Identify complex business problems that can be solved using advanced machine learning and find opportunities and gaps in the business domain.
  • Evaluate proposed business cases for projects and initiatives.
  • Translate business requirements into strategies, initiatives, and projects; align them with business strategy and objectives; and drive execution of deliverables.
  • Set deliverables based on success criteria and define key metrics to measure progress and solution effectiveness.
  • Quantify business impact and ensure regular impact measurement of machine-learning products in the domain.
  • Identify and review model evaluation metrics based on analytical requirements.
  • Ensure the team documents and maintains testing information.
  • Solve complex business-critical problems and drive actionable insights.
  • Use a product mindset to build, scale, and deploy holistic data science products after successful prototyping.
  • Use an incremental solution approach and adapt flexibly to overcome practical problems.
  • Present recommendations to business partners and influence plans based on insights.
  • Partner with associates in other regions to deliver services to customers globally.
  • Deliver high-quality, business-driven analytic solutions with a customer-centric mindset.
  • Drive innovation in approaches, methods, practices, processes, outcomes, delivery, and end-to-end problem solving.
  • Engage with the external community to build the company's brand and learn about industry practices.
  • Promote and support company policies, procedures, mission, values, and standards of ethics and integrity.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience with generative AI, including embedding generation from training materials; storage and retrieval from vector databases; setup and provisioning of managed large language model gateways; development of retrieval-augmented-generation-based large language model agents; model selection; iterative prompt engineering and fine-tuning based on accuracy and user feedback; monitoring; and governance.
  • A PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Information Technology, Operations Research, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or Econometrics.
  • Publications or active peer-reviewer experience in related journals or conferences.
  • Successful completion of one or more assessments in Python, Spark, Scala, or R.
  • Background in creating inclusive digital experiences, knowledge of implementing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 AA standards, assistive technologies, and integrating digital accessibility into products and services.

About the company

W

Walmart

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cbWebsite

Walmart sells groceries, household essentials, clothing, and electronics through stores and online marketplaces for consumers around the world. Its everyday low price model combines large purchasing volumes with distribution networks that move goods to stores and customer homes. Shoppers can browse online, collect orders at a nearby store, or request delivery, while third-party merchants use its marketplace and fulfillment services to reach customers. The group earns revenue from merchandise sales, memberships, advertising, and services, and also operates pharmacies, optical centers, and digital payments businesses. Walmart opened its first discount store in 1962 and is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Bentonville, Arkansas

Founded

1962

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Digital demand expands work: August 2026 results showed Walmart's global online sales growing 23% year over year.
  • Education has employer funding: Walmart's Live Better U pays for career-linked courses and credentials for eligible U.S. associates.
  • Advertising adds a growth engine: Walmart's June 2026 report showed global advertising business growing 37% in its latest quarter.

What critics are saying

  • Corporate job stability weakened: Reuters reported Walmart eliminated 1,000 roles in its technology restructuring in May 2026.
  • Tariff refunds lifted profit growth: Walmart's August 2026 results included 7.5 percentage points in adjusted operating-profit growth at constant currency.
  • Retail leaves little cushion: Walmart's fiscal 2026 operating profit equaled just 4.2% of net sales.

What makes Walmart unique

  • Local reach supports delivery: Walmart stores and clubs sit within 10 miles of roughly 90% of Americans.
  • Private labels have unusual scale: Walmart U.S. has 21 owned brands each generating over $1 billion annually.
  • Checkout technology reaches membership retail: Walmart's Sam's Club U.S. combines phone-based Scan & Go with Just Go exits.

