Data Scientist I (Prescriptive AI)

The opportunity

Dillard's is hiring a Data Scientist I for its Prescriptive AI function in Little Rock, Arkansas. The role is focused on building mathematical models that support better business decisions and improve operational outcomes. It is a hands-on position where you will help turn data into actionable recommendations that drive profitability and efficiency.

The team

You will join a collaborative AI group that works across multiple parts of the business to design and implement decision models. The position reports to the Manager of Predictive/Prescriptive AI and offers the chance to work alongside Operations Researchers and Data Scientists. It also includes exposure to different areas of AI, including generative AI.

What you'll do

• Work with live applications and models, keeping them current and functioning in production.
• Refine models as needed, validate changes through testing, and release updates to production while incorporating feedback from business stakeholders.
• Build optimization-based mathematical models in Python, verify the scripts in the development environment, and deploy them into production.

Must-have qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Applied Mathematics/Statistics, Computer Science, or a related discipline, or relevant coursework in mathematics/statistics.
• Beginner to intermediate knowledge of SQL.
• Beginner to intermediate knowledge of Python.
• Exposure to projects or concepts involving mathematical or statistical methods.
• Creative thinking with the ability to generate new ideas and practical solutions.
• Strong, clear communication skills, including professional presentation design and delivery.
• Ability to work onsite at the corporate headquarters in Little Rock, AR, during standard working hours.
• Authorization to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

Preferred experience

• Background in building operations research or optimization models.
• Exposure to supply chain or retail environments.
• Experience with Gurobi and/or CPLEX Optimizer.
• Familiarity with discrete event simulation.

First month expectations

• Get comfortable working with data warehouses, Teradata, and DB2, including the common data structures used by the team.
• Write SQL queries in Teradata and DB2 to retrieve required data, with SQL training provided.
• Become familiar with the AI cluster environment.
• Learn basic Linux commands.

Second month expectations

• Gain comfort using Dillard's AI cluster to develop, run, and schedule Spark and non-Spark Python scripts.
• Use basic GitLab commands.
• Create simple Python packages, including wheel files.
• Write Python scripts to move data between data warehouses.

Third month expectations

• Write Python scripts that run simple optimization models.
• Build a solid high-level understanding of demand forecasting from the Predictive AI team.
• Understand the needs of the Supply Chain Analytics team and the Replenishing team.
• Learn the basic replenishment rules.
• Understand production jobs that are not related to allocation models.
• Create GitLab branches to test changes to production jobs.

Six-month expectations

• Gain exposure to allocation models.
• Understand the structure of the internally developed Python package.
• Develop a strong understanding of one of the allocation models used most often.
• Create GitLab branches to test changes to allocation models.
• Respond to Supply Chain Analytics requests and troubleshoot allocation models quickly.
• Collaborate with the team on new projects.

Additional information

This role is based onsite in Little Rock, AR, and requires the ability to work independently as well as effectively with a team. The position offers cross-training and experience across several AI disciplines, including prescriptive and generative AI.