Principal Optimization Engineer

Principal Optimization Engineer

Introduction to role

We are seeking a Principal Optimization Engineer with a proven track record in project leadership to act as a bridge between business partners and the technical team. You will collaborate closely with partners to estimate, plan, and implement AI solutions that align with business objectives. Your breadth of knowledge of AI products available on the market combined with your strong technical background will enable you to anticipate risks, understand challenges, and propose effective solutions. Excellent communication skills are essential for adapting to various technical levels and guiding both technical and non-technical team members. The ideal candidate has a proven track record in implementing mathematical optimization solutions in the industry.

Accountabilities

• Understand project risks, requirements, and dependencies; anticipate problems and strategically mitigate them. Provide consultancy to business customers to estimate, prioritize and implement projects effectively.
• Engage internal collaborators and external partners to ensure the successful delivery of AI solutions.
• Collaborate with the innovation team to propose and build strategic technical capabilities.
• Estimate, plan, and supervise technical work; mentor junior team members and support non-technical collaborators.
• Work within an agile framework and collaborate with multi-functional teams to align AI solutions with business goals.
• Relying on their proven track record in team leadership, oversee multiple ongoing projects.

Key Projects

• AI-Powered Drug Development: Develop and deploy AI models to optimize drug development processes.
• Autonomous Manufacturing: Implement AI-driven solutions to improve manufacturing efficiencies.
• Self-Healing Supply Chain: Apply AI techniques to improve supply chain management and logistics.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in operations research, mathematics, computer science, or a related quantitative field.
• At least 5 years of professional experience delivering Optimization projects and at least 3 years leading teams of ML engineers.
• Advanced expertise in Python and familiarity with database systems (e.g., SQL, NoSQL, Graph databases).
• 5+ years of experience and demonstrable technical skills in developing mathematical optimisation solutions for complex real-world problems.
• Proven, hands-on coding experience, knowledge of software development standard methodologies and deployment practices such as CI/CD, testing, version control.
• Demonstrated experience using mathematical optimisation software such as CPLEX, Gurobi, XPRESS or OR-Tools.
• Experience with heuristic and meta-heuristic algorithms as an alternative to the above software.
• A working knowledge of optimisation concepts.
• 5+ years of experience of developing high quality optimisation tools. Ideally including python.
• A track record of understanding and translating complex business problems into engineering problems.
• Traditional Machine Learning: Time series analysis, unsupervised anomaly detection, analysis of high-dimensional data.
• Experience in deploying ML/Generative AI services and working with complex datasets.
• Strong understanding of software development, algorithms, optimization, and scaling.
• Excellent communication and business analysis skills.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Master’s or PhD in a relevant quantitative field.
• Experience with AWS cloud services and cloud engineering.
• Knowledge of Snowflake.
• Software development experience (e.g., React.js, Node.js).

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

At AstraZeneca, we connect across the whole business to power each function to better influence patient outcomes and improve their lives. Impactful and valuable, this is where you come to raise your profile and do good for others. Play an increasingly crucial role in driving exciting transformation on our journey to becoming a digital and data-led enterprise. Unleash the power of our latest innovations in data, machine learning, and technology to turn complex information into life-changing and practical insights. Work in alignment with leading experts in our specialist communities. Here we bring the brightest minds together, with access to pioneering techniques and the opportunity to be part of novel solutions. It's up to us to drive the outcomes forward, inventing and building, expanding our knowledge to identify the next opportunity.

Ready to make a difference?

Apply now!

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.