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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

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

-13%

1 year growth

-12%

2 year growth

-14%
Associated Press
Oct 27th, 2026
Walmart and Care Access to open three more in-store clinical trial centres in 2027

The Walmart Healthcare Research Institute and health and research company Care Access plan to open three more Clinical Trial Centers in Walmart stores in the first half of 2027. The sites will be in Livonia, Michigan; Las Vegas, Nevada; and San Antonio, Texas. The partnership recently opened its first four centers in Houston and Tyler, Texas; Dalton, Georgia; and Brandon, Florida. A grand opening event was held today at the Houston site. The centers will support Phase 2, 3, and 4 trials, including studies in cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease. They will also offer health screenings and one-on-one consultations on research options. Care Access runs clinical operations. Study offerings and eligibility vary by location. "Our collaboration with Walmart allows us to go one step further," said Ahmad Namvargolian, chief executive officer of Care Access.

Skype
Oct 23rd, 2026
Walmart Business expands payment flexibility for suppliers with TreviPay integration.

Walmart Business expands payment flexibility for suppliers with TreviPay integration. By Novita Anggraini October 23, 2026 Walmart Business has rolled out expanded access to its Pay By Invoice service, which provides customers with net 30-day payment terms and integrated financial management tools. The update, revealed today, builds on a previous pilot and leverages TreviPay's platform to extend eligibility to additional qualifying businesses. The new system embeds directly into Walmart's procurement interface, offering a dedicated credit line alongside automated invoice matching. Users can place orders through digital or in-store channels while delaying payments for up to 30 days, enhancing working capital. The unified dashboard handles invoices, transactions, refunds, and returns, making financial oversight simpler for organizations with multiple departments or locations. TreviPay CEO Brandon Spear emphasized that commercial buyers frequently need payment flexibility separate from consumer transactions. By integrating financial controls into the checkout process, the service aims to drive recurring purchases. Pilot participants gave the program a 90% satisfaction rating, indicating strong interest in extended payment options. Entities with detailed procurement workflows, such as educational institutions, nonprofits, and government offices, will see the most immediate advantages. Schools can consolidate purchases across facilities, nonprofits can monitor grant-funded expenditures, and public agencies can generate audit trails. For private businesses, the 30-day deferral period allows reallocation of funds without disrupting operations. Payment flexibility appears to be a decisive factor in vendor selection. According to TreviPay's findings, 51% of business purchasers would consider switching suppliers if competitors offered better net terms. The rollout may therefore help Walmart capture a larger share of the B2B market by resolving a persistent challenge for institutional and corporate clients.

الاقتصادية
Oct 22nd, 2026
Walmart launches tools that allow AI agents to shop on behalf of customers

Walmart launches tools that allow AI agents to shop on behalf of customers Customers will remain in control of purchases, and AI agents will not be allowed to access payment card data. "Reuters" Walmart launched new tools on Wednesday that allow AI agents to shop and complete transactions on behalf of customers, as part of the company's effort to entrench its position in the growing use of AI-powered assistants in e-commerce. This step confirms Walmart's orientation toward adopting AI-powered shopping, which contrasts with Amazon's approach of seeking to restrict external AI-powered shopping agents' access to its platform. Walmart said it will launch the agent profiles feature next month, enabling shoppers to delegate specific AI agents, track their purchases separately, and set a spending cap or require approval for each purchase. The retail company explained that customers will be able to monitor purchases made by AI agents separately from their own orders and cancel the agent's access at any time. The company also launched the Walmart agent gateway, a platform that allows AI assistants such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Meta's Muse to connect directly to Walmart and Sam's Club systems to search for products and complete purchases. Walmart explained that customers will remain in control of purchases, AI agents will not be allowed to access payment card data, and they can be blocked if they violate the company's rules. The company said these tools will be available to all Walmart account holders and will not require membership in the Walmart+ program.

PYMNTS
Oct 22nd, 2026
Walmart opens doors for AI agents that obey strict rules.

