Data Scientist - PBM Pricing Optimization and Advanced Analytics
At a glance
Mid-level Data Science role at Cvshealth. Chicago-525 West Monroe · full-time · $79,310–$158,620 base.
dataroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Develop and refine data science and optimization methods for drug pricing, then assess how they affect pricing results and decisions
- Use Python and SQL to build, troubleshoot and maintain analytics, models and operational workflows
- Turn unclear business or technical questions into focused analyses and practical next steps
- Help run optimization work in cloud and production settings, including GCP, and collaborate on Gurobi linear programming
- Explain technical tradeoffs to business and technical partners, including effects on speed, risk, scale and outcomes
What you bring
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent work background in a relevant discipline, plus at least one year in data science or a related field
- At least two years using Python or another modeling environment, and two years working with SQL
- Hands-on experience deploying machine learning models and building CI/CD pipelines
- Experience with Google Cloud Platform, Vertex AI or a comparable platform is required
- Strong foundations in analytical methods, machine learning, statistics and predictive modeling, with depth in some areas
Who this fits
This mid-level role suits someone who can handle technical analysis while explaining practical implications to business partners. You’ll work as part of a squad, with the chance to take on captain responsibilities over time. The job is hybrid in Chicago and full time.
From the employer
We’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.
Position Summary
We’re looking for a Data Scientist to join our drug pricing optimization team supporting a major reseller health plan client. This is a strong opportunity for a data scientist who brings technical depth, practical problem-solving, and curiosity, and who wants to grow in a squad-based environment with real business impact.
In this role, you would help the team solve complex pricing and optimization problems, contribute to data science workflows used in production-oriented settings, and partner with technical and business stakeholders to turn analytical work into clear decisions. Over time, this role offers room to grow into broader squad leadership responsibilities through strong ownership, follow-through, and communication.
What you’ll do:
- Contribute to the design, development, and improvement of data science and optimization solutions for drug pricing
- Analyze complex datasets to identify patterns, issues, and opportunities that improve pricing performance and decision quality
- Build, test, debug, and maintain code in Python and SQL to support analytics, modeling, and operational workflows
- Breaking down messy business and technical problems into actionable analyses and practical next steps
- Work within cloud-based and production-oriented environments, including GCP and team development tools such as VS Code
- Support optimization workflows and collaborate on linear programming algorithms using Gurobi
- Use AI tools thoughtfully to accelerate coding, analysis, and iteration while applying strong judgment to validate quality and accuracy
- Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to explain technical tradeoffs clearly in business terms, including implications for speed, risk, scalability, and outcomes
- Operate as a strong squad member with the potential to take on squad captain responsibilities over time through ownership, initiative, and collaboration
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master's Degree with a minimum of 1 year of experience in Data Science, Computer Science, Applied Math, Operations Research, Statistics or related field, and:
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to break down ambiguous business and technical problems into actionable parts
- Strong coding fundamentals in Python and SQL, including debugging, data wrangling, code quality, and reproducible workflows
- Comfort working in VS Code and collaborative development environments
- Familiarity with optimization modeling, constraints, and algorithmic thinking; experience with Gurobi is a plus
- Working knowledge of cloud-based data science workflows, especially GCP, is strongly preferred
- Comfort using AI tools productively and responsibly as part of day-to-day technical work
- 2 or more years of experience in Python or other modeling environments
- 2 or more years of experience with SQL
- Experience in deploying ML models to production and developing CI/CD pipelines
- Experience using Google Cloud Platform, Vertex AI or similar is a MUST
- Demonstrated proficiency in most areas of mathematical analysis methods, machine learning, statistical analyses, and predictive modeling and in-depth specialization in some areas
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working on pricing, optimization, or healthcare analytics problems
- Familiarity with PBM and drug pricing concepts, including the business nuances and operational realities of reseller health plan clients
- Exposure to productionizing models or working in cross-functional products, engineering, or analytics squads
- Familiarity with version control, testing practices, and collaborative coding workflows
- Strong communication skills, especially the ability to explain technical concepts and tradeoffs in a clear, practical, non-academic way
- Ownership mindset, willingness to do the work, and the judgment to balance innovation with execution
- Demonstrated curiosity, learning agility, and potential to grow into broader coordination or squad leadership responsibilities
- Ability to learn quickly and work independently or as part of a team
- Ability to anticipate and prevent problems and roadblocks before they occur
Education
Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Operations Research, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related discipline. Master's degree preferred
Anticipated Weekly Hours
40Time Type
Full timePay Range
The typical pay range for this role is:
$79,310.00 - $158,620.00This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above.
Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.
Great benefits for great people
We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.
Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.
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