Lead Operations Research Scientist - Enterprise Network Strategy

The pay range is $126,600.00 - $273,500.00

Pay is based on several factors which vary based on position. These include labor markets and in some instances may include education, work experience and certifications. In addition to your pay, Target cares about and invests in you as a team member, so that you can take care of yourself and your family. Target offers eligible team members and their dependents comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more, to help you and your family take care of your whole selves. Other benefits for eligible team members include 401(k), employee discount, short term disability, long term disability, paid sick leave, paid national holidays, and paid vacation. Find competitive benefits from financial and education to well-being and beyond at https://corporate.target.com/careers/benefits.

JOIN US AS A LEAD OPERATIONS RESEARCH SCIENTIST

About Us:
As a Fortune 50 company with more than 350,000 team members worldwide, Target is an iconic brand and one of America's leading retailers. Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We bring that vision to life through our values and culture. Learn more about Target here.

We prioritize relationships, develop talent by creating growth opportunities and succeed as one Target team. At our core, our purpose is ingrained in who we are, what we value and how we work. It’s how we care, grow, and win together. Every time a guest enters a Target store or browses Target.com, they experience the impact of Target’s investments in technology and innovation. We’re the technologists behind one of the most loved retail brands, delivering joy to millions of our guests, team members, and communities. 

About this opportunity:

As a Lead Operations Research Scientist on the Target Operations Research team – you’ll develop optimization models and algorithms that change the game in our last mile delivery operations. You’ll work closely with peer data scientists, machine learning engineers and business partners to continuously learn more about our business and particularly develop a deep understanding of the various processes we have in play. You’ll also partner with applied data scientists and engineering in our DAART (Delivery and Automated Routing) team to build and productionize solutions for our business needs including design, development, deployment, and maintenance of algorithms and models which will scale and perform.

Our team oversees the development of state-of-the-art mathematical techniques to help solve strategic initiatives for Target’s Supply Chain! For example, we’re identifying opportunities to reduce variable costs by improving the routing optimization, network configuration, and scheduling. This contributes to the development, implementation, and maintenance of the machine learning components as it relates to forecasting, scheduling and other initiatives that drive service, community experience and costs. This also helps create the metrics to quantify improvements to the network costs resulting from the application of these optimization models.

In this role as a Lead Operations Research Scientist on the Target DAART team, you will drive development and deployment of models/algorithms/tools that solve the optimization problems including:

• Vehicle routing problem with time window constraint considering mixed capacitated fleet
• Network optimization problems at scale
• Forecast last mile delivery demand – Find optimal schedule to service the demand on time
• Capacity management throughout the Target last mile delivery network
• Work force optimization problem

A role in Operations Research team gives you the opportunity to contribute to a pragmatic team that is at the forefront of defining future Omni channel operating model for Target’s Global Supply Chain across First, Middle and Last Mile. You will develop cutting edge data pipelines, optimization and simulation models to design and operate Target’s Global Supply Chain in fast and efficient manner and work with stake holders across the company in Finance, Merchandising, Stores and Supply Chain teams to enable this transformation at scale.

Core responsibilities of this job are described within this job description. Job duties may change at any time due to business needs.

About You:

• PhD or MS in Mathematics, Statistics, Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Physics, Computer Science or relevant work/research experience
• 5+ years of experience in building optimization models and algorithms that perform at scale
• Significant demonstrated expertise in Optimization Theory (deterministic/stochastic), dynamic programming, linear algebra, probability and statistics
• Design and implement complex optimization models for Network Design, Routing and Scheduling
• Expertise in Heuristics/Metaheuristics methods
• Experience solving large scale operations research problems using decomposition methods
• Highly proficient in Python, Scala, Java or Kotlin programming
• Deep understanding of data structures, design principals and algorithms
• Ability to test and measure algorithms and models
• Experience in statistical inference, machine learning and AI
• Experience working with large event-driven distributed systems and multi-threaded applications
• Experience deploying ML models with large-scale business impact in commercial setting
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills that can partner with global teams
• Constant learner mentality that stays on the leading edge of supply chain optimization, network planning, operations research, AI, etc.

This position may be considered for a Remote or Hybrid (known internally at Target as "Flex for Your Day") work arrangement based on Target's needs.  A Remote work arrangement means the team member works full-time from home or an alternate location that's not a Target location, does not have a desk at a Target location and may travel to HQ up to 4 times a year.  A Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement means the team member's core role may be performed either remote or onsite at a Target location depending upon what your role, team and tasks require for that day. Work duties cannot be performed outside of the country of the primary work location, unless otherwise prescribed by Target.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

In compliance with state and federal laws, Target will make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please reach out to candidate.accommodations@HRHelp.Target.com.

Application deadline is : 01/04/2025