Sr Applied Data Scientist - Supply Chain Optimization

Target; Sunnyvale (CA); Hybrid; USD 98,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k)

Job summary

Target Data Science – Global Supply Chain and Logistics team leverages operations research, simulation and machine learning to optimize decisions at scale. This Sr Data Scientist – Supply Chain develops predictive and prescriptive models and collaborates with engineers to deploy them at scale.

You will work in a startup-like environment within Target's resources, with Sunnyvale HQ involvement and flexible onsite/remote days.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS in a quantitative field.
• 3+ years leading large-scale optimization, simulation, ML projects.
• Extensive Python coding and deployment experience.
• Expert in mathematical modeling: MIP, stochastic DP, reinforcement learning.
• Experience with regression, clustering, time-series forecasting.
• Proficient in SQL/Hive data handling.
• Ability to clearly communicate data-driven insights.
• Self-driven with strong ownership.

Responsibilities

• Develop and iterate optimization and ML algorithms.
• Collaborate with engineers to deploy production-grade models.
• Work with business partners to understand retail processes.
• Improve standards, tooling, and processes.

Skills

Supply chain optimization

Clean, efficient code

Data storytelling

Ambiguity handling

Strong communication

Collaboration

Education

PhD or MS in Industrial Engineering

MS in Operations Research

MS/PhD in Computer Science

Job description

The pay range is $98,000.00 - $211,000.00

Pay is based on several factors which vary based on position. These include labor markets and in some instances may include education, work experience and certifications. In addition to your pay, Target cares about and invests in you as a team member, so that you can take care of yourself and your family.

Target offers eligible team members and their dependents comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more, to help you and your family take care of your whole selves.

Other benefits for eligible team members include 401(k), employee discount, short term disability, long term disability, paid sick leave, paid national holidays, and paid vacation.

Find competitive benefits from financial and education to well-being and beyond at https://corporate.target.com/careers/benefits.

JOIN TARGET AS SR DATA SCIENTIST – SUPPLY CHAIN

About Us

Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We bring that vision to life through our values and culture. Learn more about Target here.

A role with TargetData Sciences means the chance to help develop and manage the state of the art predictive and prescriptive algorithms that use data to automate and optimize decisions at scale. The Target Data Science – Global Supply Chain and Logistics team leverages operations research, simulation and machine learning to help Target makes intelligent, end-to-end supply chain business decisions. This involves writing high performant, scalable Python code as well as designing analytical solutions to extract insights and to prescribe best courses of action.

You’ll work in an environment that provides the freedom and agility of a startup - with the security and vast resources of a large established company with continuous learning opportunities provided.

In this role at Target as a Sr Data Scientist – Supply Chain you will:

• Work closely with fellow data scientists to review and iterate on optimization and machine learning algorithms and develop state of the art mathematical models
• Collaborate with engineers to design and deploy algorithms in production at scale. Our models run many times a day for millions of combinations of stock keeping units and distribution networks
• Work with business partners to learn about the retail business and processes in play
• Ideate and resolve tradeoffs between model granularity and features as well as performance, reliability, and usability of our codebase. Improve engineering standards, tooling, and processes

What We’re Looking For

• Strong knowledge of supply chain optimization – inventory, transportation, sourcing, distribution, fulfillment, planning, etc.
• Strong computer science fundamentals with rock-solid, well-structured and efficient code: data structures, design, algorithms, programming and information retrieval
• Strong technical and communication skills to deliver with quality and evangelize technical solutions to business, product and engineering partners
• Ability to write understandable, testable code with an eye towards maintainability
• You constantly think about the end-user for solutions you develop, and prioritize business impact over technical sophistication
• Ability to deal with ambiguity, and prioritize progress over perfection
• You have an eye for detail, and relentless curiosity for supply chain problems
• You have a knack for answering open questions with data
• You understand that simplicity is hard but key to achieving maintainability and to being able to continually deliver value to the business

Core responsibilities of this job are described within this job description. Job duties may change at any time due to business needs.

About You

• PhD or MS in Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Physics or related quantitative fields
• 3+ years of experience leading large-scale implementations of optimization, simulation, machine learning and deep learning at scale
• Extensive experience writing highly performant Python code and deploying algorithms in a production environment. Proficient in predictive and prescriptive algorithms
• Expert at formulating and implementing mathematical models ranging from mixed-integer programming, stochastic dynamic programming and reinforcement learning
• Experience in implementing advanced statistical techniques like regression, clustering, PCA, time series forecasting, etc.
• Proficient in application/software architecture (definition, process modeling, etc.)
• Experience writing production datasets in SQL/Hive or building internal/production data tools for research or experimentation in a scripting language like Python
• Able to produce reasonable documents and narratives suggesting actionable insights
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to clearly tell data driven stories through appropriate visualizations, graphs, and narratives
• Self-driven and results-oriented, with strong ownership, sound judgment and the ability to move quickly while maintaining high technical standards
• Collaborative team player with a commitment to continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and building reliable AI systems that create business value

This position will operate as a Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement based on Target’s needs. A Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement means the team member’s core role will need to be performed both onsite at the Target HQ Sunnyvale location the role is assigned to, and virtually, depending upon what your role, team and tasks require for that day. Work duties cannot be performed outside of the country of the primary work location, unless otherwise prescribed by Target.

Target will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the San Francisco and City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinances.

Benefits Eligibility

Please paste this url into your preferred browser to learn about benefits eligibility for this role: https://tgt.biz/BenefitsForYou_D

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

In compliance with state and federal laws, Target will make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please reach out to [e-mail]. Non-accommodation-related requests, such as application follow-ups or technical issues, will not be addressed through this channel.

Application deadline is : 11/26/2026