Staff, Data Scientist – Conversational AI

Walmart Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A forward-thinking company is seeking passionate NLP data scientists to join their innovative Cortex Team. This role involves enhancing AI conversational platforms that deliver exceptional customer experiences through natural interactions. You'll work on cutting-edge technologies like NLU and deep learning models, contributing to a mission-critical product used by millions. With a hybrid work model, you'll enjoy the flexibility to collaborate effectively while driving impactful projects. If you're eager to explore and optimize AI solutions, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Competitive Pay

Performance Bonuses

401(k)

Stock Plans

Health Coverage

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Parental Leave

Qualifications

• Experience with classical ML models and evaluation metrics.
• Hands-on experience with NLU/NLP and deep learning models.

Responsibilities

• Enhance capabilities of AI conversational platform using NLU.
• Lead projects from scoping to deployment in a hybrid work environment.

Skills

Python

SQL

Natural Language Understanding (NLU)

Machine Learning (ML)

Deep Learning Models (Transformers, BERT)

Statistical Analysis

Data Quality Improvement

Project Management

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Machine Learning, CS, Engineering, Mathematics, or Statistics

PhD in relevant fields

Tools

ML-ops

Data Pipelines

Job description

Position Summary...

What you'll do...

The Cortex Team is Walmart's core AI conversational platform, aimed at delivering the world's best personal assistants to Walmart's customers. These assistants are accessible via natural voice commands, text messages, rich UI interactions, and multi-modal experiences.

We believe conversations are a natural and powerful user interface for interacting with technology, enabling richer customer experiences both online and in-store. We are developing next-generation Natural Language Understanding (NLU) services that are easy to integrate and leverage, creating experiences from voice and text shopping assistants (like Siri, Sparky), to customer care channels, and multi-modal mobile apps (Me@Walmart).

We are seeking passionate and experienced NLP data scientists to enhance our capabilities, considering full conversational context, multi-modal interactions, and expanding use cases. This is an opportunity to significantly impact the design, architecture, and implementation of an innovative, mission-critical product used daily by millions, loved by customers, and driven by data science.

As part of the emerging tech group, you will also have opportunities to build demos, proof of concepts, white papers, and blogs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience with Python and solid knowledge of SQL.
• Hands-on experience with classical ML models, evaluation metrics, and key parameters affecting model performance.
• Understanding of statistical measures such as confidence intervals and error significance, along with data set development and evaluation.
• Experience with NLU/NLP, deep ML models (Transformers, BERT, Llama, GPTs, Gemini), and safe fine-tuning of these models.
• Strong business analytical skills; ability to communicate insights clearly.
• Experience analyzing data for patterns, error analysis, and data quality improvements.
• Ability to lead projects from scoping to deployment.
• A drive to explore, improve, automate, and optimize models and products.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Bachelor's degree or certification in relevant fields such as Machine Learning, CS, Engineering, Mathematics, or Statistics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with real-world, production-grade agent systems.
• Knowledge of LLMs serving optimizations and multi-LoRa.
• Ability to develop experimental plans, use strong baselines, and analyze cause-effect relations.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Proven results in fast-paced, collaborative environments.
• Experience with data pipelines, model training, serving, ML-ops, and related technologies.
• PhD in relevant fields like Machine Learning, CS, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or Statistics.

About Walmart Global Tech

Join us at Walmart Global Tech, where a single line of code can improve lives worldwide. We are a diverse team of engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity experts, and service professionals driving the next retail disruption. We value innovation, inclusivity, and growth, offering roles for newcomers and seasoned professionals alike.

Work Environment & Benefits

We operate on a hybrid model combining in-office and virtual work to foster collaboration and flexibility. Benefits include competitive pay, performance bonuses, 401(k), stock plans, health coverage, PTO, parental leave, and more. We are committed to equal opportunity and inclusive culture.

For more information about benefits and PTO, visit One.Walmart.

Location

680 West California Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086-4834, USA