About The Team
This team powers the Zalando Logistics network and as such is absolutely critical to the growth of the Zalando ecosystem. The Logistics Platform is responsible for the WMS (warehouse management system), TMS (transport management system), Returns and last mile delivery product integration for hundreds of millions of items and parcels per year across more than 40 European locations. This role is rather unique in that very few retailers have their own in-house capabilities but we have always understood Logistics as a combination of customer centricity, people, and technology and have developed a proprietary software stack tailored to fashion and lifestyle logistics.
Zalando’s efficient growth and leading customer convenience proposition relies on our ability to grow and improve our network by using automation, smart algorithmic solutions, deep integration and resilient state engines. You manage logistics processes and services accounting for a cost base of >2B€; impact the day-to-day work of 25,000+ employees at peak and the convenience experience of 50M active customers across 25 countries.
You ensure that all decisions that the systems are making or enabling balance cost, speed and throughput for the benefit of our Customers, Partners, and Planet. A significant part of the volumes the system ships is done on behalf of partners, either via our Zalando Fulfillment Services and via the Fashion Store or through Multi Channel Fulfillment via the channels of our partners, which requires multi tenancy on inventory, mission, throughput, duration, prioritization and workflow level.
You will lead all of the applied science and software engineering resources within the department. The department consists of 4 sub departments
- Logistics Algorithms, who are responsible for the decision making within our WMS
- Logistics Application & Automation, which are responsible for bringing in new automation technology and building the applications and tools for our coworkers in our Fulfillment Centers (FCs)
- Logistics Abilities, which builds the fundament for our applications and algorithms in our FCs and ensures consistency
- Logistics Transport & Returns, which builds the toolchain for our return centers, our TMS and the integration into the last mile carriers
We have recently redesigned our Systems and have brought them to production. The biggest challenge ahead is the roll out in the whole network, which includes the seamless switch of warehouses and workflows (with no downtime), and a deeper integration with the systems that are optimizing not on location level but on network level to enable more global optimization and to connect inbound and outbound decision-making.
We are using a modern tech stack based on microservices, communicating via events or REST APIs, operated in a cloud environment on top of kubernetes. The programming languages of choice are Java, Kotlin and Javascript and we store most of our data in Postgres Databases for transactional data or a Data Lake for analytical purposes. The teams are responsible not only for building the software but are also operating it 24/7.
In addition you will be leading our Warehouse IT teams spread across 11 national and international sites. Our Warehouse IT team serves as an interface between IT, Logistics and Business and offers tailored and reliable IT Services and consultancy to our Zalando Logistics.
THE ROLE
The purpose of this role is to provide the technical vision for the logistics platforms. This includes both the software engineering architecture and the applied science foundation that our logistics systems are built upon.
This role requires the ability to identify the link between scientific advances and business impact (what should we productionize?) and to design a delivery mechanism to serve the needs of diverse client teams. Further, these data products will sit on a customer’s critical path, so they have to include data validity checks, offer high availability and robustness.
Or in other words if you are up for the challenge of integrating machines of the size of an airplane like Bagsorters, working on algorithms that are exceeding the amount of atoms in the universe like batching, quick frontends that are not slowing down our colleagues and resilient state engines by leading a team of over 100 engineers and time-critical projects then this a job for you.
This role is a senior member of the Logistics Leadership Team with counterparts in HR, Finance, Operations, Product, and Network. The role often represents Logistics in cross functional initiatives. This role is the one of the most senior engineering roles at Zalando and as such is a role model for the entire community of engineers.
WE’D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF YOU POSSESS
- Significant experience as an accomplished software engineer, expert knowledge, and strong leadership skills
- Very good architectural & design skills, especially around micro services and event based systems
- Good applied science knowledge and experience
- Experience in further developing software engineering practices and improving productivity of software engineering teams
- Strong engineering and people leadership experience of over 100 engineers and researchers, but below 350
- Deep domain expertise in ecommerce warehousing and transportation
- Experience of automation in logistics
- Very good stakeholder management skills and adept at collaboration
- Experience in manage large complex time and scope critical projects and excellence in operating business and customer critical systems in the area of logistics
- Experience of defining and executing vision and strategy
- Strong leadership experience including a track record of developing people, managing large teams, collaborative leadership, and distributed decision making
- Experience of collaborating closely with Product teams and ideally product experience
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. Learn all about Zalando and our values here https //jobs.zalando.com/en/our-culture
- Employee shares program
- 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, 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 Wellhub "Gympass")
- Mental health support and coaching available
INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN
At Zalando, our vision is to be inclusive by design. 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
About Zalando
Zalando brings head-to-toe fashion and beauty to around 50 million active customers in 25 markets across Europe. We work with over 7,000 brands and have 15 outlet stores, 12 logistics centres, and offer 20 different payment options. But, perhaps most importantly, we have over 15,000 diverse and brilliant colleagues in tech, fashion & beauty, logistics, and every other area of online retail. And we’re all working to do the same thing reimagine fashion for the good of all.