Walmart opens doors for AI agents that obey strict rules. By PYMNTS | October 21, 2026 Walmart has introduced three tools designed to let customers shop at Walmart and Sam's Club through their choice of apps and artificial intelligence (AI) agents. "Shopping with an agent won't be for everyone, and it doesn't have to be," the company said in a Wednesday (Oct. 21) press release. "But for customers who choose to use one, our goal is to make our experience the most trusted by building clear controls and protections into the experience from the start." Please add Money By Design to your preferred sources list so its news, data and interviews show up in your feed. Thanks! One new tool, which is set to launch in November, is Agent Profiles. This tool will enable customers to authorize each AI agent with a dedicated profile within their account so they can see the agent's purchases separately from their other purchases; determine whether they want to require approval for every purchase or give the agent permission to make purchases within a specified spending limit; and turn off those permissions at any time, according to the release. Another new tool, which is now in beta for companies and developers, is the Walmart Agent Gateway. This gateway will enable agents to shop by using a model text protocol (MCP) rather than a web browser. It will also help an agent shop for the user's usual purchases without giving the agent access to the customer's personal information or purchase history. Walmart also unveiled terms for AI agents, which establish rules that the agents must follow when shopping on behalf of a customer. The terms specify that, for example, agents must not take actions beyond what the customer intends, can't add or change a customer's payment methods and can only access the information needed for the task and allowed by the customer, per the release. "We've always worked to understand what customers need and make shopping easier for them," Walmart said in the release. "As customers begin using agents to help them shop, we're building connections, permissions and options that complement those tools and support how customers want to use them." PYMNTS reported Friday that retailers are responding differently to customers' adoption of AI shopping agents. For example, Amazon is blocking prominent outside agents, Target is permitting approved providers and Walmart is partnering with AI companies to attract customers. The PYMNTS Intelligence report "Will the 2026 Shopping Season Go Agentic?" found that merchants expect agentic commerce to become a paid sales channel, but many feel unprepared to connect with agents.

Android Headlines
Oct 21st, 2026
Walmart opens its doors to AI shopping bots as amazon locks them out.

Walmart opens its doors to AI shopping bots as amazon locks them out. Oct 21, 2026 Walmart launched Agent Profiles and the Walmart Agent Gateway to let customers authorize AI assistants to shop on their behalf across Walmart and Sam's Club. By combining customizable spending limits and privacy safeguards with standard return guarantees, the retailer is embracing agentic commerce while major competitors restrict AI bot access. Online shopping is taking a split turn as retail giants figure out how to handle AI assistants. Amazon keeps blocking third-party shopping bots like Perplexity and Meta's Muse, but Walmart is taking the exact opposite route. The retail giant just launched a set of features that let digital AI agents browse Walmart's online shelves and place orders directly for you. Setting budget caps and custom permissions. The main feature rolling out next month is called Agent Profiles, which works across both Walmart and Sam's Club accounts. You can link AI bots like ChatGPT or Gemini to your account and set strict spending limits or require manual approval before any purchase goes through. Walmart compares it to handing someone an authorized credit card with a set budget cap, so you always stay in complete control of your wallet. How the AI bot gateway protects your data, what happens if it orders the wrong item. Instead of making bots click through web pages designed for human eyes, Walmart built a dedicated Agent Gateway using Anthropic's Model Context Protocol. This direct connection lets the AI search inventory and checkout without getting stuck on tricky website buttons. It also protects your personal information, sharing basic preferences like your favorite brand of sourdough bread while not sharing your entire shopping history or your credit card numbers. Walmart also laid out strict ground rules to keep third-party bots from acting up on its platform. Assistants cannot change your payment methods or make unauthorized purchases. Walmart will instantly ban any bot that breaks the rules. If your AI makes a mistake and orders the wrong product, Walmart's standard return policy still covers the purchase, taking the anxiety out of testing new tech. Big retailer support for automated shopping. Speaking at the Masters of Scale Summit in San Francisco, Walmart CEO John Furner said the goal is to build a trusted experience as automated shopping becomes more common. The best part is that anyone with a standard Walmart account can use these tools without signing up for a paid Walmart+ membership. As Mizuho analyst David Bellinger told Reuters, seeing major retail leadership buy into this technology shows that AI-assisted shopping is rapidly turning into a real commercial trend.