Associate Data Scientist – ML / Python

Sainsbury's Limited; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Colleague discount

Pensions scheme

Life cover

Bonus up to 5% of salary

Annual leave & holiday buy

Job summary

Sainsbury’s Limited is seeking an Associate Data Scientist (ML / Python) to join its London-based Data & Analytics team. You will contribute to in-house data science solutions that automate decision‑making, delivering analyses to guide product development and business decisions in a cross‑functional, agile setting.

You will work with a team of data scientists, engineers and product managers, applying Python, SQL and advanced ML techniques in a retail context.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to use Python and SQL to deliver ML solutions in a corporate or academic setting.
• Strong statistical foundation: regression, hypothesis testing, experimental design.

Responsibilities

• Develop in-house data science solutions that automate decision-making and provide insights.
• Deliver high-quality analyses to guide future product development in cross-functional squads.
• Contribute to design and development of data science products and promote learning and upskilling within the team.
• Collaborate across business areas to apply data science to retail challenges (forecasting, optimization, pricing, etc.).

Skills

Python

SQL

ML

Statistics

Git

Software engineering practices

Education

Postgraduate degree in STEM

Tools

scikit-learn

GNNs

Job description

Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits
Location: London Store Support Centre and Home, London, EC1M 6HA
Hours: Full time
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: Data & Analytics
Closing date: 22 October 2026

At Sainsbury’s, data sits at the heart of how we operate, innovate and serve our customers. Our Data & Analytics team is building a technically advanced, commercially focused and impactful capability, powering our Next Level Strategy and helping to create a Sainsbury’s powered by industry leading AI algorithms. We use data, technology and advanced analytics to drive better decisions across the business, from forecasting and optimisation to experimentation, personalisation and machine learning. With one of the richest retail datasets I n the UK and a portfolio spanning Sainsbury’s, Argos, Habitat and Nectar, the opportunity to innovate is huge. Here, you’ll tackle complex challenges at scale, create measurable impact and grow quickly alongside brilliant colleagues. People who thrive with us combine business understanding, technical expertise and curiosity, with a natural instinct for problem-solving. Join us and help shape the future of retail through data and AI.

Associate Data Scientist – ML / Python – London/Hybrid Working

What you’ll do

As a Data Scientist and member of our Data Science team, you will play a pivotal role in developing in-house data science solutions that automate decision‑making and provide valuable insights across our business. Working in cross‑functional agile squads, you will contribute to the design and development of our data science products. You will deliver high‑quality analyses that guide future development work and contribute to the team’s continuous learning and upskilling efforts.

• Wide impact. Deploying models here means improving the experience of millions of customers each day.
• Range of projects. Our projects vary from supply chain optimisation for Argos, predicting which substitution products online shoppers prefer, to helping our Sainsburys colleagues keep shelves full.
• Focus on data science work. Access to extensive, clean, and well‑documented data in our industry‑leading platform: spend your time building data science solutions, not cleaning datasets.
• Time for growth. 10% of time set aside for learning & personal development
• Learning and mentoring. With a team of 50 data scientists, engineers and product managers, there are lots of opportunities to learn from colleagues through knowledge shares, pair programming, and communities of practice.
• Flexible working. Our team prioritises hybrid working, both at home and in our central London Farringdon office.
• Save on groceries. 10% discount on products across Sainsburys (Up to 15% for two days each week!)

Join us and be part of a team that encourages innovation, values your expertise, and prioritises work‑life balance while delivering exceptional results.

What you need to excel in this role:

Educated to degree level, preferably within a mathematical, statistical or STEM discipline

Proven track record of using Python and SQL to deliver complex ML solutions in a corporate environment or substantial relevant academic experience.

Strong statistical foundation in concepts such as regression, hypothesis testing and experimental design.

• Strong presentation skills and business acumen: you regularly receive positive feedback about your ability to explain complex topics to non‑technical audiences
• You feel comfortable working independently to achieve results using your own guidance and initiative.
• Experience getting the best out of sklearn and tree‑based models.

Highly proficient in Git best practices.

You are familiar with software engineering best practises and can utilise them to produce code that passes an engineering code review.

A relevant Post‑graduate degree (Masters or PhD) within a mathematical, statistical or other STEM discipline.

• Experience delivering value on ML projects in retail (in areas such as price elasticity or differential pricing) or supply chain (demand forecasting, optimisation).
• Experience using ML with mathematical optimisation.
• Experience working with and applying causal inference.
• Experience working with and deploying Graphical Neural Networks [GNNs] in industry.

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new — whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them: Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and instore at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat, and we regularly increase the discount to 15% at points during the year. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance‑related bonus of up to 5% of salary, depending on how we perform. Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance and you can buy up to an additional week's holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme. Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave. Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).