Senior Data Science Lead — ML, NLP & Strategy

CarMax Business Services; United States; On-site; USD 139,000 - 222,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid sick leave

Vacation time

Holiday pay

Benefits portal

Job summary

CarMax Technology Innovation Center in Richmond, VA is seeking a Technical Leader to drive predictive Customer Progression models and oversee the full data science lifecycle from design to deployment. You will analyze large datasets, collaborate with Product, Operations, Strategy, and Data Engineering, and mentor a team of data scientists.

The role emphasizes hands-on NLP preferences and strong communication to influence strategic outcomes.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in Python or similar languages for large-scale data analysis.
• Machine learning, statistical modeling, and data mining techniques.
• Working with data lakes, cloud platforms, and relational databases (SQL).
• Strong analytical mindset with a proven track record of delivering insights and strategic impact.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated project management skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Experience mentoring or developing team members.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and enhancement of predictive Customer Progression models.
• Apply full model lifecycle: design, training, evaluation, validation, deployment, and monitoring.
• Analyze large-scale, complex datasets to generate actionable insights.
• Collaborate with Product, Operations, Strategy, and Data Engineering to develop new use cases for data-driven products.
• Communicate insights, model outcomes, and opportunities clearly to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Influence business strategy through data-driven recommendations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of data scientists.
• Promote best practices in analytics, modeling, and experimentation.
• Manage and prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Foster both technical and professional growth within the team.

Skills

Python

ML & Modeling

SQL

Data lakes/cloud

Communication

Project management

Mentoring

Education

Master’s or Ph.D. in a quantitative field

Job description

CarMax Technology Innovation Center in Richmond, VA is seeking a Technical Leader to drive predictive Customer Progression models and oversee the full data science lifecycle from design to deployment. You will analyze large datasets, collaborate with Product, Operations, Strategy, and Data Engineering, and mentor a team of data scientists.

The role emphasizes hands-on NLP preferences and strong communication to influence strategic outcomes.