Woolworths

Tech Lead

• Build and deploy production ML & Data systems at scale - Work with cutting-edge ML technologies (LLMs, GenAI, Agentic AI) on real-world problems impacting millions of customers across Australia and New Zealand

• Shape the future of retail with AI - Pioneer innovative ML solutions that transform how 24 million customers shop, from personalised recommendations to intelligent supply chain optimisation

• Grow your craft - Collaborate with world-class Data Scientists and Engineers in an agile environment that values experimentation, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning

About us

We strive to create better experiences together for a better tomorrow for our customers and team, bringing the best of Woolworths Group and Quantium together to make data driven decisions. By partnering with Quantium, a world-class data science and advanced analytics business we're excited about the future as we unlock the power of data to reimagine retail.

Through this partnership, we've created a new business called WiQ who will harness the best of Woolworths Group and Quantium to reimagine retail by solving the most complex problems using data and analytics. As a team, we leverage Agile ways of working to help our team develop their skills while also making sure our team is focusing on solving the most complex problems for both our customers and team.

What you'll do

This is a unique opportunity for a technical leader with exposure to people management to help shape the future of data and AI at the core of WiQ. As a Lead Engineer, you will lead a talented team of 3-5 engineers, guiding their careers while remaining a deeply hands-on technical expert responsible for building our next generation of data and machine learning platforms.

You will architect and build the foundational data platforms and the intelligent ML systems that run on them. This role is for a "technical gun" with a deep command of software fundamentals who can design for scale, lead a team, and own the end-to-end delivery of complex data and ML solutions. If you are driven to build remarkable, high-performance systems and empower a team to do the same, this is the role for you.

• Team & Technical Leadership: Lead, manage, and mentor a team of 3-5 Data and Machine Learning engineers. Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous growth through rigorous code reviews, pair programming, and career development guidance.

• Hands-On Development: Remain deeply hands-on, applying rock-solid software fundamentals to build robust data and ML pipelines, scalable APIs, and efficient data models. 

• End-to-End Platform Ownership: Oversee the delivery of critical data and ML projects, ensuring timely completion while upholding high standards of quality, reliability, and performance. You will manage the team's roadmap, and ensure stakeholder expectations are met.

• Drive Engineering & MLOps Excellence: Champion and implement best practices for both Data and ML engineering. This includes automated data quality frameworks, CI/CD for data and ML, infrastructure-as-code (IaC), and advanced MLOps patterns (e.g., model monitoring, A/B testing, feature stores).

• Strategic Contribution: Collaborate closely with Delivery Managers, Data Scientists, and senior leadership to translate business requirements into technical solutions.

What you'll bring

We are looking for a seasoned Technical leader with a strong problem-solving mindset and a passion for building high-performance systems and high-performing teams, while meeting business requirements across the Woolworths’ ecosystem.

Bachelor's degree or above in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)

• 8+ years of commercial software development experience

• 5+ years of hands-on experience with Python, SQL, and Linux

• Experience building data pipelines using cloud technologies such as Vertex AI Pipelines, Apache Airflow, DBT or similar orchestration tools

• Practical experience with MLOps/DevOps practices, including model deployment, monitoring, and automation

• Experience with containerisation technologies like Docker and Kubernetes

• Knowledge of microservices-oriented architecture and REST APIs

• Experience in CI/CD pipeline setup (shell scripting, Unit/Integration Testing)

• Proven communication and stakeholder management skills

• Hands-on experience with Google Cloud (GCP) or other major cloud providers (AWS, Azure) is beneficial

• Demonstrated experience with modern ML algorithms (e.g., GNN, LLM, GenAI, Agentic AI) or a strong passion to learn new skills is advantageous

What you’ll experience

 Our Team Members are at the heart of everything we do and we’re always looking for ways to support your career journey and reward great work:

• Team discounts across our range of Woolworths Group brands you know and love and a robust rewards program that celebrates and incentivises purpose-driven work.

• A global business with endless career possibilities around every corner and across every discipline – with valuable exposure to a vast and exciting business network.

• High impact role supporting our teams who enrich our communities. 

• A range of programs to help you prioritise and manage your wellbeing, including 24/7 access to the Sonder app.

• A progressive and competitive leave policy that gives you more space for what matters to you.  

Endless possibilities with Woolworths Group

We’re a proud part of the Woolworths Group – 200,000+ bright minds, passionate hearts and unique perspectives working together connected by a shared Purpose – ‘to create better experiences together for a better tomorrow.’ 

Here you’ll be supported and empowered to explore new ideas, make brave commitments and innovate better ways to meet the food and everyday needs of more than 24 million customers every week. Backed by a culture of genuine care, a flexible approach to work and the support to grow your career and make a meaningful impact, the possibilities for what we can achieve together are endless.

Everyone belongs at Woolworths Group

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are key to realising our purpose of better together for a better tomorrow. We recognise the value our team’s diversity brings to our business, customers, and communities and that teams with diverse experiences and backgrounds enrich our group and are better able to innovate and solve problems. As one of the largest employers in Australia and New Zealand, we aim to create a truly inclusive workplace where everyone feels that they belong, can be their best selves, and reach their full potential.

We encourage all candidates to apply; please let us know in your application if we can support you with any adjustments in the hiring process.