Senior Software Engineer, Machine Learning

Senior Software Engineer | Autoplanner | Hybrid Working | London

Introduction:  

We are Ocado Group, and we're bringing world-class automation to online grocery. Our Ocado Smart Platform (OSP) combines cutting-edge robotics, AI, and IoT within our advanced CFCs (Customer Fulfilment Centres). We've mastered the single pick, transforming online delivery for our global partners. Join us and be part of a team pushing the boundaries of retail technology. 

About the Role:

As a Senior Software Engineer in the Autoplanner team, you will own the software engineering that brings our data science and machine learning products into live production. Autoplanner builds AI-powered systems that unify planning across global warehouses and last-mile assets, delivering globally optimized plans that maximize profit and minimize lateness. You will act as the engineering partner to our data scientists, ensuring our systems remain robust, highly scalable, and efficient as we roll out to more international retail partners. Our services are mostly Python, but we use Java where a service integrates closely with the Ocado Smart Platform, to take advantage of its shared tooling.

In this role, you will write typed, well-tested Python and oversee cloud-based data applications from end to end. You will contribute to core architectural decisions, improve CI/CD pipelines, and raise engineering standards across the team through pairing, code reviews, and shared tooling. Additionally, you will harness AI coding tools in production while maintaining a strong emphasis on engineering discipline, system performance, and high-quality software craft.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain data- and ML-driven, cloud-based applications.
• Build and maintain robust APIs and data contracts for data science teams and broader Ocado systems.
• Manage cloud deployments and continuously improve CI/CD pipelines across diverse AWS environments.
• Package, version, serve, and monitor machine learning models in live production environments.
• Drive architecture decisions across repository, application, and system levels, documenting them as Architecture Decision Records (ADRs).
• Partner directly with data scientists to transition advanced algorithms and models into scalable production systems.
• Collaborate with software engineers across Ocado Technology to integrate applications within the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP).
• Elevate engineering practices across the team through pairing, code reviews, shared tooling, and responsible AI agent integration.
• Share in on-call and production support responsibilities for critical live operational services.

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven experience as a Senior Software Engineer owning end-to-end production Python services.
• Extensive background building data-intensive cloud applications, preferably asynchronous, event-driven, or queue-based architectures.
• Strong practical knowledge of AWS and/or GCP identity, networking, and messaging services.
• Solid software design capabilities, including defining system boundaries and crafting high-level architectures.
• Rigorous testing and delivery discipline, encompassing integration testing and modern CI/CD practices.
• Hands-on MLOps experience, specifically in packaging, serving, and monitoring ML models in production.
• Demonstrated track record of collaborating effectively with data scientists and cross-functional engineering teams.
• Practical experience using AI coding agents on production codebases, with a sharp judgment on validating and verifying AI-generated output.

Benefits:

We believe in supporting our people with meaningful, flexible benefits that prioritise well-being and work-life balance. Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect:

• Time to recharge: 25 days annual leave (rising to 27 after 5 years), plus the option to buy more - and 30 days a year to work from anywhere in the world.
• Health & wellbeing: Private Medical Insurance from your first month, wellbeing support through specialist apps and EAP, plus Income Protection and Life Assurance.
• Family-first policies: 22 weeks paid maternity/primary carer leave and 6 weeks paid paternity leave.
• Financial support: Pension with employer matching up to 7%, share schemes (Sharesave & BAYE), and interest-free loans for train tickets.
• Commuter perks: Cycle to Work Scheme and free shuttle buses to/from Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City stations.
• Exclusive discounts: 15% off at Ocado.com with free delivery (starting in your first month).

Be bold, be unique, be brilliant, be you. We are looking for individuality and we value diversity. We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to treating all applicants and employees fairly and equally. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment process and supportive work environment. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application.