Overview
Principal Applied Scientist (all genders) – Logistics Algorithms (LS) at Zalando. Zalando fulfills more than a hundred million customer orders every year. Logistics Capabilities builds and operates systems at the core of our Logistics Strategy, ensuring timely, efficient, and correct delivery of customers’ orders. As a Principal Applied Scientist, you will be part of a team of researchers and engineers responsible for developing and operating algorithmic decision components that optimize order fulfillment in Zalando’s fulfillment centers. You will connect research to measurable business value through A/B testing, statistical analysis, and systematic impact evaluation, collaborating with teams across Logistics Capabilities to drive innovation and resilience in our logistics operations while translating research into real-world improvements.
What we’d love you to do (and love doing)
* Serve as a senior scientific leader, collaborating with stakeholders across Logistics Operations, B2B business units, and other Applied Science teams. Model, solve, implement, and evaluate research-driven software frameworks to scale with demand; continually question models and algorithms for ongoing improvement.
* Lead the research, development and deployment of mathematical models and algorithms in production, ensuring robustness and adaptability; maintain and refine models to meet evolving business needs.
* Help optimize intralogistics processes across fulfillment centers (e.g., order batching, scheduling, real-time prioritization under uncertainty) using mathematical approaches such as combinatorial optimization and Mixed-Integer Linear Programming.
* Shape the long-term scientific vision and research roadmap for the department, identifying future challenges and opportunities to grow the business.
* Be part of Zalando’s vibrant community of Applied Scientists, participating in regular meetings, reading groups, and mentoring opportunities.
We’d love to meet you if
* You hold an advanced degree (PhD preferred, MS minimum) in Mathematics, Operations Research, or a closely related quantitative discipline.
* You have significant industry experience translating complex business problems with high uncertainty into mathematical models and production-ready solutions.
* You have a history of leading complex research projects that delivered measurable business impact.
* You’re excited about working in a setup requiring deep domain understanding, e.g., warehouse processes.
* You’re highly proficient in Python, strong in SQL, and hands-on with Jupyter Notebooks or Databricks; you have experience writing production-grade software on the JVM and understand fundamental software development practices.
* You are self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
* You have a customer-focused mindset and excel in teamwork, engaging with stakeholders across roles and levels; you enjoy mentoring researchers and helping teams develop long-term research strategies.
* You embrace working in a diverse, inclusive, and international environment where English is the working language.
Our offer
* Employee shares program
* 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando; 30% off Lounge by Zalando; discounts from external partners
* 2 paid volunteering days a year
* Hybrid working model with up to 60% remote per week (actual practice varies by team)
* Work from abroad for up to 30 working days a year
* 27 days of vacation per year to start for full-time employees
* Relocation assistance available (subject to prior agreement)
* Family services, including counseling and support
* Health and wellbeing options (Wellhub)
* Mental health support and coaching
* Professional development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review
Inclusive by design
At Zalando, we aim to be the leading pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle e-commerce – inclusive by design. We assess candidates based on qualifications and business needs. We welcome applicants from all gender identities, sexual orientations, personal expressions, racial identities, ethnicities, religious beliefs, and disability statuses. Please avoid including your picture, age, or marital status in your CV. If you need accommodations during the hiring process, let us know. Learn more at do.BETTER – our diversity & inclusion strategy.
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