Principal Full-Stack Data Scientist - Foundational Models

Ladders; United States; Remote; USD 200,000 - 237,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Inclusive culture

Growth opportunities

Flexible work environment

Impact in retail tech

Job summary

Ladders is seeking a Principal Full-Stack Data Scientist focused on Foundational Models to advance personalization and recommendations at scale. You will own end-to-end ML work from problem framing to deployment, partnering with cross-functional teams to translate behavioral data into scalable, high-impact solutions.

This role is remote for US-based candidates only, with a compensation range of $200,000 to $237,000 annually.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field; Master's or PhD preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in machine learning solutions, particularly in personalization.
• Experience with large-scale datasets using SQL and distributed technologies like Spark.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop machine learning models to enhance personalization and recommendations.
• Advance foundational modeling capabilities such as client representations and recommendation models.
• Explore and implement advanced ML techniques, including deep learning and generative approaches.
• Manage the full ML lifecycle from problem formulation to deployment and monitoring.
• Conduct rigorous evaluations and experiments to assess model performance and impact.
• Utilize large-scale behavioral datasets with Python, SQL, and distributed tools.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate needs into foundational ML capabilities.

Skills

Python

SQL

Distributed computing

Deep learning

A/B testing

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Apache Spark

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Principal Full-Stack Data Scientist - Foundational Models to join the team of a leader in the Retail & Consumer Goods space.

This role will shape advanced machine learning capabilities that improve personalization and recommendation experiences at scale. You will own the development of foundational modeling approaches, from problem framing and experimentation through deployment and monitoring. The position partners closely with cross-functional teams to turn large-scale behavioral data into practical, high-impact ML solutions that support both technical and business outcomes.

Location: Remote - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $200,000 – $237,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Design and develop machine learning models to enhance personalization and recommendations
• Advance foundational modeling capabilities such as client representations and recommendation models
• Explore and implement advanced ML techniques, including deep learning and generative approaches
• Manage the full ML lifecycle from problem formulation to deployment and monitoring
• Conduct rigorous evaluations and experiments to assess model performance and impact
• Utilize large-scale behavioral datasets with Python, SQL, and distributed tools
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate needs into foundational ML capabilities

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field; Master's or PhD preferred
• 8+ years of experience in machine learning solutions, particularly in personalization
• Proficiency in architecting technical solutions and writing production-grade Python code
• Experience with large-scale datasets using SQL and distributed technologies like Spark
• Familiarity with deep-learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
• Strong understanding of model evaluation techniques, including A/B testing
• Excellent communication skills for conveying complex concepts to diverse audiences

Benefits

• Collaborative and innovative work environment with a focus on integrity and trust
• Diverse perspectives are valued, fostering an inclusive community
• Opportunities to disrupt the retail industry through fashion and technology
• Strong team culture that celebrates grit and relationships
• Commitment to equity and sustainability in all operations
• Ownership of work with a growth mindset to solve problems
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.