Expert Data Scientist

Driven by integrity and united by the people-and-pet bond, we find strong purpose in the work we do and an even greater joy in those we get to work alongside. Together, we harness the expertise of our long-standing tradition of excellence to embrace possibility and continuously push to do what's never been done before in pet care. Discover your purpose and fuel your passions when you bring your love of pets to a team that prides itself on the power of togetherness—We are Proudly Connected. Purely Driven.

Position Summary

Digital Transformation is at the center of all that we do. With data-driven innovators passionate about making a difference in the lives of pets, we create cutting-edge digital business models that solve complex problems. You’ll be at the forefront of digital advancements as they happen in real time, as well as ensure we remain a leader and innovator in the pet care category. Have a hand in making a lasting impact within our long-standing history.

As an Expert Data Scientist, you will support Purina’s need for enterprise-wide data science use case creation, deployment, and support, as well as leading data science efforts for must-win-battles—all of which provide millions in annual return.  The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of advanced data science techniques and a proven track record of leveraging data to drive business insights and innovation. This role requires a strategic thinker who can lead data science projects, develop predictive models, and provide actionable insights to support decision-making across various business units. 

• Lead the development and implementation of advanced data science models to solve complex business problems.
• Analyze large datasets to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for optimization.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business needs and translate them into analytical solutions.
• Develop and maintain large language model solutions, agentic AI solutions, and GenAI solutions.
• Provide thought leadership and subject matter expertise in data science and analytics.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists in the application of advanced analytics techniques.
• Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies in data science and analytics.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Data Science, Applied Statistics, Mathematics, or related field
• 7+ years of professional experience with 5+ of those years in data science and analytics
• 5+ years of experience with machine learning algorithms and frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, scikit-learn) for predictive modeling and data-driven decision-making
• 1+ years of experience with designing, training, and deploying LLMs for various data science applications
• 3+ years of experience in Python/ SQL for data manipulation and analysis
• 3+ years of experience with cloud computing playforms (e.g., AZURE, AWS, GCP, etc.)

Other

• PhD in Data Science, Applied Statistics, Mathematics or related field preferred
• Knowledge of database systems and data warehousing solutions (e.g., SQL, NoSQL, Hadoop) for efficient data storage and retrieval is preferred
• Understanding of agentic AI, which involves au