Senior Data Scientist - Neural Net Forecasting

TESCO UK; Welwyn Garden City; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus up to 20%

Private medical insurance

Maternity & adoption leave

Paternity leave

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Virtual GP service

Job summary

Tesco UK is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to design and deploy forecasting and probabilistic models for large-scale retail time series. You will blend data from multiple sources and build robust pipelines for training, validation and backtesting, ensuring scalable, measurable business value.

You will mentor juniors, promote data science across the organisation, and collaborate closely with engineering, product and business partners in a hybrid UK-based role.

Qualifications

• Strong background in time series forecasting or probabilistic modelling.
• Experience blending data from multiple sources to explain historic behaviour and generate forecasts.
• Proven ability to design, validate, and deploy data science solutions at scale.
• Experience with productionisation, monitoring, and CI/CD practices.
• Excellent communication with non-experts and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design and improve forecasting and statistical modelling solutions for large-scale retail time series.
• Blend data from multiple sources to explain history and generate forward-looking predictions.
• Build training, validation and backtesting pipelines with proper evaluation.
• Collaborate with engineering, product and business partners to ensure reliable models.
• Mentor junior team members and promote data science across Tesco.

Skills

Time series analysis

Forecasting

Statistical modelling

Python

PySpark

Machine learning

Model deployment

Education

Master's degree in a mathematical/scientific field

Tools

Hadoop

Spark

Cloud platforms

Job description

About the roleThis is a hands-on position where you will need to leverage your analytical mindset to find solutions to complex problems. As a Senior Data Scientist, you will need to understand difficult business problems and prototype solutions with minimal support.A core component of the role is applying, modifying, and designing algorithms and mathematical models to solve business problems using big data architectures (Hadoop, Spark, Cloud). In this role, your primary focus will be forecasting and related statistical or probabilistic modelling, with a strong emphasis on rigorous evaluation against robust baselines, careful validation, and scalable deployment.Our Data Scientists must be able to validate, document and present the modelling process and performance, as well as communicate complex solutions in a clear, understandable way to non-experts.Data Scientists are also responsible for promoting data science across Tesco and representing Tesco across the external Data Science community.Finally, as a Senior Data Scientist, you will be expected to drive innovation and take ownership of aspects of project development, support the Lead Data Scientist and Product Manager in managing relationships with business stakeholders, and mentor and supervise junior team members and interns.You will be responsible for• Designing and improving forecasting and statistical modelling solutions for large-scale retail and business time series.• Blending data from multiple sources to explain historic behaviour and generate forward-looking predictions and scenarios.• Building robust training, validation and backtesting pipelines, including time-aware evaluation, leakage controls and stability checks.• Applying best practices for productionisation, including monitoring, retraining strategies, and performance and cost considerations.• Collaborating closely with engineering, product and business partners to ensure models are reliable, scalable and deliver measurable business value.You will needWe are looking for ambitious individuals with a mix of statistics, programming skills and familiarity with time series analysis or broader forecasting and probabilistic/statistical modelling. A proven track record of designing and modifying advanced algorithms and applying them to large data sets is essential. Some project and stakeholder management experience is preferred.An ideal candidate will have a scientific mindset with the ability to ask the right questions, as well as answer them. A strong numerical higher degree in a mathematical, scientific, engineering, economics or computer science discipline is preferable, as well as a solid understanding of mathematics and statistical principles.Meaningful academic or industrial work involving forecasting or probabilistic/statistical modelling is required. This includes experience blending data from different sources to explain historic behaviour and produce forward-looking predictions and scenarios.We particularly value experience in modelling risk or volatility, econometrics, or other types of modelling that support strategic, multi-year decision making. Experience in areas such as scenario modelling, uncertainty quantification, causal analysis, or long-range planning is a plus.Finally, strong programming skills are essential (Python is preferred) as well as familiarity with software engineering best practices (such as version control, unit testing and CI/CD) and big data and cloud technologies (PySpark preferred). Experience developing and deploying models in cloud environments is a strong advantage.Whats in it for you?We’re all about the little helps. That’s why we make sure our Tesco colleague benefits package takes care of you – both in and out of work. Click Here to find out more!Annual bonus scheme of up to 20% of base salary.Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day (plus Bank holidays).Private medical insurance.26 weeks maternity and adoption leave (12 months service required at the qualifying date) at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay, we also offer 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave.Free 24/7 virtual GP service, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for you and your family, free access to a range of experts to support your mental wellbeing.The above information is a shortened summary, refer to our policies for full detailsAbout UsYou might know us as a supermarket, technology company or even for our award-winning mobile network. Truth is, we’re all of those things, and much more. Our colleagues work with one goal in mind, helping to make every day a little better for our customers, colleagues and communities all over the world. No two customers are the same, neither are our colleagues.At Tesco, we champion a balance that lets you thrive both in and out of work. Spend 60% of your week collaborating with colleagues at our office locations or local sites and the rest remotely. Whether you're just kicking off your career, juggling passions, or navigating big life events, we're here to support you. We always welcome a conversation about flexible working, so talk to us throughout your application about how we can support.We're proud to be an accredited Disability Confident Leader, where everyone’s welcome. That’s why we commit to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you need support with your application, click here for more information. And if you're interested in joining our team but don't tick every box, don't let that hold you back from applying.When you join us in this role, you'll be employed by Tesco Stores Limited, the Tesco legal entity responsible for your employment.