Data Scientist

Sainsbury's is hiring a Data Scientist in London, United Kingdom. Level rates it ; you can apply on Sainsbury's.

Level's read on this job

Level rates this data scientist role Builds AI ●●●●: the job is building AI systems.
The posting allows some remote work.
Tools and skills the posting cites include data science, operational research and mathematical modeling.
Level lists 379 other open roles at Sainsbury's.
The role was posted in the last few days.

AI in this role

Data scientist specializing in operational research to build decision models, optimization algorithms, and data products.

data-scienceoperational-researchmathematical-modelingoptimizationsimulation

Data Scientist - Operational Research – Hybrid Working

This role is posted within the Marketing job family for internal system reasons, but the position itself sits in our central Data Science Hub (Data & Analytics). You’ll work on cross‑functional, high‑impact data science projects across areas including pricing, digital, supply chain and commercial—not marketing delivery.

What you’ll do:

We’re looking for a data science specialist with a particular interest in working on operations research problems. You’ll be working on one of the largest datasets in retail, delivering huge business impact, as part of a team that builds, deploys, and maintains cutting-edge data-products that drive competitive edge.

Stakeholder management

Using non-technical language, tell engaging stories that influence business stakeholders
Develop and maintain relationships with key internal customers and product owners
Identify, scope and size data science and operations research opportunities across the Business

Technical delivery

Understand and document relevant business processes and driving performance metrics
Research, design and build decision models and algorithms
Define data requirements, gather and validate data
Work closely with engineering (DecisionOps) teams to align on robust production architectures that enable long-term support and iteration
Design tests that quantify the computational and business performance in both digital and physical domains

Coaching and Mentoring

Take a leading role in the development and delivery of team upskilling
Share Operations Research expertise across the Data Science community
Contribute to our vibrant Data and Analytics community of over 800 colleagues

What we’re looking for:

Academic profile

We typically look for candidates with a Master’s or PhD in a relevant quantitative field (e.g., maths or operational research). However, strong applicants with equivalent industry experience or a related scientific/engineering degree are also encouraged to apply.

Essential Criteria

Passion for driving business impact through the application of Operational Research methods
Excellent business acumen, commercial awareness, and judgement
Ability to translate real-life problems into mathematical models - linear, non-linear, stochastic, etc.
Broad knowledge across a range of mathematical optimisation and simulation techniques, as well as exact and heuristic solution methods
Previous experience working with mathematical modelling libraries/platforms and solvers

Preferred experience

Practical experience applying operational research techniques to deliver measurable business value or a strong publication record, with significant relevance to industry applications
Experience with Agile team management methodologies (preferably Kanban)
Familiarity with software engineering best practices including version control, CI/CD, testing
Basic proficiency with SQL and Python

#DataAndAnalytics

#DataScience

#LI-CM1

At Sainsbury’s, data sits at the heart of how we operate, innovate and serve our customers. Our Data & Analytics team is building a technically advanced, commercially focused and impactful capability, powering our Next Level Strategy and helping to create a Sainsbury’s powered by industry leading AI algorithms. We use data, technology and advanced analytics to drive better decisions across the business, from forecasting and optimisation to experimentation, personalisation and machine learning. With one of the richest retail datasets I n the UK and a portfolio spanning Sainsbury’s, Argos, Habitat and Nectar, the opportunity to innovate is huge. Here, you’ll tackle complex challenges at scale, create measurable impact and grow quickly alongside brilliant colleagues. People who thrive with us combine business understanding, technical expertise and curiosity, with a natural instinct for problem-solving. Join us and help shape the future of retail through data and AI. We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new — whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them: Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to save 10% on your shopping online and instore at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat, and we regularly increase the discount to 15% at points during the year. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 10% of salary, depending on how we perform. Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance and you can buy up to an additional week's holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, salary advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme. Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave. Please see www.sainsburys.jobs for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).

How we rate this

Data Scientist at Sainsbury's rates 85 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Builds AI (AI Level 4 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Builds AI. The job is building AI systems.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Data Scientist is an open job at Sainsbury's.
Level rates this role AI Level 4 of 4: Builds AI.
The role is based in London, London, United Kingdom and is marked remote.
The job was posted on October 20, 2026.
Seniority: senior.
Applications are handled by Sainsbury's. Apply on Sainsbury's

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

Data ScienceOperational ResearchMathematical ModelingOptimizationSimulation

Also common in data scientist jobs at this level

LLM Generative AI AWS Spark PyTorch Deep learning

Pay

Typical data scientist job: $167k

This posting doesn't list pay. Use the typical data scientist figure when pay comes up. See data scientist jobs

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where data science was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where operational research was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where mathematical modeling was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where optimization was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where simulation was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Data Science, Operational Research, Mathematical Modeling, Optimization, and Simulation. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
Lead with what you built, trained or shipped. This role is judged on the AI system itself, not the tools around it.

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