Data Scientist - Operations Research

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, where we encourage rotation amongst our Data Scientists so they can gain expertise in different subjects.

We work on several domains and problem types: online, pricing, security, fulfilment, distribution, property, IoT and computer vision are just some. Our team members spend 10% of their week on learning and personal development. Multiple academic collaborations enrich the team expertise; knowledge-sharing events are regular. Furthermore, we have got a great work-life balance, team days and relaxed but engaging culture.

This is a hands-on position where you will need to leverage your analytical mindset to find solutions to complex problems. As either a Data Scientist or Senior Data Scientist, you will need to understand difficult business problems and prototype solutions with minimal support.

Design and implement algorithms and mathematical programming models to solve business problems is a core component of the role. Our data scientists will need to be able to validate, document and present the solution approaches and performances, 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 Data Scientist or 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 ambitious individuals with a mix of mathematical optimisation, programming and statistics skills. The role requires that you have an extensive background in Operational Research. A track record in designing and implementing advanced exact algorithms is essential. Examples could include MILP, valid inequalities, decomposition methods and quadratic programming. In addition, experience with or knowledge of non-exact methods such as heuristics, math-heuristics and meta-heuristics is desirable.

You should be enthused to apply these techniques in a commercial or industrial setting, and encourage collaboration and communication between teams. Experience of managing relations with stakeholders on a project is preferred.

An ideal candidate will have a scientific mentality with the ability to ask the right questions, as well as answer them. A doctoral degree in an area of operational research or similar equivalent industrial experience is preferable, as well as a solid understanding of mathematics and statistical principles.

Strong programming skills and the ability to contribute to production-grade codebases are essential. The main programming language you will be using is Python, but experience with python specifically isn’t essential – experience with other object-oriented languages is also valuable. Familiarity with software engineering best practices (such as version control, OOP, unit testing, CI/CD) and cloud technologies.

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.

• 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 4 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

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 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.