About the role
At Tesco, our Data Science team builds scalable solutions to complex business challenges across stores, online, supply chain, marketing and Clubcard. We apply advanced machine learning, generative AI, and large language models (LLMs) to personalise customer experiences, optimise operations and drive innovation. We work across several business domains, including customer experience, online, fulfilment, distribution, commodities, store operations and technology. Team members rotate across domains to broaden their expertise and impact. We foster a culture of continuous learning, dedicating 10% of the working week to personal development. Our team benefits from academic partnerships, regular knowledge‑sharing events and a collaborative, inclusive environment that values work‑life balance and professional growth.
Responsibilities
We are seeking an AI Data Scientist to help build intelligent systems that go beyond prediction—systems that can reason, act, and adapt to real‑world challenges. This is a hands‑on role where you will work across the full lifecycle of AI projects, using large language models (LLMs) and agentic AI techniques to develop practical solutions for business problems.
You will design AI systems that are technically sound, scalable, and safe, while keeping business constraints in mind. Collaboration is key—you’ll work closely with stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into effective AI solutions. Clear communication is essential, whether you're documenting your work, presenting results to non‑technical audiences, or supporting product managers and lead scientists.
A core part of the role involves shaping how agentic AI is applied across different areas, ensuring systems can make decisions independently while staying within safe and defined boundaries.
You’ll join a team that values curiosity, practical thinking, and continuous learning. There will also be opportunities to share your work with the broader AI community.
Qualifications
- Broad understanding of LLM architectures, training methodologies, and usage patterns.
- Practical experience applying LLMs, including managing context windows effectively.
- Practical experience applying LLMs, including selecting appropriate models for specific tasks.
- Practical experience applying LLMs, including implementing safety guardrails and alignment techniques.
- Practical experience applying LLMs, including decomposing complex tasks into model‑friendly components.
- Strong experience in evaluating and validating data pipelines and ML systems.
- Familiarity with AI‑specific evaluation methods, including both quantitative metrics and qualitative assessments.
- Ability to make well‑reasoned decisions grounded in technical understanding and real‑world constraints.
- Pragmatic approach to experimentation and solution design.
Values
- Actively engaged in learning and staying current with developments in AI and machine learning.
- Curious, adaptable, and committed to continuous improvement.
- Focused on delivering practical, scalable, and responsible AI solutions.
Benefits
- Annual bonus scheme of up to 20% of base salary
- Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day (plus Bank holidays)
- Private medical insurance
- 26 weeks maternity and adoption leave (after 1 years’ service) at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay; we also offer 4 weeks fully paid paternity leave
- Free 24/7 virtual GP service, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for you and your family, free access to a range of experts to support your mental wellbeing
About Us
Our vision at Tesco is to become every customer’s favourite way to shop, whether they are at home or out on the move. Our core purpose is ‘Serving our customers, communities and planet a little better every day’. Serving means more than a transactional relationship with our customers. It means acting as a responsible and sustainable business for all stakeholders, for the communities we are part of and for the planet. We are proud to have an inclusive culture at Tesco where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. At Tesco, we not only celebrate diversity, but recognise the value and opportunity it brings. We’re committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued, and make sure that all colleagues are given the same opportunities. We’re proud to have been accredited Disability Confident Leader and we’re committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process.
Seniority level
Entry level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Engineering and Information Technology
