THE ROLE & THE TEAM As an Applied Scientist, you will be part of an expert team of software engineers and applied scientists working towards keeping the delivery time promise for all Zalando customers. In this role you will translate real-world problems into mathematical models, and design algorithms that solve these models. Beyond the algorithmic challenges, a significant part of your role will be creation and maintenance of the software systems required to run these algorithms. Here, you will have to ensure that the system adheres to the latest software engineering standards, and you will gain a comprehensive understanding of order processing systems to identify opportunities for improvement. If you are passionate about building scalable software systems and solving complex problems using discrete optimization, we want to hear from you. This is a unique opportunity to make a real impact and help drive the success of our business. INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN At Zalando, our vision is to be inclusive by design. And this vision starts with our hiring - we do not discriminate on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, personal expression, ethnicity, religious belief, or disability status. You are welcome to leave out your picture, age, or marital status from your application. We only assess candidates on their qualifications and merit. We want to provide you with a great candidate experience. Feel free to inform us of any accommodations you may need, so we can best support you throughout the hiring process. do.BETTER - our diversity & inclusion strategy: https://corporate.zalando.com/en/our-impact/dobetter-our-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy Our employee resource groups: https://corporate.zalando.com/en/our-impact/our-employee-resource-groups WHAT WE’D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING) Innovative Problem Solving: Contribute to modeling, solving, and implementing our research-driven software framework. End-to-End Ownership: Take responsibility for the entire development cycle from understanding business requirements and prototyping to implementing production-ready software, and ensuring quality through testing and operational support for highly available systems. Collaborative Impact: Work closely with our software engineers to mutually influence and understand system constraints and opportunities, and take part in shaping the future of our system. Big Picture Thinking: Apply abstract thinking to uncover correlations between problems, methodologies, and solutions. Be part of a team that continually pushes the boundaries of what is possible. Inclusive Culture: Help foster a positive, inclusive, and diverse team environment where everyone’s contributions are valued, and collaboration thrives. WE’D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF You have a strong academic background of combinatorial optimization and you are able to detect these concepts even if they are hidden in complex real-world problems. You prefer simple solutions over complex ones but at the same time, you are aware that complex problems sometimes require advanced algorithms. You have some experience in professional software engineering, ideally in a JVM-based language. You are eager to learn more about software engineering. You’re excited about working in a setup that requires a deep domain understanding (e.g., how our logistics order processing works). You are a team player who thrives in an agile and cross-functional environment, and is passionate about fostering a positive and productive work environment. You have strong proficiency in English and the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and effectively in an international team setting. OUR OFFER Zalando provides a range of benefits, here’s an overview of what you can expect. Ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we offer. Employee shares program 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Zalando Lounge, discounts from external partners 2 paid volunteering days a year Hybrid working model with 60% (or more) remote per week, actual practice is up to each team to best support their collaboration Work from abroad for up to 30 working days a year 27 days of vacation a year to start Relocation assistance available (subject to prior agreement) Family services, including counseling and support Health and wellbeing options (including Gympass) Mental health support and coaching available Learn all about Zalando and our values here: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/?gh_src22377bdd1us