Lead Applied Data Scientist - Digital Item RecSys (applied ML, deep learning)
WFA Digital Insight
The demand for data scientists with expertise in machine learning and deep learning is skyrocketing, with a 25% growth in job postings in the past year alone. As companies like Target continue to invest heavily in personalized customer experiences, the need for skilled professionals who can develop and deploy scalable recommendation systems has never been greater. With the ability to work on complex projects that impact millions of customers, this role stands out in the current remote job market. Candidates should be prepared to showcase their technical expertise, as well as their ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and drive business results.
Job Description
About the Role
The Lead Applied Data Scientist role at Target is a unique opportunity to leverage machine learning and deep learning to drive personalized customer experiences. As a key member of the Target Data Sciences team, you will provide technical leadership for the development and deployment of digital item recommendations and personalization systems. Your work will have a direct impact on the customer experience, driving business results and shaping the future of Target's digital offerings.In this role, you will work closely with data scientists, engineers, product managers, and business stakeholders to identify opportunities to improve customer experiences through recommendation, retrieval, ranking, and personalization solutions. You will lead the design, development, evaluation, and deployment of machine learning models that influence how millions of customers discover products across Target's digital experiences.
The Target Data Sciences team is dedicated to developing and deploying state-of-the-art predictive algorithms that use data at scale to automate and optimize decisions. As a Lead Data Scientist, you will be responsible for driving projects from initial problem definition through production deployment and measurement, balancing innovation with operational excellence and long-term maintainability.
What You Will Do
- Provide technical leadership for the development and deployment of digital item recommendations and personalization systems
- Lead the design, development, evaluation, and deployment of machine learning models that influence customer experiences
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities to improve customer experiences
- Develop and maintain scalable and efficient algorithms for recommendation, retrieval, ranking, and personalization
- Work closely with data scientists, engineers, product managers, and business stakeholders to drive business results
- Lead the development and deployment of A/B testing and experimentation frameworks to measure the impact of recommendation and personalization systems
- Develop and maintain large-scale data pipelines and architectures to support machine learning model development and deployment
- Collaborate with the engineering team to deploy and maintain machine learning models in production
What We Are Looking For
- MS or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or Operations Research
- 5+ years of experience leading the development, evaluation, and deployment of machine learning solutions
- Strong programming skills in Python and SQL
- Experience with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or JAX
- Demonstrated experience building and scaling recommendation, personalization, ranking, retrieval, or search machine learning systems
- Strong understanding of machine learning and deep learning concepts, including supervised and unsupervised learning, neural networks, and natural language processing
Nice to Have
- Experience with modern AI and generative models
- Knowledge of cloud-based data platforms such as AWS or GCP
- Experience with containerization using Docker
- Familiarity with agile development methodologies
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- Opportunity to work on complex and impactful projects that drive business results
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment
- Professional development opportunities, including training and education programs
- Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options
- Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools
- Recognition and reward programs for outstanding performance
How to Stand Out
- Be prepared to showcase your technical expertise in machine learning and deep learning, including your experience with recommendation and personalization systems
- Highlight your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and drive business results
- Make sure your resume and online profiles are up-to-date and showcase your skills and experience
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with A/B testing and experimentation frameworks, as well as your understanding of machine learning and deep learning concepts
- Show enthusiasm for working on complex and impactful projects that drive business results
- Ask questions about the company culture and values, as well as the opportunities for professional development and growth
This is a remote position listed on WFA Digital, the platform for professionals who work from anywhere. Browse more remote jobs across all categories.