Data Scientist - Operational Research (Routing)

Company mission

In the future, commerce will be instant, local, and seamless. What we now call "e-commerce" will simply be how we shop.

Relay is building the logistics network that e-commerce should have had from the start. We're designed from the ground up for sustainability - environmental, social, and economic. By rethinking both the middle and last mile, we cut miles driven, reduce carbon emissions, lower costs, and return value to local communities.

Behind the scenes, we orchestrate this with cutting-edge tech: from smart routing and real-time planning to seamless tools that empower our ground teams.

We're not just building the future, we're scaling it fast.
We just closed a $35M Series A, the largest ever for a logistics tech startup in Europe.
Brands like Vinted, TikTok, and Temu are choosing Relay to power their UK expansion.
We're growing at a top 0.01% among all European Series A startups.
About the role

As a highly operational business, we rely on our Data Scientists to guide how every parcel moves through our network - from when it enters the system to when it's delivered at the doorstep.

We're hiring an Operational Research Data Scientist to join our Routing squad, helping to design, test, and improve the models and algorithms that power routing across Relay's first, middle, and last mile. This role sits at the intersection of operations research and applied data science; it's well-suited to someone who enjoys turning real-world routing challenges into scalable solutions.

You'll work directly in a cross-functional squad which includes Operations, Engineering, Data Analytics, and Data Science, to improve the quality of our routes and reduce the cost of delivery. You'll also play a key role in shaping our future routing strategy, working across all areas of the business to unlock efficiency, scale into new service areas, and adapt our solutions to new commercial or business requirements.

It's a hands-on, high-impact role in a high-performing team with strong exposure to both technical architecture and network operations.

What you'll do

Design, prototype, and iterate on routing algorithms and models across first, middle, and last mile
Work directly with data analysts to benchmark routing performance and quantify gains from proposed improvements
Analyse our routes to identify inefficiencies in routing models and algorithms, helping our team to operate with precision and maximise impact.
Build models and produce analysis to optimise the daily operation
Collaborate with engineers and scientists to deploy your algorithms and models into production
Translate operational and commercial constraints into model or algorithm improvements
Bring a scientific lens to operational design; measure rigorously, test thoughtfully
What we're looking for

Academic or Industrial experience in Operational Research, specifically combinatorial optimisation and/or graph theory
Academic or Industrial experience with experimentation, simulation and statistical analysis
MSc or PhD in a relevant discipline
Experience working in an office environment, or as part of a team
Python & SQL
Analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to move from ambiguity to structure
Effective communication skills - you can explain technical results clearly to non-technical audiences
Passion for the problems you'll be solving
Nice to haves

Experience working on routing, scheduling, or network optimisation problems
Experience developing your own algorithms or heuristics
Experience working with Geospatial data
Experience with Machine learning or other modelling techniques
Experience in fast-scaling startups or operational teams
Experience in logistics, mobility, marketplaces, or other operationally complex businesses
What we offer

Generous equity package
25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
Bupa Global Business Premier health plan - including mental, dental, and optical cover
Enhanced Parental Leave:
20 weeks of fully paid maternity leave
4 weeks of fully paid paternity leave

Contributory pension scheme
Friday office lunches
Access to cutting-edge AI tooling
Hybrid working from our dog-friendly Shoreditch office
Free gym membership via our co-working spaces
Cycle-to-work scheme
Regular team socials, events, and offsites!!

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