Lead Data Scientist

About the Role

Total Wine & More is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to join our growing Data Services team in our Bethesda, MD office. You will play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and deploying machine learning and AI solutions that drive strategic decision-making and operational efficiency across Total Wine & More business. You will be responsible for supporting the full lifecycle of machine learning and AI development—from initial ideation and business problem framing through model development, deployment, and ongoing performance monitoring. This role requires a strong foundation in data science, with a deep interest in learning about production-grade ML systems, and a proactive approach to translating business needs into technical solutions. You will be expected to act independently to deliver high-impact technical solutions, taking ownership of projects from concept to execution. You will mentor junior team members on technical trade-offs on solutions and provide thought leadership about how different problems can be solve. This role reports to the Senior Director, Data Science.

You will
Be responsible for designing machine learning and AI models by framing business problems, engineering features, and selecting appropriate algorithms and architectures. When designing solutions create processes that can be utilized for multiple business reasons and is adaptable. Responsible for larger more complex business problems that are multi-dimensional.
Train models by preparing data, fitting algorithms, tuning hyperparameters, and validating robustness through cross-validation techniques. Prior to development able to articulate the trade-off on different modeling techniques and implications when applied to business problem.
Validate model performance using statistical metrics, conduct fairness and bias assessments, and perform error analysis to refine model quality. Create evaluation metrics and results that tie to business outcomes. Able to articulate how model performance gain equates to business value.
Deploy models into production environments by packaging them appropriately, integrating with systems, automating deployment workflows, including robust error handling and documenting for maintainability.
Deploy models into production environments by packaging them appropriately, integrating with systems, automating deployment workflows, including robust error handling and documenting for maintainability.
Monitor deployed models by tracking performance over time, detecting data drift, triggering retraining when necessary, and implementing logging and alerting mechanisms.
Working with junior team members to discuss trade-offs and solutions for team members business problems. Provide thought leadership on different ways to advance the business utilizing machine learning and AI.
Communicate model results and trade-offs to leadership and stakeholder.

You will come with
Bachelor's Degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics or related fields required or equivalent years of experience.
Master's Degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics or related field preferred.
5-8 years in data science, predictive analytics, econometrics, software engineering, data engineering or related fields preferred.
Proven expertise in designing and architecting advanced machine learning and AI solutions, including leading efforts to frame complex business problems, define scalable feature engineering strategies, and select optimal algorithms and architectures for enterprise-level applications.
Proven expertise in model training and optimization, with the ability to design efficient training pipelines, implement distributed training strategies, and apply sophisticated hyperparameter tuning techniques to maximize performance and scalability.
Proven expertise in model validation and governance, including establishing rigorous evaluation frameworks, conducting comprehensive fairness and bias audits, and driving continuous improvement through advanced error analysis and benchmarking.
Proven expertise in production deployment of ML systems, including designing robust CI/CD pipelines, implementing containerization and orchestration (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes), and ensuring compliance with security and reliability standards across cloud environments.
Oversight of model monitoring and lifecycle management, including building automated monitoring systems, implementing drift detection and retraining workflows, and defining alerting mechanisms to maintain long-term model health and business impact.
Expert-level programming skills in Python and SQL, with the ability to develop production-grade code, optimize queries for large-scale datasets, and mentor team members on best practices for coding and data management.
Working with junior team members to discuss trade-offs and solutions for team members business problems. Provide thought leadership on different ways to advance the business utilizing machine learning and AI.
We offer
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Generous store discounts
Health care plans (medical, prescription, dental, vision)
401(k), HSA, FSA, Pre-tax commuter benefits
Disability & life insurance coverage
Paid parental leave
Pet insurance
Critical illness and accident insurance
Discounted home and auto insurance
College tuition assistance
Career development & product training
Consumer classes
& More!

Grow with us

Total Wine & More is the country's largest independent retailer of fine wine, beer and spirits, and we continue to grow our footprint year over year. Total Wine offers exciting and unique career opportunities across the country and in our corporate office. Our strength is our people. We have a commitment to training and career growth, all in an environment that values new ideas and teamwork. If you share our entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for providing best-in-class customer experience, take a moment to apply or learn more at https://careers.totalwine.com/!

Total Wine & More considers several factors when establishing compensation. Estimated salaries determined by third parties have not been validated by Total Wine & More. Compensation may vary based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, market location, job-related knowledge, skills and/or experience.

Total Wine & More is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Total Wine & More makes reasonable accommodations during all aspects of the employment process, including during the interview process. Total Wine & More is a Drug Free Workplace.

The information provided above indicates the general nature and level of work required of the position and is not a comprehensive list of all responsibilities or qualifications. Benefits list is only a highlight of some of the benefits offered to team members; eligibility for certain benefits apply.