Sr Data Scientist (Operations Research)

General Mills, Inc; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 111,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

General Mills, a world-leading food company, is seeking a Senior Data Scientist in Minnesota to push optimization, ML, and data-driven decision making. You will translate business needs into analytical solutions and build scalable models that support product decisions.

Collaborate with AI engineers, product owners, and partners to design frameworks, deploy production models, and monitor performance. Strong SQL and Python skills and experience with large-scale analytics are required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in data science, decision sciences, OR, or related field; PhD may count for 3+ years.
• Master's or PhD in a quantitative field as listed.
• Strong SQL and Python proficiency with understanding of large datasets.
• Experience in optimization, ML, and data visualization.
• Strong analytical judgment and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop optimization models with product teams and stakeholders.
• Provide data science leadership within a product team and roadmap.
• Design modeling frameworks for deterministic and combinatorial optimization and ML.
• Build scalable OR models that deliver real-time insights.
• Evaluate emerging technologies balancing effort, quality, and value.
• Monitor model performance and communicate results to partners.
• Frame business needs as analytical problems and deliver actionable solutions.
• Advocate for data-driven decision-making and education.
• Identify long-term DS processes, tools, and standards.
• Collaborate with other Data Scientists and share feedback.

Skills

Data science

Optimization

Machine learning

Data visualization

SQL

Python

Communication

Collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Master's or PhD in operations research, industrial engineering, computer science, or related field

Tools

SQL

Python

Job description

COMPANY OVERVIEW

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best - bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one another and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what's next.

At General Mills, data helps us make better decisions and create food people love. As a Senior Data Scientist, you will work on challenging, large-scale projects with significant business impact. You will challenge historical assumptions, translate business needs into analytical solutions, and recommend new ways to drive action through data-driven insights.

In this role, you will apply expertise in optimization, simulation, machine learning, and information retrieval to design, prototype, and build next-generation advanced analytics engines and services. You will collaborate with product owners, business partners, AI engineers, and other Data Scientists to define technical problem statements, test hypotheses, and develop efficient, accurate analytical models that support business decisions.

What You'll Do

• Partner with data science leadership, AI engineering, business partners, and product owners to develop optimization models using leading tools and technologies.
• Provide data science leadership within a product team through strong partnership, actionable insights, and strategic and tactical technical roadmap recommendations.
• Design and develop modeling frameworks and architectures for deterministic and combinatorial optimization, advanced machine learning, and other complex business problems.
• Build production-ready, reusable, large-scale or scalable operations research models that deliver real-time insights and align with General Mills technology standards.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend solutions that balance effort, quality, scalability, and business value.
• Monitor and improve model performance, optimality, recommendation quality, and other relevant metrics, incorporating feedback from business partners.
• Apply critical thinking to frame business needs as statistical or analytical problems and develop solutions that balance technical completeness, complexity, and timely value delivery.
• Clearly communicate the why and how behind recommendations to build trust and understanding in analytical solutions.
• Advocate for and educate others on the value of data-driven decision-making and analytical methods.
• Identify and develop long-term data science processes, frameworks, tools, and standards.
• Collaborate with other Data Scientists by asking questions, engaging in shared problem-solving, and actively soliciting and providing feedback.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience working in data science, decision sciences, operations research, or a closely related quantitative field; 3+ years may be considered for candidates with a PhD.
• Master's or PhD degree in operations research, industrial engineering, computer science, or a closely related quantitative field.
• Strong proficiency in SQL and Python, with a solid understanding of complex databases.
• Experience with large-scale optimization, machine learning, and data visualization.
• Strong quantitative and analytical judgment, including the ability to identify questionable data, investigate root causes, and develop practical solutions.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to understand customer needs and deliver solutions aligned with business priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Applied experience in business operations, commercial functions, or a related business area.

Additional Considerations

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. General Mills will not sponsor applicants for a U.S. work visa.

SALARY RANGE

The salary range for this position is:

$110,800 - $184,800 Annual

At General Mills we strive for each employee's pay at any point in their career to reflect their experiences performance and skills for their current role. The salary range for this role represents the numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, educations, skills, work experience, certifications, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.

Beyond base salary, General Mills offers a competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well-being. We are proud to offer a foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial wellbeing, time off programs, wellbeing support and perks. Benefits may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors. You may also be eligible to participate in an annual incentive program. An incentive award, if any, depends on various factors, including, individual and organizational performance.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must meet a minimum 18-year age qualification.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER (EOE)

General Mills is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital or familial status, status regarding public assistance, or membership or activity in a local human rights commission.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST

If you need to request an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please fill out our online accommodation request form by following this link: Accommodation Request.