Lead Operations Research Scientist

Target Target · Retail · Bangalore, India

Lead Operations Research Scientist at Target, focusing on supply chain network optimization. This role involves developing and applying advanced operations research techniques, AI, and machine learning to solve complex business challenges, including simulations, scenario analyses, and optimization methods. Requires strong programming skills (Python, PySpark, R, SQL), experience with large datasets, and working with LLMs and modern ML frameworks. The role emphasizes stakeholder engagement, problem framing, data analysis, and effective communication of insights.

What you'd actually do

  1. Actively engaging with cross-functional stakeholders to understand and frame business problems.
  2. Building a deep understanding of problem complexity, addressing both breadth and depth.
  3. Finding, gathering, analyzing, and processing large data sets efficiently by developing robust and scalable programs.
  4. Developing and applying advanced operations research techniques, AI, and machine learning to solve business challenges.
  5. Running complex simulations, conducting scenario analyses, and employing optimization methods.

Skills

Required

  • 8+ years of professional experience with a bachelor’s or master’s degree (5+ years for a PhD) in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science or a related field.
  • 4+ years of experience with programming in Python, PySpark, R, SQL and open-source data science tools.
  • 4+ years of experience applying advanced data science and operations research techniques.
  • Hands on experience with AI and machine learning, including working with large language models and modern ML frameworks.
  • Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to address business challenges creatively.
  • Skilled in cleaning, transforming, and analyzing large datasets to generate insights.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

Nice to have

  • Retail and supply chain experience is a plus.
  • Team-oriented with the ability to collaborate effectively across locations and time zones.

What the JD emphasized

  • advanced operations research techniques
  • AI
  • machine learning
  • large data sets
  • advanced programming skills
  • statistics
  • probability theory
  • simulations
  • operations research
  • large language models
  • modern ML frameworks
  • large datasets
  • advanced data science and operations research techniques

Other signals

  • operations research
  • machine learning
  • AI
  • simulations
  • optimization