At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build optimisation models for last-mile delivery decisions.
- Company: Join Relay, a fast-growing logistics startup backed by major investors.
- Benefits: Generous equity, private health coverage, 25 days holiday, and more perks.
- Other info: Dynamic team culture focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on e-commerce by optimising delivery systems.
- Qualifications: Experience in operational research and coding in Python or similar languages.
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. We're assembling the most talent-dense team the logistics industry has ever seen. Relay’s Mission is to free commerce from friction. Today, high delivery costs act as a hidden tax on e-commerce, quietly shaping what can be sold online and limiting who can participate. We envision a world where more goods move more freely between more people, making the online shopping experience seamless and accessible to everyone.
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 single parcel we handle
- 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? Thousands of them, made every single day. Good decisions have fast and meaningful impact across the entire Relay Network. Our Operational Research team are responsible for the intelligent systems that optimise the most complex decisions across our network. As the first Operational Research Scientist in Last Mile Marketplace, you will design, build and evolve the optimisation models and solvers that sit at the heart of Relay's last-mile network — These are production Decision systems that shape how Relay operates every day. This is a senior individual contributor role. You will work alongside Data Scientists, Analysts, and Engineers in a squad focussed on developing the tech defining our last mile marketplace. This role sits within Relay’s Data function, joining a dedicated Operational Research team, reporting into the Staff Decision Systems Architect.
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.
- Work with analytics to monitor the daily performance of your solution, using this information to proactively evolve your solution to make better decisions.
Who Will Thrive in This Role?
- You want to be close to the problems you are optimising, and decisions your solutions will make, getting hands‑on in the network to 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 the challenge of solving large‑scale optimisation problems.
- You are motivated to work on production systems, learning from the realised outcome of your optimisation model every day, and proactively evolving your solution.
- You love understanding problems deeply, crafting bespoke solutions to unique dynamics of the decision being made.
- 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 all feel the decisions these systems make.
Fast and Focused Hiring Process:
- Talent Acquisition Interview - 30mins | Online
- Hiring Manager Interview - 45mins
- Python Live Coding - 60mins
- Case Study - 60mins
- Relay Operating Principles & Impact- 60mins
- Decision and offer within 48 hours. Our process mirrors our pace of work.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Generous equity, richer than 99% of European startups, with annual top-ups to share Relay’s success.
- Private health & dental coverage, so comprehensive you’d need to be a partner at a Magic Circle law firm to match it.
- 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, tackle the hard stuff, and view constraints as fuel, not friction.
- 1% Better Every Day: You believe that small, consistent improvements lead to exponential growth. You move quickly, deliver results, and learn from every experience.
- All In, All the Time: You show up and step up. You take ownership from start to finish and do what it takes to deliver when it counts.
- People-Powered Greatness: You invest in your teammates. You give and receive feedback with care and candour. You build trust through high standards and shared success.
- Grow the Whole Pie: You seek out win‑win solutions for merchants, couriers, and our customers, because when they thrive, so do we.
Relay is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and fostering a workplace where everyone thrives.
Senior Operational Research Scientist - Last Mile employer: Relay
Relay is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that thrives on 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 daily. Located at the forefront of logistics technology, employees enjoy unique perks and a supportive atmosphere that values diversity and inclusion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Operational Research Scientist - Last Mile
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Relay's mission, values, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews by practising common questions and coding challenges. Brush up on your Python skills and be ready to discuss your optimisation strategies. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining Relay and making an impact.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Operational Research Scientist - Last Mile
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Operational Research Scientist role. Highlight your relevant experience in optimisation models and coding skills, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Show Your Passion:Let your enthusiasm for operational research and solving complex problems shine through in your application. We want to see that you're excited about making a real impact on our last-mile marketplace!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and how they relate to the role, so we can easily see your potential fit with our team.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. This way, you'll ensure it reaches the right people quickly, and you'll be one step closer to joining our talented team at Relay!
How to prepare for a job interview at Relay
✨Know Your Optimisation Models
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of optimisation models, especially in scheduling, assignment, and pricing problems. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these concepts in real-world scenarios, as this will show your understanding of the role's core responsibilities.
✨Showcase Your Coding Skills
Since coding is a big part of this role, practice your Python, Rust, Julia, or C++ skills before the interview. You might face a live coding challenge, so be prepared to demonstrate your problem-solving abilities through code. Think about how you can optimise algorithms and solvers during this exercise.
✨Understand Relay’s Mission
Familiarise yourself with Relay's mission to free commerce from friction. Be ready to discuss how your work as an Operational Research Scientist can contribute to this goal. Showing that you align with their vision will make a strong impression.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role involves working closely with Data Scientists, Analysts, and Engineers. Think of examples from your past experiences where you successfully collaborated with different teams. Highlight your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and how you can contribute to a vibrant team culture.
