We've been trusted to serve Aussie communities since 1914 and grown to become a top 30-listed on the ASX with 120,000 team members and a portfolio of iconic brands. At Coles Group, you'll not only get to make a difference to millions of Aussie lives—you'll also get to see your impact.

About the team

As the way we shop continues to evolve, our Data and Artificial Intelligence Team keeps us at the cutting edge. Driven by our innovative, inclusive, and forward-thinking culture, we're constantly looking at ways to reinvent the shopping experience for our customers and build the next generation of digital retailing.

The Data Team within the broader Coles Technology Team focuses on building data collection and analytics capabilities to uncover customer, product, and operational insights. Providing data driven support to our users and enabling Coles to be a data driven organisation.

About the role

For this exciting position within our Data and Artificial Intelligence team, we are seeking a strategic leader to work closely with the Head of Data & AI Engineering to architect and lead the development of complex, scalable, high-performance AI/ML and data solutions. You will partner with the Group Product Manager counterpart to translate business objectives into Data & AI solutions through prioritisation, quarterly OKR planning, managing competing resource demands and solution delivery.

To be successful in this role, you will deliver the below:

• Establish and maintain best practise engineering standards across the solution development lifecycle (software engineering, data engineering and ML/AI model development) implementing modern DevOps practices, CI/CD, and robust QA processes that enable continuous, iterative and reliable value delivery
• Ensure data and AI solutions comply with internal and external design, security, privacy and ethical standards, coordinating with enterprise architecture, information security and privacy teams to manage risks and data governance across the solution lifecycle
• Monitor productionised data & AI solution uptime ensuring operational reliability and that SLAs are met
• Lead domain specific, multi-disciplinary squads, comprised of machine‑learning engineers, data engineers, full‑stack developers, DevOps engineers, QA and data scientists
• Drive procurement buy/build/partner decisions, and the implementation of inhouse and vendor solutions
• Ensure that AI and data engineering efforts within the squads deliver measurable business value and ensure delivery of solutions to agreed corporate plan outcomes (including budget/scope/timelines)
• Manage managers and mentor teams of engineering managers, software engineers, data engineers, ML engineers, data scientists, UX designers in a large corporate environment
• Recruit, mentor and retain top-tier engineering talent through structured career development programs, creating clear progression paths for individual contributors and future engineering leaders
• Foster a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement within the squads, ensuring continuous skill uplift and encouraging the exploration of new tools, technologies and strategies

Experience required

• Proven years of experience in data engineering, machine‑learning or AI roles, with at least 2 years managing multi‑disciplinary engineering teams
• Proven ability to design architectures, data pipelines and model deployment strategies that support complex AI/ML systems and performance requirements (edge, real time, batch)
• Experienced working with product managers to set strategy, prioritise initiatives (OKRs), manage competing requirements, and deliver customer-focused solutions
• Track record of managing high performing teams that adopt modern software development practises including CI/CD, DevOps/MLOps, and automated test and release frameworks to support continuous, iterative products releases
• Experience in complex corporate environments (retail preferred) working alongside and influencing business and technology (enterprise architects, security, privacy) partners to integrate solutions into business workflows (API management, load management, integration, data security, logging etc)
• Experience maintaining the uptime and performance of business and customer‑facing data products and ML/AI services
• Knowledge of GenAI and agentic workflows

Commercial Skills and Formal Qualifications

• Proficiency in programming languages like Python, Scala &/or Typescript
• Experienced with methodologies including linear programming, forecasting &/or deep learning
• Experience with machine learning frameworks (PyTorch, scikit-learn) and AI Frameworks (LangChain, LlamaIndex).
• Knowledge of DevOps and MLOps tools and practises including Docker, Terraform & Azure DevOps
• Knowledge of data engineering tools and technologies (Spark, Kafka, Snowflake, DataBricks)
• Significant experience with cloud platforms (Azure Preferred, AWS, GCP)
• Strategic and people leadership and team management skills.
• Good understanding of software architecture.
• A Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or related quantitative field, combined with ongoing professional development in emerging data & AI technologies, leadership practices, and industry best practices through conferences, certifications, and peer learning opportunities.

What's in it for you?

Flexible working options: We know that work is only one part of your life, so we actively encourage a positive work-life balance and provide hybrid working options to help you achieve it.

Office perks: Take advantage of our gym facility and fitness classes, free parking, BBQ area, mini-Coles supermarket, fooderie hub where you can sample new products before they hit the shelves, school holiday program and so much more when you come in.

Discounts: Eligible team members receive 5% discount all year round on your Supermarket and Liquor online and in-store purchases. We also offer additional periods of double discount (10%) at various times throughout the year. As well as hot deals exclusive to team members that translate into additional savings.

Reward through recognition: Give and receive recognition, linked to our Coles values, through our digital recognition platform 'mythanks.' You can accumulate points to redeem in the online shop for exciting gifts and electronic gift cards from an extensive range of retailers.

Opportunities for learning and development: No matter where you start within our diverse business, you'll have experiences, exposure, and education to satisfy you. Discover and explore a variety of career development programs and job-specific training.

Paid parental leave: We understand how important your life outside work is and offer permanent team members paid parental leave to support you in balancing work and family.

Investment in your future: Our annual team member share plan offer allows eligible team members to make regular pre-tax salary sacrifice deductions to purchase Coles Group shares.

About the recruitment process

We're continuing to build a gender equitable team, and a culture that is just as diverse, inclusive and welcoming as the communities we serve. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe and respectful for our team.

We encourage applications from people of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), abilities, sexual orientation and gender identities.

We're happy to adjust our recruitment process to support candidates with disability. For further information and additional contact details visit the 'Our Recruitment Process' section of our careers site or email i***@***********.au