Principal AI/ML Applied Scientist

About the role

The Enterprise Data & AI organization is a strategic and operational driver of growth for lululemon, owning and building the data and AI platforms and services that enable the enterprise to operate with intelligence at scale. The team leads the design and delivery of a trusted unified data foundation, AI-driven data analytics and insights, and AI solutions across lululemon’s vertically integrated retail ecosystem, while embedding strong data governance and responsible AI practices from the very beginning. By applying AI to critical business challenges and creating new, transformative AI solutions, the team helps reshape how lululemon operates. Through deep partnership with product, technology, and business teams, Enterprise Data & AI accelerates product innovation, unlocks measurable value, elevates guest and educator experiences, and drives enterprise efficiency.

Core responsibilities

• Define enterprise AI/ML strategy and solution vision for key use-cases, aligning investments to business priorities and shaping AI as a core organizational capability and competitive differentiator
• Lead research and design of AI/ML approaches for highly complex business problems
• Advance AI/ML methodologies and solution frameworks that accelerate time-to-value, improve scalability and re-use, and enable repeatable success across teams
• Drive innovation by extending state-of-the-art techniques, conducting original research, and inventing novel approaches that extend organizational capability
• Influence and mentor senior technical leaders, elevating organizational capability in applied AI/ML and fostering a culture of technical excellence and innovation
• Partner with executive stakeholders to identify high-impact opportunities, define success metrics, and ensure AI/ML investments deliver measurable business value and ROI
• Establish enterprise experimentation and validation standards that connect model performance to business outcomes and strategic decision-making

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, engineering, or related technical field, or equivalent experience; PhD preferred
• 11–15 years of AI/ML research experience in industry or equivalent academic experience
• Demonstrated ability to define enterprise-level AI/ML solutions for previously unsolved problems, and influence executive decision-making on technology direction and investment
• Proven track record of architecting and delivering large-scale, complex AI/ML systems across multiple domains with significant organizational impact
• Deep expertise in advanced AI/ML approaches, including areas such as generative AI, NLP, computer vision, multimodal learning, or time-series modeling, and ability to translate research into production systems
• Strong experience partnering with senior business and technology leaders to align AI initiatives with strategic goals and measurable outcomes
• Expert-level experience with modern ML tools and ecosystems (e.g., Python, PyTorch, cloud ML platforms, distributed training/inference systems, and scalable data pipelines)
• Strong understanding of production AI systems, evaluation frameworks, and responsible AI considerations

Must haves

• Acknowledge the presence of choice in every moment and take personal responsibility for your life.
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovate to achieve great results.
• Communicate with honesty and kindness and create the space for others to do the same.
• Lead with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure.
• Foster connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships.
• Integrate fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn’t take yourself too seriously.

Additional notes

Please note: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visa at this time for this role.

Compensation and benefits package:

• lululemon’s compensation offerings are grounded in a pay-for-performance philosophy that recognizes exceptional individual and team performance. The typical hiring range for this position is from $266,720 - $350,070 annually; the base pay offered is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity. As part of our total rewards offering, permanent employees in this position may be eligible for our competitive annual bonus program and equity offerings, subject to program eligibility requirements.
• At lululemon, investing in our people is a top priority. We believe that when life works, work works. We strive to be the place where inclusive leaders come to develop and enable all to be well. Recognizing our teams for their performance and dedication, other components of our total rewards offerings include support of career development, wellbeing, and personal growth:
• Extended health and dental benefits, and mental health plans
• Paid time off
• Savings and retirement plan matching
• Generous employee discount
• Fitness & yoga classes
• Parenthood top-up
• Extensive catalog of development course offerings
• People networks, mentorship programs, and leadership series (to name a few)

Note: The incentive programs, benefits, and perks have certain eligibility requirements. The Company reserves the right to alter these incentive programs, benefits, and perks in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.

Workplace arrangement

In-person collaboration and connection is important to our culture. Work is performed onsite, minimum 4 days per week.

Notes

• Only those applicants under consideration will be contacted. Please accept our utmost appreciation for your interest.
• Lululemon is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs, and not on race, color, creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions or any other classification protected by federal, state or provincial and local laws and ordinances. Reasonable accommodation is available for qualified individuals with disabilities, upon request.
• This Equal Employment Opportunity policy applies to all practices relating to recruitment and hiring, compensation, benefits, discipline, transfer, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment. While management is primarily responsible for seeing that Lululemon equal employment opportunity policies are implemented, you share in the responsibility for assuring that, by your personal actions, the policies are effective.
• Lululemon is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you would like someone from our team to contact you for individualized support, email us at accommodations@lululemon.com. In your email, please include the position title, the location of the position and the nature of your request.
• The use of AI tools, including but not limited to ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, DeepSeek, or any other AI-assisted software, is strictly prohibited during the interview process. This includes, AI-generated responses, content creation, or any form of automated assistance in live interviews, case studies, technical assessments, or written submissions.