Job Description

Ever wonder how online orders arrive so quickly and efficiently? In the Fulfillment Simulation Team, within the Fulfillment Core department, we’re the ones behind the scenes, tackling the logistical challenges of e-commerce by simulating the flow of millions of orders across a complex logistics network. We combine science, engineering, and business analytics to create simulations that enable strategic resource planning and proactive decision-making.

As an Applied Scientist, you’ll develop advanced simulations and work closely with engineers and business analysts to turn these models into actionable insights. From optimising inventory distribution to managing demand spikes during sales campaigns, your simulations will help shape key business strategies, improving delivery speed, cost efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

At Zalando, we fulfil more than a hundred million customer orders every year and volumes are increasing. Our department Fulfillment Core within Zalando builds and operates systems that are at the core of Zalando’s platform strategy and ensure timely, efficient, and correct delivery of every one of our customers’ 185+ million orders every year.

What you'll do

Simulation Development: Build and refine simulation models that replicate the complex behaviour of our logistics network. These simulations will help answer crucial business questions about warehouse configurations, transport capacity, inventory distribution, and order allocation strategies.

Collaboration & Integration: Work alongside software engineers to create a scalable simulation platform that integrates smoothly with our broader tech ecosystem. You’ll also collaborate with business analysts and product managers to ensure simulations reflect real business challenges and provide valuable insights.

Research & Innovation: Engage with the team on research efforts to explore new methodologies in system modelling, such as discrete event simulation and order synthesis. Your innovative solutions will enhance how we simulate real-world logistics behaviours, enabling better decision-making across the organisation.

Business Engagement: Collaborate with stakeholders across different business units to understand their needs, guide their use of simulation tools, and provide strategic insights through your analysis and expertise.

Simulation Analysis: Design and conduct simulations to tackle key business questions. For teams without technical expertise, you’ll manage the entire process—from setting up experiments to interpreting the results—and present clear, actionable insights that support decision-making.

What we expect from you

Operations Research Expertise: You have a solid foundation in operations research, including experience with optimization, statistical methods, and system modelling such as discrete event simulation. You enjoy applying these techniques to solve complex problems.

Technical Skills: You’re proficient in Python and/or a Java-based language (e.g., Kotlin) and can quickly learn new technologies. Familiarity with cloud-based platforms (like AWS) and relational databases (such as PostgreSQL, SQLite, or Presto/Trino) is a plus.

Analytical Mindset: Your experience with analysing large datasets allows you to uncover meaningful insights. Your background in statistics and quantitative methods allows you to create hypotheses, run statistical tests, and draw data-driven conclusions.

Collaborative & Communicative: You work well in cross-functional teams and are skilled at communicating complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Building proactive relationships across departments will be key to your success.

Curious & Innovative: You’re always looking for ways to improve the accuracy and efficiency of simulations. Your curiosity drives you to explore new techniques and propose research initiatives that push the boundaries of our simulation capabilities.

What we offer

Career Development

• We offer peer-to-peer performance reviews twice a year
• Learn and develop through our extensive Zalando training platform
• Join regular all-hands, team meetings, Q&A-sessions, and quarterly anonymous employee surveys to ask your questions and provide your feedback
• Support from an international team of experts; mentoring and professional development opportunities

Wellbeing

• 2 days paid leave per year for volunteering
• Minimum of 27 holiday days per calendar year
• Online sports courses, wellbeing, and nutrition advice offered by Humanoo personal wellbeing coach app
• Mental wellbeing support by our Employee Assistance Program and professional consultants to help you find health resources

Flexibility

• Flexible working hours
• Relocation assistance for internationals
• Hybrid working model with up to 60% remote per week, actual practice is up to each team to best support their collaboration

Financial

• Access to the employee shares program
• 40% shopping discount on products shipped and sold by Zalando, and 30% discount on Zalando Lounge
• Discounts from a wide range of external partners

Family

• Employee parents’ forums and employee resource group
• Supported transition into and out of parental leave, with a buddy and re-onboarding plan
• 3 fully-paid child sick days per year
• Free counselling, assistance, and referral service for all matters concerning yourself and your family via the Fürstenberg Institute