Principal Data Scientist

This role supports Target’s ambitious digital transformation journey by building scalable data science products. The principal in this role will lead data driven analytics and build decision support tools to help business teams make profitable decisions. It involves utilizing mathematical techniques and tools like Mixed Integer Linear Programming, decision trees, clustering, regression, Monte Carlo Simulation etc. This role requires one to leverage modern technologies and platforms like SPARK, Scala and Python to build production grade systems. This role will also involve Interfacing with Lead & Sr. Data Scientists within Target and in academia to develop algorithms that solve digital problems and create joyful guest experiences.

As a Principal Data Scientist with Target, this role will develop Machine Learning models and algorithms that change the game in our retail data business. You’ll work closely with Lead & Sr. Data Scientists and business partners to continuously learn more about our business and particularly develop a deep understanding of the various processes we have in play. You will partner with ML Engineers and Scientists on peer teams to build and productionize solutions for our business needs including design, development, deployment, and maintenance of algorithms and models.

Our team oversees the creation and development of digital platform including fulfilment channel attribution, bot traffic, and guest level attribution related to the interactions with Target’s touchpoints, building the key components which allow the business to make decisions embedded in Science. We aim to develop these tools to be more efficient, precise and scalable, whilst also making them directly available to our business team users.

In this role as a Principal Data Scientist on the Digital & Guest team, you will:

- Influence choice of data science algorithms and compute architecture by writing detailed technical narratives.
- Execute solutions to business problems using data analysis, data mining, optimization, machine learning techniques, and statistics
- Anticipate and evaluate impact of analytical solutions on related projects as part of the developing complex analytical algorithm/solutions for various business problems
- Execute large scale models using Monte Carlo Simulation, Mixed Integer Linear Programming, Reinforcement Learning etc.
- Stays current with analytical advancements and provide thought leadership in choosing the right algorithm for solving a given business problem.
- Collaborate with engineering teams so that the data science products are embedded in production systems.
- Understands interrelationships and impacts of data and technology upon the Target environment
- Impact our business by improving our ability to serve our Guests and by directly reducing compute cost through more efficient algorithms.
- Coordinate the analysis, troubleshooting, and resolution of issues in our software and the broader infrastructure.

**What we're looking for**:

- M.S./Ph.D. in mathematics, statistics, operations research, economics, physics, computer science or related major (or equivalent research experience)
- 7+ years of experience in modeling and algorithms
- Significant expertise in attribution, linear algebra, statistics, information theory, econometrics, time series modeling, esp. in statistical inference, generalized linear models, Markov decision processes
- Highly proficient in Python, Scala, Kotlin and/or JVM ecosystem
- Deep understanding of data structures and algorithms
- Ability to test and measure algorithms/models
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills

**Bonus Points**:

- Experience in machine learning, artificial intelligence, optimization algorithms
- You have deployed models with large-scale business impact in commercial setting
- Strong understanding of deep learning, dynamic programming, reinforcement learning or related areas both in theory and practice

Qualifications: