Walmart to recruit 2,000 for tech staff

NEW YORK Walmart Inc. plans to hire 2,000 technology experts this year to support its efforts both in stores and online, boosting the group’s ranks by more than a fourth.

The world’s biggest retailer is looking for data scientists, software engineers, designers and others to work in nine offices from Silicon Valley to Bangalore, Walmart chief technology officer Jeremy King said in a Bloomberg Television interview.

The retail technology group that King leads has about 7,500 employees after hiring 1,700 last year, he said.

The hiring binge will support Walmart’s efforts to expand its online business and embed instore technology, such as robots that scrub floors and scan shelves.