Expert Data Scientists, Conversational AI

Walmart; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 143,000 - 286,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock

401(k) match

Paid time off

Health plans

Job summary

Walmart is seeking a Principal or Distinguished Data Scientist to define strategy and system-level architecture for agent-led decision systems, generative media foundations, and conversational AI evaluation at scale.

You will shape long-term AI roadmaps, lead architectural decisions, and influence senior leaders while shaping standards and contributing to open-source and publications.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience building and deploying advanced ML/AI systems at scale.
• Architecture ownership for LLMs, agentic systems, or generative platforms.
• Ability to translate ambiguous goals into long-term technical strategy.
• Proven production impact and technical leadership.
• External credibility through publications, patents, or open-source work.

Responsibilities

• Shape the long-term vision for AI systems and platforms.
• Lead architectural decisions across agentic systems, evaluation, and generative platforms.
• Advise directors and senior leaders, influencing strategy at the highest level.
• Establish standards, frameworks, and best practices to guide teams.
• Showcase leadership externally through publications and open-source contributions.

Skills

LLM architecture

Agentic systems

Generative platforms

Technical leadership

Publications

Strategic planning

Education

PhD in ML/CS

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Spark

Scala

Job description

Position Summary...

What you'll do...

As part of the Emerging Tech team, this role sits at the forefront of how AI shifts from reactive to proactive by moving from simply answering questions to anticipating customer needs. As a Distinguished or Principal Data Scientist, you will define strategy and system level architecture across agent-led decision systems, generative media foundations, and conversational AI evaluation. Your work powers intelligent agents that guide and elevate how customers shop at Walmart at massive scale.

* Immigration Sponsorship is not available in this role

About Emerging Tech

Our Emerging Tech team drives Walmart’s AI transformation by building intelligent systems that influence how millions shop every day across our global retail ecosystem. We develop state-of-the‑art generative and conversational AI that powers more proactive, connected, and personalized experiences. At this scale, every innovation you create not only reaches millions of customers worldwide but also comes to life in the very communities where you live, work, and shop.

As a Principal or Distinguished Data Scientist you will:

• Shape the long-term vision for AI systems and platforms, setting the direction for what’s next.
• Lead architectural decisions across key areas like agentic systems, evaluation, and generative platforms.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to directors and senior leaders, influencing strategy at the highest level.
• Establish standards, frameworks, and best practices that guide teams toward excellence.
• Showcase technical leadership externally through publications, patents, open‑source contributions, and thought leadership.

Experience we are looking for:

• 10+ years of experience building and deploying advanced ML and AI systems at scale
• Proven track record of owning architecture‑level decisions for LLMs, agentic systems, evaluation frameworks, or generative platforms
• Deep expertise in one domain with the ability to influence adjacent areas
• Experience turning ambiguous product or business goals into clear, long‑term technical strategies
• A strong record of production impact and technical leadership
• External credibility through publications, patents, open‑source contributions, speaking engagements, or similar achievements

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 experts 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.

Walmart’s culture is a competitive advantage, and its fostered by being together. Working together in person allows us to collaborate, align quickly and innovate with greater speed. We use our campuses to create purposeful connection rooted in deepening understanding and investing in the development of our associates.

Our hubs: Walmart is a global company with offices across the United States and around the world. Our global headquarters is in Bentonville, Arkansas, with primary hubs in the San Francisco Bay area and New York/New Jersey.

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 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. 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 (https://one.walmart.com/).

Sunnyvale, California US-11656: The annual salary range for this position is $143,000.00 - $286,000.00

Bellevue, Washington US-11663: The annual salary range for this position is $132,000.00 - $264,000.00 Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include :

• Stock

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 5 years' experience in an analytics related field. Option 2: Masters degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or related field and 3 years' experience in an analytics related field. Option 3: 7 years' experience in an analytics or related field

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, Publications or active peer reviewer in related journals or conference, 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...

1375 Crossman Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1114, United States of America

Walmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug‑free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.

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, abilities, ideas and opinions- while being inclusive of all people.