Principal Data Scientist

About mSupply

mSupply is North America’s leading distributor of OEM repair parts and equipment, serving professionals in the appliance, HVAC, plumbing, commercial kitchen and pool/spa industries. Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, mSupply is a multi-billion dollar enterprise offering an extensive product range, industry expertise and seamless service. With more than 2,000 associates across the U.S. and Canada, mSupply’s family of brands delivers with speed, reliability and precision through its branches, distribution centers and extensive fleet of delivery vehicles. Shipped orders reach 93% of U.S. customers via next-day ground delivery and 100% within two days. For more information, visit mSupply.com.

The Principal Data Scientist is responsible for the strategy, standards, and business impact of mSupply’s data science function. This role directly manages Senior Data Scientists and an ML/AI Engineer, owns the AI roadmap, and is accountable for all modeling, experimentation, and AI capability delivered by the team. Use cases span demand forecasting, inventory optimization, pricing strategy, customer segmentation, and operational efficiency across plumbing, appliance, and HVAC distribution.

Job Duties \& Responsibilities

• Directly manage Senior Data Scientists and an ML/AI Engineer, setting expectations for quality, velocity, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Own the data science and AI roadmap, sequencing initiatives based on business value, technical feasibility, data readiness, and team capacity.
• Lead development of the most complex and strategically significant models, including enterprise forecasting frameworks, multi-variable optimization, and novel analytical approaches.
• Define and evolve the team’s operating model, including research-to-production handoff processes, peer review standards, and experiment design methodology.
• Serve as the primary technical advisor to senior leadership on AI and advanced analytics strategy, communicating capabilities, limitations, risks, and investment tradeoffs.
• Lead build vs. buy evaluations for AI capabilities, assessing vendor models, Azure AI services, and open-source options against custom development.
• Establish the team’s approach to model validation, bias assessment, responsible AI practices, experiment tracking, and model governance.
• Design and standardize experimentation methodology including A/B tests, holdout evaluations, and model lift measurement frameworks.
• Review and approve all models before production, applying a quality bar that balances statistical rigor with business pragmatism.

Qualifications

Required

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Operations Research, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent demonstrated experience.
• 8\+ years of progressive experience in data science, machine learning, or applied AI, with at least 4 years leading or managing data science teams.
• Expert proficiency in Python and modern ML libraries including scikit-learn, XGBoost, LightGBM, and at least one deep learning framework (PyTorch or TensorFlow).
• Deep expertise in statistical modeling, forecasting, optimization, experimental design, causal inference, and Bayesian methods.
• Demonstrated track record of taking models from research through production with measurable business impact.
• Experience building and scaling data science teams, including hiring, mentoring, and establishing team operating models.
• Strong executive communication skills with proven ability to influence senior stakeholders through data-driven insights.

Preferred

• Experience designing or overseeing MLOps frameworks, production model governance, and responsible AI practices at enterprise scale.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Fabric, Azure data services, Azure OpenAI Service, or dbt and the medallion architecture.
• Background in wholesale distribution, supply chain, HVAC, plumbing, or related B2B sectors.
• Experience with LLM-based workflows, RAG, agentic AI, or AI-assisted analytics.
• Experience or demonstrated ability using AI-powered tools (e.g., code assistants, LLMs, AI-augmented workflows) to accelerate work and improve outcomes.

Physical Demands \& Work Environment

This position may require over 40 hours per week and includes regular physical activity such as:

• Primarily sedentary work, requiring extended periods of sitting while working at a computer
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, via phone, and through virtual collaboration tools
• Occasional standing, walking, and movement during meetings, site visits, or travel
• Ability to travel periodically for business needs, including visiting distribution centers, suppliers, stores, or industry events
• Office environment includes standard business equipment such as computers, phones, and conferencing tools

What We Offer:

We prioritize your well-being from day one with a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage effective immediately
• 401(k) plan with company contributions
• Life insurance and short-term disability coverage
• HSA/FSA options and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and personal days
• Weekly pay, employee discounts, and more

Equal Employment Opportunity \& Pre-Employment Requirements

mSupply is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We make employment decisions without regard to sex, age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and to applicants with sincerely held religious beliefs. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact [email protected].

Final offers of employment may be contingent upon completion of job-related pre-employment checks and screenings permitted by law. For roles that require operation of a company vehicle, a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check may also be conducted. This employer participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility in the United States.