Staff, Data Scientist (MLE) | Spark Driver Platform | Gen AI

Position Summary...

What you'll do...

About the Team:

Spark Driver Platform operates across all 50 U.S. states, empowering millions of drivers to provide local delivery and making it Walmart's largest local delivery service provider. The Spark Driver Applied AI team is dedicated to enhancing efficiency and profitability by pushing the boundaries of machine learning, data science, and economics. We build highly reliable and scalable production systems that drive the growth of the Spark Driver Platform. Our key focus areas include Capacity Planning, Driver Search, Driver Matching, Driver Offer Pricing, Driver Surge Pricing, Incentive Strategy, ETA Prediction, and GenAI Automation for Driver Support.

About the Role:

As a Staff Applied Scientist, you will be at the forefront of AI innovation, driving GenAI-powered solutions to enhance driver experience, optimize operational efficiency, and ensure delivery reliability. You will work closely with business, product, and engineering teams to develop deep learning, reinforcement learning, recommendation systems, and large language models (LLMs) tailored for driver personalization and automation. Your contributions will have a direct and measurable impact by reducing fraud, minimizing defects, improving efficiency, and strengthening driver engagement.

What you'll Do:

• Develop AI-driven solutions leveraging Generative AI and LLMs to enhance driver support and personalization.
• Research and implement state-of-the-art machine learning techniques, including deep learning, reinforcement learning, and NLP.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with stakeholders to align AI solutions with Walmart’s business objectives.
• Design and optimize ML pipelines, ensuring scalability, efficiency, and real-time processing capabilities.
• Build and deploy end-to-end models, balancing accuracy, computational efficiency, and business impact.
• Explore and integrate the latest AI advancements, ensuring Walmart remains a leader in AI-driven delivery solutions.

What you'll bring:

• Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Operations Research, Economics, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in machine learning, reinforcement learning, GenAI, LLMs, and NLP.
• 5+ Years of experience of deploying ML models in production, preferably in high-scale environments.
• Strong programming skills in Python, Java, C, or C++.
• Experience with large-scale data systems (Spark/Hive) and cloud computing (GCP/Azure).
• Ability to drive projects from conception to production in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence and inspire cross-functional teams.

About Walmart Global Tech:
Imagine working in an environment where one line of code can make life easier for hundreds of millions of people. That’s what we do at Walmart Global Tech. We’re a team of software engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity expert's and service professionals within the world’s leading retailer who make an epic impact and are at the forefront of the next retail disruption. People are why we innovate, and people power our innovations. We are people-led and tech-empowered. We train our team in the skillsets of the future and bring in experts like you to help us grow. We have roles for those chasing their first opportunity as well as those looking for the opportunity that will define their career. Here, you can kickstart a great career in tech, gain new skills and experience for virtually every industry, or leverage your expertise to innovate at scale, impact millions and reimagine the future of retail.

Flexible, Hybrid Work:
We use a hybrid way of working that is primarily in office coupled with virtual when not onsite. Our campuses serve as a hub to enhance collaboration, bring us together for purpose and deliver on business needs. This approach helps us make quicker decisions, remove location barriers across our global team and be more flexible in our personal lives.

Benefits:
Benefits: Beyond our great compensation package, you can receive incentive awards for your performance. Other great perks include 401(k) match, stock purchase plan, paid maternity and parental leave, PTO, multiple health plans, and much more.

Equal Opportunity Employer:
Walmart, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer – By Choice. We believe we are best equipped to help our associates, customers and the communities we serve live better when we really know them. That means understanding, respecting and valuing diversity- unique styles, experiences, identities, ideas and opinions – while being inclusive of all people.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed in the role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. The full Job Description can be made available as part of the hiring process.

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.

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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.

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For information about PTO, see https://one.walmart.com/notices.

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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.

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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.

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For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.

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The annual salary range for this position is $143,000.00-$286,000.00

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Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses.

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Additional compensation for certain positions may also include:

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- 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: 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
As permitted by applicable law, provide evidence of full vaccination as defined by CDC guidelines OR secure approval of medical or religious accommodation for the vaccination mandate.

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...

680 West California Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086-4834, United States of America