At a Glance
- Tasks: Optimise complex decisions in logistics using advanced operational research techniques.
- Company: Join Relay, a fast-growing logistics startup backed by top investors.
- Benefits: Generous equity, private health coverage, 25 days holiday, and extensive perks.
- Other info: Fast hiring process with a focus on innovation and teamwork.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on e-commerce by improving delivery systems.
- Qualifications: Experience in operational research and coding in Python, Rust, Julia, or C++.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Relay is fundamentally reshaping how goods move in an online era. Backed by Europe's largest-ever logistics Series A ($35M), Relay is scaling faster than 99.98% of venture-backed startups. Our mission is to free commerce from friction, envisioning a world where more goods move freely between people, making the online shopping experience seamless and accessible.
THE TEAM
- ~110 people, more than half in engineering, product and data
- 45+ advanced degrees across computer science, mathematics and operations research
- Thousands of data points captured, calculated, analysed and predicted for every parcel handled
- An intellectually vibrant culture of first-principles thinking, tight feedback loops and relentless experimentation
The Opportunity
A last-mile marketplace runs on decisions — which parcels? on which routes? delivered by which couriers? at what price? Our Operational Research team is responsible for the intelligent systems that optimise complex decisions across our network.
What You'll Do
- Translate operational requirements into optimisation models across scheduling, assignment and pricing problems.
- Develop and evaluate solution approaches — drawing on knowledge of mathematical programming and meta-heuristics.
- Design and build algorithms, heuristics and solvers bespoke for the unique problems you formulate.
- Ensure your solutions are scalable and adaptable to our growing operation.
- Benchmark and evaluate the performance of your solutions.
- Work closely with engineering to productionise your solutions into automated daily processes.
- Monitor the daily performance of your solution, using this information to proactively evolve your solution.
Who Will Thrive in This Role?
- You want to be close to the problems you are optimising and see the outcome of your work first hand.
- You have relevant operational research experience in heuristics and/or mathematical programming.
- You are comfortable coding in a general purpose or performance language, such as Python, Rust, Julia or C++.
- You enjoy solving large-scale optimisation problems.
- You are motivated to work on production systems, learning from the realised outcome of your optimisation model every day.
- You love understanding problems deeply and crafting bespoke solutions.
- You are excited to work in a cross-functional tech team designing and building Relay's Last Mile Marketplace.
- You care about the people your work affects — couriers, retailers, and consumers.
Fast and Focused Hiring Process
- Talent Acquisition Interview - 30mins
- Online Hiring Manager Interview - 45mins
- Python Live Coding - 60mins
- Case Study - 60mins
- Decision and offer within 48 hours.
Compensation & Benefits
- Generous equity, richer than 99% of European startups, with annual top-ups.
- Private health & dental coverage.
- 25 days of holidays.
- Enhanced parental leave.
- Hardware of your choice.
- Extensive perks (gym subsidies, cycle-to-work, Friday office lunch, covered Uber home and dinner for late nights, and more).
Who Thrives at Relay?
- Aim with Precision: You define problems clearly and measure your impact meticulously.
- Play to Win: You chase bold bets and tackle hard challenges.
- 1% Better Every Day: You believe in small, consistent improvements.
- All In, All the Time: You take ownership and deliver when it counts.
- People-Powered Greatness: You invest in your teammates and build trust through high standards.
- Grow the Whole Pie: You seek win-win solutions for all stakeholders.
Relay is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and fostering a workplace where everyone thrives.
Senior Data Scientist - Operational Research in London employer: Relay
Relay is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and intellectually stimulating work culture that prioritises innovation and collaboration. With generous equity options, comprehensive health benefits, and a commitment to employee growth through hands-on problem-solving in a fast-paced environment, Relay empowers its team to make impactful decisions that shape the future of logistics. Located in a dynamic sector, employees enjoy unique perks and a supportive atmosphere that fosters both personal and professional development.
