Principal Data Scientist - Applied Machine Learning

Position Summary...

As a Principal Data Scientist, you will lead the design and delivery of machine learning solutions that power personalization and ad targeting across VIZIO. You'll own complex, ambiguous problems end to end—translating product and customer needs into scalable ML models and iterating them through rigorous evaluation and experimentation. You will work closely with Product and Engineering partners to influence direction, navigate technical tradeoffs, and advance long term ML strategy. You will set the technical standard for modeling and experimentation, contribute hands on advanced deep learning models at scale, and mentor other data scientists with a focus on quality and impact.

About the team
We are a machine learning team focused on personalization across VIZIO’s platform. Leveraging expertise in deep learning and statistical data analysis, the group focuses on creating scalable and powerful deep learning models using frameworks like PyTorch and MLflow. Collaborating closely with cross-functional partners, the team continuously enhances model performance and deployment to deliver impactful user experiences. This environment encourages innovation, rigorous testing, and application of best practices to solve complex challenges in recommender systems and ad targeting, contributing to the platform’s growth and customer engagement.

What you'll do...

- Tackle ambiguous, high-impact problems by translating product and business questions into scalable machine learning solutions.
- Build, evaluate, and iterate on advanced deep learning models for personalization, recommendation, and targeting.
- Design and apply rigorous offline metrics and online experimentation frameworks to measure model and system performance.
- Partner closely with Product and Engineering to align on scope, navigate technical tradeoffs, and drive execution across multiple teams.
- Define and champion best practices for modeling, experimentation, and ML development, with a focus on robustness, scalability, and maintainability.
- Provide technical leadership through design reviews, collaboration, and hands-on problem solving while helping raise the quality and impact of machine learning solutions.
What you'll bring - Extensive experience designing, training, and deploying machine learning models for real-world systems, particularly in personalization, recommendation, ranking, or targeting. - Deep technical foundations in machine learning and statistics, including representation learning, deep learning architectures, optimization, experimentation, and model evaluation. - Production Python experience, expertise with distributed data tools such as PySpark, and proficiency with modern ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX. - Proven ability to lead ambiguous, technically complex initiatives spanning multiple stakeholders from problem formulation through deployment and evolution. - Experience influencing technical direction, establishing best practices, and driving high-quality machine learning solutions through technical leadership.

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.
San Francisco, California US-11873: The annual salary range for this position is $143,000.00 - $286,000.00
New York, New York US-11882: The annual salary range for this position is $132,000.00 - $264,000.00 Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include :
- Stock

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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- Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field and 3 years' experience in an analytics related field. Option 2- Master’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field and 1 years' experience in an analytics related field. Option 3 - 5 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, Publications or active peer reviewer in related journals or conference, 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...

180 Montgomery St, Ste 1520 San Francisco, CA 94104-4230, United States of AmericaWalmart 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.