Senior Simulation Data Scientist

Tesco UK • Welwyn Garden City • Full-Time • Working hours 36 • Apply by 02-Apr-2026

The Tesco Data Science team are looking for a Senior Simulation Data Scientist to use simulation to help solve challenging problems across the business and our supply chain from supplier to shelf.

At Tesco, our Data Science team focuses on modelling complex business problems and deploying data products at scale. Our work spans across multiple areas including physical stores, online, supply chain, marketing and Clubcard. This requires our Data Scientists to have an advanced understanding of statistics and algorithms. The team itself is made up of researchers and practitioners with varied backgrounds from both academia and the business world.

The position will be based in our Welwyn Garden City campus.

We're all about the little helps. That's why we make sure our Tesco colleague benefits package takes care of you - both in and out of work. Click Here to find out more!

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• Annual bonus scheme of up to 20% of base salary
  
• Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day (plus Bank holidays)
  
• Private medical insurance
  
• 26 weeks maternity and adoption leave (after 1 years' service) at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay, we also offer 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave
  
• Free 24/7 virtual GP service, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for you and your family, free access to a range of experts to support your mental wellbeing
  

This is a hands‑on position, and you will work at every stage of the project lifecycle and be responsible for defining, developing, and validating simulation models, working closely with business stakeholders to translate business problems into simulation solutions. The team works on problems from multiple business domains and as such a key part of the role will be to develop reusable, manageable, and deployable simulation components so that the business can solve more problems more quickly and easily.

You will need to be able to validate, document and present the simulation modelling process and outcomes, as well as communicate complex solutions in a clear, understandable way to non‑experts. Data Scientists are also responsible for promoting data science across Tesco and promote Tesco across the external Data Science community.

Finally, as a Senior Data Scientist, you will be expected to drive innovation and take ownership of aspects of the project development, help the Lead Scientists and the Product Managers manage the relationships with the business stakeholders and mentor/supervise junior members of the team and/or interns.

We are looking for an ambitious simulation scientist, who has a strong scientific and simulation background. Experience of designing, implementing, and analysing simulations in different simulation paradigms (DES, ABM) is key and ideally experience in one or more of the following fields;

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• Supply Chain or Logistics Simulation
  
• Agent Based Modelling
  
• Co‑Simulation and FMI
  
• Distributed Simulation
  
• Simulation of Complex Systems
  
• Calibration of simulation models from big data sets
  

An ideal candidate will have a scientific mentality with the ability to ask the right questions, as well as answer them. A strong numerical higher degree is preferable, as well as a solid understanding of mathematics and statistical principles. Finally, strong programming skills are essential (Python or Java are preferred) as well as familiarity with software engineering best practices (such as version control, OOP, unit testing, CI/CD) and cloud technologies.

Our vision at Tesco is to become every customer's favourite way to shop, whether they are at home or out on the move. Our core purpose is 'Serving our customers, communities and planet a little better every day'. Serving means more than a transactional relationship with our customers. It means acting as a responsible and sustainable business for all stakeholders, for the communities we are part of and for the planet.

We are proud to have an inclusive culture at Tesco where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. At Tesco, we not only celebrate diversity, but recognise the value and opportunity it brings. We're committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued, and make sure that all colleagues are given the same opportunities. We're proud to be accredited Disability Confident Leader and we're committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. For further information on the accessibility support we can offer, please click here.

We're a big business and we can offer a range of diverse full‑time & part‑time working patterns across our many business areas, which means that we can find something that works for you. We work in a more blended pattern - combining office and remote working. Our offices will continue to be where we connect, collaborate and innovate. If you are applying internally, please speak to the Hiring Manager about how this can work for you - Everyone is welcome at Tesco.