Principal Applied Scientist- Network Optimization (all genders)

THE ROLE & THE TEAM

Zalando fulfills more than a hundred million customer orders every year and volumes are increasing. Fulfillment Core within Zalando builds and operates systems that are at the core of Zalando’s platform strategy and ensure timely, efficient, and correct delivery of every one of our customers’ 185+ million orders every year.

Enabling the fulfillment of orders is a complex process, involving the choice of physical locations of our warehouses and the placement of stock, the planning of inner warehouse processes and capacity management, the management of a diverse range of fulfillment and delivery configurations, all while optimizing towards various competing  targets. 

As a Senior Applied Scientist, you will play a pivotal role in transforming Zalando's supply chain by enhancing customer experience, and addressing complex and critical challenges. You will develop financially viable self-serve products utilizing Optimization or Simulation techniques. Collaborating with a team of highly talented colleagues in Fulfillment Core, you will drive innovation and resilience within our supply chain operations.

You’ll find our Berlin campus and HQ in the vibrant area of Friedrichshain. With amazing views of the Spree river and East Side Gallery, it’s a campus designed to inspire. Berlin is the city that has shaped our business. Are you up for a new experience in one of the most vibrant, diverse, and green cities in Europe? 

INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN

At Zalando, our vision is to be the starting point for fashion - one that is inclusive by design. We only assess candidates based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We welcome applications from people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, personal expressions, racial identities, ethnicities, religious beliefs, and disability statuses. We only want to know why you’re great for this role, so please avoid including your picture, age, and marital status in your CV as well.

We want to provide you with a great candidate experience. Please feel free to inform us of any accommodations you may need, so we can best support and assist you throughout the hiring process.  

do.BETTER - our diversity & inclusion strategy: https://corporate.zalando.com/en/diversity-inclusion

Our employee resource groups: https://corporate.zalando.com/en/diversity-inclusion/our-employee-resource-groups 

WHAT WE’D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING)

• As a Principal Applied Scientist, you will report to the Head of Applied Science for Network Optimizations and serve as a senior technical leader, collaborating extensively with key stakeholders across Logistic Operations, B2B business units, and other Applied Science teams within Fulfillment Core. In this role, you will deeply engage with the domain, leveraging your expertise to develop advanced mathematical models that optimize product availability - ensuring the right products are in the right locations at the right time, all while navigating and upholding our network constraints.

• In partnership with our highly skilled senior engineers (Principal+), you will lead the development and deployment of mathematical models in production, ensuring their robustness and adaptability over time. Your expertise will also contribute to the ongoing maintenance and refinement of these models to meet evolving business needs.

• You will help optimize a wide range of business processes (e.g. inventory distribution strategies, warehouse processes or order placement strategies) and configurations (e.g. warehouse network resilience, delivery connections) by leveraging various mathematical approaches, including Discrete Event Simulation, Mixed-Integer Linear Programming, and metaheuristics.   

• As a member of Fulfillment Core, you will also provide inputs to other research initiatives across the business unit. 

• More generally, you will be part of our vibrant community of Applied Scientists at Zalando, participating for example in regular exchange meetings, reading groups and mentoring opportunities.

WE’D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF… 

• You bring extensive experience in solving complex mathematical challenges, particularly in areas such as Network Simulation (Discrete Event Simulation) and Optimization within Supply Chain domains like Retail, E-Commerce, Airlines, or Logistics.

• Your educational foundation is in Operations Research or a closely related mathematical discipline.

• You have extensive expertise and significant industry experience in mathematical programming, including mixed-integer linear programming, metaheuristics and constraint programming.

• You are proficient in at least one programming language (e.g. Python or C/C++ or Java) suitable for a production-grade environment and are familiar with fundamental software development practices, including version control, data structures, and databases.

• You are highly self-motivated, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.

• You have a customer-focused mindset and excel in teamwork: You like interacting with stakeholders and understanding their challenges, and you enjoy collaborating with your colleagues.

• You are comfortable with working in a diverse, inclusive and international environment where English is the working language.

OUR OFFER

Zalando provides a range of benefits, here’s an overview of what you can expect. Ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we offer.

• Employee shares program

• 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Zalando Lounge, discounts from external partners

• 2 paid volunteering days a year

• Hybrid working model with up to 60% remote per week, actual practice is up to each team to best support their collaboration

• Work from abroad for up to 30 working days a year

• 27 days of vacation a year to start

• Relocation assistance available (subject to prior agreement)

• Family services, including counseling and support

• Health and wellbeing options (including Gympass)

• Mental health support and coaching available

• Drive your development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review

Learn all about Zalando and our values here: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/?gh_src=22377bdd1us