A quick note: This role is posted within the Marketing job family for internal system reasons, but the position itself sits in our central Data Science Hub (Data & Analytics). You’ll work on cross‑functional, high‑impact data science projects across areas including pricing, digital, retail, commercial—not marketing delivery.
 

What you'll do

As a Data Scientist and member of our Data Science team, you will play a pivotal role in developing in-house data science solutions that automate decision-making and provide valuable insights across our business. Working in cross-functional agile squads, you will contribute to the design and development of our data science products. You will deliver high-quality analyses that guide future development work and contribute to the team's continuous learning and upskilling efforts.

Why join us

• Wide impact. Deploying models here means improving the experience of millions of customers each day.
• Range of projects. Our projects vary from supply chain optimisation for Argos, predicting which substitution products online shoppers prefer, to helping our Sainsburys colleagues keep shelves full.
• Focus on data science work. Access to extensive, clean, and well-documented data in our industry-leading platform: spend your time building data science solutions, not cleaning datasets.
• Time for growth. 10% of time set aside for learning & personal development
• Learning and mentoring. With a team of 50 data scientists, engineers and product managers, there are lots of opportunities to learn from colleagues through knowledge shares, pair programming, and communities of practice.
• Flexible working. Our team prioritizes hybrid working, both at home and in our central London Farringdon office .
• Save on groceries. 10% discount on products across Sainsburys and Argos (Up to 15% for two days each week!)
   

Join us and be part of a team that encourages innovation, values your expertise, and prioritises work-life balance while delivering exceptional results.

What you need to excel in this role:

Essential:

• Educated to degree level, preferably within a mathematical, statistical or STEM discipline
• Proven track record of using Python and SQL to deliver complex ML solutions in a corporate environment or substantial relevant academic experience.
• You are familiar with software engineering best practises and can utilise them to produce code that passes an engineering code review.
• Strong presentation skills and business acumen: you regularly receive positive feedback about your ability to explain complex topics to non-technical audiences
• You feel comfortable working independently to achieve results using your own guidance and initiative.
• Strong statistical foundation in concepts such as regression, hypothesis testing and experimental design. 
• Experience getting the best out of sklearn and tree-based models. 
• Highly proficient in Git best practices.

Desirable:

• A relevant Post-graduate degree (Masters or PhD) within a mathematical, statistical or other STEM discipline.
• Experience delivering value on ML projects in retail (in areas such as price elasticity or differential pricing) or supply chain (demand forecasting, optimisation)
• Experience using ML with mathematical optimisation.
• Experience working with and applying causal inference.
• Experience working with and deploying Graphical Neural Networks [GNNs] in industry.
• Experience working within in a cross functional team.

Some of the other benefits Sainsburys provide:

• 25 days holiday per year, with the option to buy up to an additional weeks holiday
• Up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.
• Up to 10% bonus based on performance.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Heath cash plan
• Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).

#LI-CM1