Data Science Lead - Optimization

Key Skills

Algorithms, Azure, Bitbucket, Continuous Integration & Continuous Delivery - CI/CD, Databricks, DevOps, Java Programming, Machine learning techniques, MLflow, Python Programming, Scala Programming, SPARK Programming, SparkML, SQL, TensorFlow

Job Description

Position: Data Science Lead – Optimization
Location: Sobeys Innovation Hub, Toronto, ON (Hybrid)
Career Group: Corporate Office Careers
Job Category: Data Science – Merchandising
Job Type: Full-Time
Travel Requirement: 0–10%
Country: Canada

Make an Impact at Sobeys Inc.

Join Sobeys Inc., one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, and be part of a proudly Canadian organization with over 1,600 stores and a presence in every province. From our roots in Nova Scotia to our national reach, we are a family nurturing families—committed to innovation, community, and delivering exceptional shopping experiences.

Your Team: Advanced Analytics

At Sobeys, the Advanced Analytics team leads the way in retail innovation. As a multidisciplinary group of data scientists, engineers, and analysts, we develop and deploy scalable ML/AI solutions that transform how we engage customers and operate our business.

The Opportunity: Data Science Lead – Optimization

As a Data Science Lead, you’ll apply advanced analytics and machine learning to solve real-world challenges in one of Canada’s largest retail organizations. You’ll lead a team of data scientists and collaborate with cross-functional partners to design, build, and operationalize ML models and optimization systems.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead and mentor a team of Data Scientists.
• Design, build, and deploy machine learning models in production environments.
• Collaborate with ML Engineers and Data Engineers to develop and scale end-to-end ML pipelines in Azure.
• Analyze large-scale retail datasets across multiple banners and regions.
• Translate business needs into ML/optimization solutions and drive impact.
• Partner with BI teams to deliver dashboards that monitor model performance.
• Ensure high-quality, production-ready code through reviews and collaboration.

What You Bring:

• Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience with pricing optimization and deploying ML solutions.
• Proficiency in Python, Java, or Scala and ML tools (Spark ML, MLflow, TensorFlow).
• Strong experience with big data (Spark, SQL) and cloud platforms (Azure, Databricks).
• Skilled in CI/CD (Azure DevOps, Bitbucket Pipelines).
• Excellent communication skills and ability to engage stakeholders.
• Experience with Tableau or similar dashboard tools.
• Retail analytics experience is a strong asset.

Why Sobeys?

We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package designed to support your physical, financial, and emotional well-being:

• Competitive health and dental benefits
• Virtual healthcare and EAP access
• Retirement and savings plans
• 10% in-store discount across participating banners
• Paid vacation, personal days, and parental leave top-up
• Learning and development resources
• Hybrid work environment (3 days/week in-office)

Sobeys is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome and accommodate applicants with disabilities at all stages of the hiring process.