Shape the Future of AIJoin one of the UK's fastest-growing companies and become a Professional Development Expert in Artificial Intelligence.

View Roles

Senior Data Scientist

Sainsbury's
London
4 days ago
Create job alert

Why join us

We’re looking for an ambitious and talented Senior Data Scientist to join Nectar360 – the team behind Nectar at Sainsbury’s and the UK’s largest coalition loyalty programme, with 24 million members nationwide. Based in our new Farringdon office, you’ll work closely with decision-makers across Nectar360 and Sainsbury’s to drive our Retail Media Marketing offering for grocery and general merchandise clients, digital agencies, and internal teams.


Joining Sainsbury's Nectar360 as a Senior Data Scientist means being part of a dynamic and forward-thinking team dedicated to leveraging data science to drive impactful business outcomes and deliver cutting-edge solutions in the retail marketing industry. With the opportunity to lead technical projects, collaborate with a talented team, and shape the future direction of data science initiatives, you will play a crucial role in influencing decisions and driving innovation. Working in a vibrant Data & Analytics community with access to vast amounts of customer data and advanced technologies, you will have the chance to contribute to a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and professional growth, while making a real difference in the world of retail marketing.


What you'll do


As a Senior Data Scientist at Nectar360 within Sainsbury's, you will be leading the technical development of algorithms and pipelines to support strategic goals, enhancing modelling and optimisation capabilities, and ensuring the delivery of impactful projects at pace. Your role will involve collaborating closely with Senior Engineers to align models with engineering best practises, becoming an expert in data science techniques for Nectar360, and supporting other Data Scientists in defining projects and shaping analytical approaches. Additionally, you will work with stakeholders to define goals, contribute to a wider agile squad, and actively participate in Sainsbury's Data & Analytics community to bring in new ideas, promote collaboration, and build innovative solutions while staying abreast of evolving approaches in Data Science.


Who you are


As a Senior Data Scientist at Nectar360, you are an experienced and innovative professional with a deep passion for leveraging data science to drive impactful business outcomes. With extensive experience in developing complex data science solutions and a strong foundation in predictive modelling, time series analysis, and cloud platforms, you possess the technical expertise to lead the development of algorithms and pipelines that support strategic goals. Your ability to mentor and support other Data Scientists, collaborate with stakeholders, and stay abreast of emerging trends in Data Science and AI showcases your commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and delivering high-quality, data-driven insights that influence decision-making and enhance commercial value.


Essential Criteria

Proven experience developing complex data science solutions using Python and SQL in a commercial environment Demonstrable expertise in predictive modelling, clustering, and time series analysis, with knowledge of Multi-Touch Attribution and/or Marketing Mix Modelling is prreferred Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS or Azure) and MLOps tools, including building and maintaining production-ready, user-facing solutions Track record of contributing to collaborative codebases, applying best practices in version control and software engineering within data science projects Solid knowledge and experience in some of the following: ML model building, statistical analysis, hypothesis testing, experiment design. Evidence of leading or supporting the technical work of a small team, including project definition, code review, and mentoring (line management not required)

This role will be closed early if we receive high volumes of applications.


#LI-JH1


We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. We’re one of the biggest supermarkets in the UK with one of the largest websites. So marketing here really happens at scale. We move a lot faster than you’d think too, across Brand Planning, Brand Comms and Creative, Digital Marketing, CRM and Loyalty, Nectar 360, Insights, and Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability. More people shopping with us each week means more interactions. And thanks to data insight, we understand customers in a way that almost nobody else does. We work alongside incredible brand partners and the best agencies around. So if you have a passion to learn, grow and experience new teams, come and explore it all with us. 

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 20% 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, and we provide private healthcare. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, interest free car loan of up to £10k, 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 for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply). 

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Senior Data Scientist

Senior Data Scientist

Senior Data Scientist - Consumer Lending

Senior Data Scientist

Senior Data Scientist

Senior Data Scientist

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

10 AI Recruitment Agencies in the UK You Should Know (2025 Job‑Seeker Guide)

Generative‑AI hype has translated into real hiring: Lightcast recorded +57 % year‑on‑year growth in UK adverts mentioning “machine learning”, “LLM” or “gen‑AI” during Q1 2025. Yet supply still lags. Roughly 18,000 core AI professionals work in the UK, but monthly live vacancies hover around 1,400–1,600. That mismatch makes specialist recruiters invaluable—opening stealth vacancies, advising on salary bands and fast‑tracking interview loops. But many tech agencies sprinkle “AI” on their website without an active desk. To save you time, we vetted 50 + consultancies and kept only those with: A registered UK head office (verified via Companies House). A named AI/Machine‑Learning or Data practice.

AI Jobs Skills Radar 2026: Emerging Frameworks, Languages & Tools to Learn Now

As the UK’s AI sector accelerates towards a £1 trillion tech economy, the job landscape is rapidly evolving. Whether you’re an aspiring AI engineer, a machine learning specialist, or a data-driven software developer, staying ahead of the curve means more than just brushing up on Python. You’ll need to master a new generation of frameworks, languages, and tools shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Welcome to the AI Jobs Skills Radar 2026—your definitive guide to the emerging AI tech stack that employers will be looking for in the next 12–24 months. Updated annually for accuracy and relevance, this guide breaks down the top tools, frameworks, platforms, and programming languages powering the UK’s most in-demand AI careers.

How to Find Hidden AI Jobs in the UK Using Professional Bodies like BCS, IET & the Turing Society

Stop Scrolling Job Boards and Start Tapping the Real AI Market Every week a new headline announces millions of pounds flowing into artificial-intelligence research, defence initiatives, or health-tech pilots. Read the news and you could be forgiven for thinking that AI vacancies must be everywhere—just grab your laptop, open LinkedIn, and pick a role. Yet anyone who has hunted seriously for an AI job in the United Kingdom knows the truth is messier. A large percentage of worthwhile AI positions—especially specialist or senior posts—never appear on public boards. They emerge inside university–industry consortia, defence labs, NHS data-science teams, climate-tech start-ups, and venture studios. Most are filled through referral or conversation long before a recruiter drafts a formal advert. If you wait for a vacancy link, you are already at the back of the queue. The surest way to beat that dynamic is to embed yourself in the professional bodies and grassroots communities where the work is conceived. The UK has a dense network of such organisations: the Chartered Institute for IT (BCS); the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) with its Artificial Intelligence Technical Network; the Alan Turing Institute and its student-driven Turing Society; the Royal Statistical Society (RSS); the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and its Mechatronics, Informatics & Control Group; public-funding engines like UK Research and Innovation (UKRI); and an ecosystem of Slack channels and Meetup groups that trade genuine, timely intel. This article is a practical, step-by-step guide to using those networks. You will learn: Why professional bodies matter more than algorithmic job boards Exactly which special-interest groups (SIGs) and technical networks to join How to turn CPD events into informal interviews How to monitor grant databases so you hear about posts months before they exist Concrete scripts, portfolio tactics, and outreach rhythms that convert visibility into offers Follow the playbook and you move from passive applicant to insider—the colleague who hears about a role before it is written down.