(USA) Principal, Data Scientist

Role summary:

Join Walmart as a Principal Data Scientist to lead advanced analytics initiatives that drive strategic business decisions. This role involves developing and deploying optimization and machine learning models, performing statistical analysis, and leveraging large-scale data to solve complex problems. The position requires collaboration across functions to translate business needs into data-driven solutions, ensuring model accuracy and scalability. The ideal candidate will apply expertise in coding, data visualization, and optimization techniques to enhance operational efficiency and deliver measurable business impact within a dynamic, technology-driven environment.

About the team:

The Inventory Decision Intelligence team, part of Applied AI, develops advanced AI and mathematical optimization solutions to enhance inventory management across Walmart's network. The team builds scalable, reliable decision systems that optimize how inventory is ordered, positioned, transferred, and managed. Collaborating closely with engineering, product, and business teams, they improve inventory availability and sales while reducing excess and operating costs. Their work delivers improved experiences for customers and associates by applying agentic AI, statistical analysis, and optimization techniques to create consistent, data-driven solutions across varied business environments.

What you''ll do:

• Develop, test, and deploy advanced data science solutions using appropriate programming languages and tools.
• Analyze complex business problems to identify root causes and recommend data-driven approaches.
• Identify and validate suitable data sources, ensuring data quality and relevance for modeling.
• Design and implement optimization algorithms or machine learning models, optimizing features and algorithms for accuracy and scalability.
• Evaluate model performance using rigorous validation techniques and adjust models accordingly.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business requirements into actionable data strategies.
• Mentor team members on analytical methods, modeling techniques, and best practices.

What you''ll bring:

• Extensive experience in developing and deploying machine learning models using Python and related tools.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis, hypothesis testing, and advanced modeling techniques including deep learning and optimization methods.
• Strong knowledge of data sourcing, quality assessment, and data ecosystem management to ensure fit-for-purpose datasets.
• Ability to translate complex business problems into analytical solutions with measurable impact.
• Expertise in optimization or machine learning as well as model validation, deployment, and lifecycle management for scalable production environments.
• Demonstrated leadership in mentoring teams and driving cross-functional collaboration to deliver data-driven insights.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS SageMaker or GCP for model development and deployment.

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.

Bellevue, Washington US-11663: The annual salary range for this position is $132,000.00 - $264,000.00

Bentonville, Arkansas US-09158: The annual salary range for this position is $110,000.00 - $220,000.00 Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include :

• Stock