Staff Data Scientist

Why choose us? Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Join us for an exciting opportunity at Albertsons Companies, where innovation and customer service go hand-in-hand. Here, you’ll have the chance to lead, innovate, and contribute to the growth of a company that values great service and lasting customer relationships. This position offers a fast-paced, dynamic environment that’s constantly evolving.

About the role

Albertsons Companies is transforming how we operate from Source to Table—reimagining planning, ordering, inventory, and execution as a deeply connected, AI-enabled ecosystem. In this role, you will own the technical roadmap for an AI-native Data Science organization that builds the predictive, prescriptive, and agentic intelligence powering our next-generation supply chain and store execution platforms. The position will be based in Pleasanton, CA.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the overarching data science and AI architecture and technical strategy for a team of data scientists that will build data science and AI capabilities to optimize operations, processes, and capabilities in the Source to Table transformation area, including:
  • End-to-end demand forecasting
  • Inventory optimization to minimize out-of-stocks
  • Store and warehouse replenishment to minimize supply chain waste
  • Agentic AI frameworks to augment and automate planning and execution capabilities
• Hands-on design, implementation, and deployment of data science and AI models to convert multiple point solutions into connected data science and AI solutions at scale.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and AI technologies.
• Evaluate and implement new tools and technologies to enhance the data science architecture and continuously improve analytical capabilities.
• Drive innovation through research, experimentation, and prototyping.
• Build and scale "AI-native" components: models + agents + reasoning layers, including:
  • Core ML/optimization models (forecasting, bias correction, replenishment, shrink/markdown, execution signals)
  • Agentic AI frameworks that augment and automate planning and execution—human-in-the-loop where needed, autonomous where safe/valuable
  • LLM-powered explanation and decision support that translates outputs into natural language
• Lead partnerships with cross-functional teams, including product, engineering, and domain experts, to deliver analytical, predictive, and decision-support solutions for supply chain and fulfillment-related functions and capabilities.
• Interface with cross-functional leaders and represent data science perspectives to drive measurable success.
• Recruit, build, and lead high-performing teams of data scientists in a technical capacity.
• Inspire and deliver data science innovations that fuel business growth.
• Provide technical and thought leadership in data science and AI, guiding architectures, models, algorithms, and engineering best practices.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to the data science team.
• Use machine learning and AI to solve real customer problems and power next-generation experiences for large-scale applications in real time.
• Deliver breakthrough benefits to customers using personalized, enriched, and derived data from a range of sources.
• Drive meetings, lead discussions, and prioritize projects across the team to allocate resources and meet business goals.
• Communicate sophisticated machine learning and modeling solutions effectively with intuitive visualizations for business stakeholders.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in a STEM field (e.g., Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Statistics, Math) is preferred, or equivalent experience. PhD strongly preferred in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related quantitative field (or equivalent depth of research + applied production experience).
• 6+ years of industry experience, with 4+ years in applying data science: experimental design, machine learning, deep learning algorithms, operations research, applied mathematical optimization, etc., at scale.
• Proven track record of leading data science projects and teams to architect and deploy data science solutions at scale.
• Specific experience and skills in the retail and grocery industry are preferred, including supply chain optimization, merchandising and pricing, digital/ecommerce, fulfillment, and customer and marketing analytics using data science, AI, and machine learning tools.
• Product thinking and deep expertise in systems design.
• Understanding of how planning and operations connect with customer-related work from a data science perspective.
• Prior experience as a consultant and a service mindset for business transformation.
• Comfortable interacting with scientists, engineers, product teams, and business clients.
• Strong business acumen and retail understanding.
• Ability to set a vision for partners regarding the "art of the possible."
• Track record of guiding teams through unstructured technical problems to deliver business impact.
• Ability to translate high-level business objectives into actionable strategies.
• Skilled at running cross-functional relationships and communicating with leadership across multiple organizations.
• 5+ years of experience and proficiency in Python and SQL.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience building data science solutions and production-ready systems on big data platforms such as Snowflake, Spark, or Hadoop.
• 3+ years of experience with Data Engineering, MLOps, and Model Life Cycle Management.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to synthesize, simplify, and explain complex problems to diverse audiences.
• Experience with logistics and supply chain management systems, Snowflake, and Azure Databricks is a plus.

Skills

• Machine learning
• Deep learning
• Applied Optimization, Operations Research
• Python
• SQL
• AI/machine learning tools (Databricks, Vertex AI, etc.)
• Systems design
• Analytics across functions
• Data Science team leadership (5+ years)
• Strong cross-functional relationship management and executive communication skills

Skills Preferred

• Big data platforms (Snowflake, Spark, Hadoop)
• Data Engineering
• MLOps
• Model Life Cycle Management
• Experimental design
• Strategic retail and grocery analytics expertise

Benefits

• Competitive wages paid weekly
• Access to up to 50% of your earned wages before payday via our partnership with Stream
• Associate discounts
• Health and financial well-being benefits for eligible associates (Medical, Dental, 401k, and more)
• Time off (vacation, holidays, sick pay)
• Leaders invested in your training, career growth, and development
• An inclusive work environment with talented colleagues who reflect the communities we serve