Principal, Data Analyst

at Walmart · Retail · Bentonville, AR

This role focuses on applying AI and LLM capabilities to enhance existing analytics workflows and deliver practical solutions. The Principal Data Analyst will lead AI-enabled analytics initiatives, develop modern analytical solutions using Python, SQL, and AI-assisted tools, and build lightweight web applications to operationalize insights. They will also serve as a coach and advisor to other analysts, bridging business questions with advanced techniques and promoting the adoption of AI-augmented analytics practices.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead AI‑enabled analytics initiatives end‑to‑end
  2. Develop modern analytical solutions
  3. Build and deploy lightweight web applications
  4. Advise on the use of AI, ML, and LLM capabilities
  5. Advance analytics through AI augmentation

Skills

Required

  • Python and SQL for analytics, modeling, and solution development
  • Translating ambiguous business problems into structured analytical and technical solutions
  • Hands-on experience using AI-assisted development tools
  • Experience building end-to-end analytical solutions
  • Communicate complex analytical and AI-driven concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders

Nice to have

  • Building and deploying web applications
  • Integrating machine learning pipelines or background models into analytical products
  • Exposure to LLMs, chat interfaces, or AI-assisted reporting
  • Operationalizing analytics through automation, services, or internal tools
  • Familiarity with cloud or internal platforms used for deploying analytical applications
  • Retail, supply chain, operations, or eCommerce analytics experience

What the JD emphasized

  • bridge business questions and advanced techniques
  • hands‑on mentor and trusted advisor
  • using AI to fundamentally improve how analytics is done
  • AI‑assisted development tools
  • end‑to‑end analytical solutions

Other signals

  • AI-enabled analytics initiatives
  • incorporate machine learning or LLM based components
  • AI augmentation
  • AI tools and modern development practices
Read full job description

Position Summary...

What you'll do...

Position Summary...

Decision Sciences builds a digital understanding of Walmart’s operations and turns data into insight and action at scale. As the analytics landscape rapidly evolves from traditional descriptive analysis to AI powered decision intelligence, our team is investing in modern tools, methods, and ways of working to amplify impact.

As a Principal Data Analyst – AI Enabled Analytics, you will operate as a senior individual contributor and technical thought leader, helping shape how AI is applied across analytics workflows—from problem formulation to insight delivery. This role is ideal for a hands on analytics professional who not only applies advanced analytics and AI, but also builds practical solutions, advises others, and elevates the team’s overall capability.

You will design and implement AI enabled analytical solutions, develop lightweight web applications and tools, and incorporate machine learning or LLM based components where they meaningfully improve speed, scale, or decision quality. Just as importantly, you will coach and partner with other analysts, helping transition the organization from traditional analytics toward modern, AI augmented analytics practices.

What You’ll Do

  • Lead AI‑enabled analytics initiatives end‑to‑end Own problem framing, solution design, development, and delivery for complex, ambiguous business challenges.

  • Develop modern analytical solutions Build reusable, scalable solutions using Python, SQL, and modern AI‑assisted development tools (e.g., Cursor, GitHub Copilot, or internal AI platforms).

  • Build and deploy lightweight web applications Design, develop, and deploy web apps or interactive analytic tools (e.g., dashboards, decision tools, internal utilities) that operationalize analytics and insights.

  • Advise on the use of AI, ML, and LLM capabilities Serve as a translational leader who can bridge business questions and advanced techniques—recognizing opportunities for machine learning or LLM‑enabled components, framing requirements, and partnering with experts to integrate these capabilities into analytics and reporting solutions.

  • Advance analytics through AI augmentation Move beyond static reporting by enabling AI‑driven exploration, narrative generation, decision support, and automation.

  • Serve as an advisor and coach Partner closely with other analysts, acting as a hands‑on mentor and trusted advisor, helping the broader team adopt AI tools and modern development practices responsibly and effectively.

  • Translate complexity into clarity Communicate insights and solutions clearly to senior business and technology leaders, focusing on outcomes, value, and decision impact.

This role does not include people management, but carries significant ownership, influence, and technical leadership expectations.

You’ll Sweep Us Off Our Feet If You…

  • Are passionate about using AI to fundamentally improve how analytics is done

  • Balance experimentation with pragmatism, focusing on real business value

  • Enjoy building things—not just analyses, but tools, apps, and solutions

  • Elevate those around you through coaching, examples, and shared standards

  • Thrive in ambiguity and enjoy tackling problems without predefined answers

You know… (Must-Have Skills)

  • Advanced proficiency in Python and SQL for analytics, modeling, and solution development

  • Strong experience translating ambiguous business problems into structured analytical and technical solutions

  • Hands‑on experience using AI‑assisted development tools (e.g., Cursor, GitHub Copilot, or similar)

  • Experience building end‑to‑end analytical solutions, not just analyses (from data access to insight delivery)

  • Ability to communicate complex analytical and AI‑driven concepts clearly to non‑technical stakeholders

You’re familiar with… (Nice-to-Have Skills)

  • Building and deploying web applications (e.g., Streamlit, Flask/FastAPI, Dash, or similar frameworks)

  • Experience integrating machine learning pipelines or background models into analytical products

  • Exposure to LLMs, chat interfaces, or AI‑assisted reporting, including prompt design and evaluation

  • Experience operationalizing analytics through automation, services, or internal tools

  • Familiarity with cloud or internal platforms used for deploying analytical applications

  • Retail, supply chain, operations, or eCommerce analytics experience

You’ll make an impact by:

  • Modernizing analytics delivery – Moving the team from static analysis to AI‑augmented, interactive, and scalable solutions

  • Accelerating insight creation – Leveraging AI to reduce cycle time from question to decision

  • Building reusable tools and patterns – Creating solutions others can adopt and extend

  • Uplifting the team – Coaching analysts in AI‑enabled workflows, tools, and best practices

  • Driving confident decisions – Ensuring analytics and AI outputs are trusted, explainable, and aligned to business goals

At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more.

You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The amount you receive depends on your job classification and length of employment. It will meet or exceed the requirements of paid sick leave laws, where applicable.

For information about PTO, see https://one.walmart.com/notices.

Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms.

For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart.

The annual salary range for this position is $90,000.00 - $180,000.00

Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses.

Additional compensation for certain positions may also include :

  • Stock

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Minimum Qualifications...

__Outlined below are the required minimum qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no minimum qualifications. __

Option 1: Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Arts, Finance or related field and 4 years' experience in data analysis, data science, statistics, or related field. Option 2: Master's degree in Business, Engineering, Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or related field and 2 years' experience in data analysis, data science, statistics, or related field. Option 3: 6 years' experience in data analysis, data science, statistics, or related field. 1 year's supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications...

Outlined below are the optional preferred qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no preferred qualifications.

Data science, data analysis, statistics, or related field, Master’s degree in Business, Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or related field, Related industry experience (for example, retail, merchandising, healthcare, eCommerce), Successful completion of assessments in data analysis and Business Intelligence tools and scripting languages (for example, SQL, Python, Spark, Scala, R, Power BI, or Tableau), Supervisory experience

Primary Location...

802 Respect Dr, Bentonville, AR 72716, United States of America

Walmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.