Operations Research Engineer
New Today
About us:
Ocado Technology powers the future of online grocery through cutting-edge software, AI, and automation. Our Logistics & Delivery systems are critical to how our retail clients - including some of the world's most innovative grocers - get fresh food into customers' hands. Optimisation is at the heart of what we do.
About the role:
We're looking for an exceptional Operations Research Engineer to join the Logistics & Delivery team at Ocado Technology. This is a unique opportunity to design, develop, and implement optimisation algorithms that directly influence the efficiency and scalability of our last-mile delivery systems.
Our Logistics & Delivery department consists of specialists in OR, data science, and engineering distributed across the UK and Poland. We tackle optimisation problems across the last mile domain, from slot scheduling to route planning, with a strong focus on code quality, scalability, and measurable impact.
This is a unique opportunity to design, develop, and implement optimisation algorithms that directly influence the efficiency and scalability of our last-mile delivery systems. You'll work on large-scale, high-impact problems such as:
- Solving vehicle routing and delivery scheduling challenges.
- Designing bespoke optimisation models for dynamic logistics scenarios.
- Prototyping and implementing algorithms using heuristic and exact methods.
- Collaborating with engineers to productionise your solutions at scale.
- Partnering with stakeholders across software engineering, product, and operations to align OR innovations with real-world constraints
- You'll take ownership of algorithmic design from concept through to deployment, working alongside talented OR engineers, software engineers, and analysts in a collaborative, product-focused team.
What we're looking for:
- Strong experience modelling and solving optimisation problems (e.g., routing, scheduling, assignment).
- Practical programming skills in Java, Python, or similar languages - ideally in a production setting.
- Expert knowledge of metaheuristic optimisation methods.
- Comfortable working in a cross-functional, collaborative environment.
- Curious mindset with a drive to understand, model, and improve real-world systems.
This will make you stand out from the crowd:
- MSc or PhD in Operations Research, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or related field.
- Familiarity with the state of the art for solving vehicle routing problems
- Knowledge of graph theory, simulation, or probabilistic modelling.
- Experience building optimisation systems that run at scale.
- Experience with machine learning approaches to solving combinatorial optimisation problems
- Experience with solvers like Gurobi, CPLEX, or OR-Tools.
What do I get in return:
- 30 Day 'work from anywhere' policy +
- Remote working for the month of August
- 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after 5 years service (plus optional holiday purchase)
- Pension scheme (various options available including employer contribution matching up to 7%)
- Private Medical Insurance
- 22 weeks paid maternity leave and 6 weeks paid paternity leave (once relevant service requirements complete)
- Train Ticket loan (interest-free)
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Opportunity to participate in Share save and Buy as You Earn share schemes
- 15% discount on Ocado.com and free delivery for all employees
- Income Protection(can be up to 50% of salary for 3 years) and Life Assurance(3 x annual salary)
- Share Options
- Free shuttle bus to and from Hatfield train station
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- Location:
- Hatfield