Principal AI/ML Applied Scientist

Requirements

Description & Requirements

Who we are

lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well. We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in. As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future. In particular, that includes creating an equitable, inclusive and growth-focused environment for our people.

About This Team

The Enterprise Data & AI organization is a strategic and operational driver of growth for lululemon, owning and building the data and AI platforms and services that enable the enterprise to operate with intelligence at scale. The team leads the design and delivery of a trusted unified data foundation, AI-driven data analytics and insights, and AI solutions across lululemon’s vertically integrated retail ecosystem, while embedding strong data governance and responsible AI practices from the very beginning. By applying AI to critical business challenges and creating new, transformative AI solutions, the team helps reshape how lululemon operates. Through deep partnership with product, technology, and business teams, Enterprise Data & AI accelerates product innovation, unlocks measurable value, elevates guest and educator experiences, and drives enterprise efficiency.

Core responsibilities

As a Principal Applied AI/ML Scientist, you define and drive the solutions for enterprise ‑ level AI/ML use-cases, influencing multiple solutions across one or more business domains. You create business impact by extending the state of the art to invent new AI solutions. You operate as a top technical authority and thought leader, shaping how AI/ML becomes a durable competitive advantage across business lines. You lead the most complex, cross ‑ domain initiatives, establish retail industry ‑ leading methodologies, and influence long ‑ term solution approaches across the AI portfolio. You guide senior leaders on where and how to apply AI, ensuring solutions deliver sustained, measurable impact at scale.

Examples Of Work Include

Designing and inventing AI solutions across domains such as product design and innovation, planning and forecasting, agentic personalization and search, and multimodal content generation and enrichment
Defining next ‑ generation models and architectures for generative AI, multimodal systems, and large ‑ scaleML-based optimization, leading to production
Translating emerging AI research (e.g., LLMs, multimodal learning, foundation models) into enterprise ‑ ready capabilities with measurable business outcomes
Acting as a strategic advisor to executives on AI opportunities, risks, trade ‑ offs, and long ‑ term capability building

Select Responsibilities Include

Define enterprise AI/ML strategy and solution vision for key use-cases, aligning investments to business priorities and shaping AI as a core organizational capability and competitive differentiator
Lead research and design of AI/ML approaches for highly complex business problems
Advance AI/ML methodologies and solution frameworks that accelerate time ‑ to ‑ value, improve scalability and re-use, and enable repeatable success across teams
Drive innovation by extending state ‑ of ‑ the ‑ art techniques, conducting original research, and inventing novel approaches that extend organizational capability
Influence and mentor senior technical leaders, elevating organizational capability in applied AI/ML and fostering a culture of technical excellence and innovation
Partner with executive stakeholders to identify high ‑ impact opportunities, define success metrics, and ensure AI/ML investments deliver measurable business value and ROI
Establish enterprise experimentation and validation standards that connect model performance to business outcomes and strategic decision ‑ making

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, engineering, or related technical field, or equivalent experience; PhD preferred
11–15 years of AI/ML research experience in industry or equivalent academic experience
Demonstrated ability to define enterprise ‑ level AI/ML solutions for previously unsolved problems, and influence executive decision ‑ making on technology direction and investment
Proven track record of architecting and delivering large ‑ scale , complex AI/ML systems across multiple domains with significant organizational impact
Deep expertise in advanced AI/ML approaches, including areas such as generative AI, NLP, computer vision, multimodal learning, or time ‑ series modeling, and ability to translate research into production systems
Strong experience partnering with senior business and technology leaders to align AI initiatives with strategic goals and measurable outcomes
Expert ‑ level experience with modern ML tools and ecosystems (e.g., Python, PyTorch , cloud ML platforms, distributed training/inference systems, and scalable data pipelines)
Strong understanding of production AI systems, evaluation frameworks, and responsible AI considerations

must haves

Acknowledge the presence of choice in every moment and take personal responsibility for your life.
Possess an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovate to achieve great results.
Communicate with honesty and kindness and create the space for others to do the same.
Lead with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure.
Foster connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships.
Integrate fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn’t take yourself too seriously.

Additional Notes

Please note: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S.