Senior Optimisation Data Scientist Contract

Harnham - Data & Analytics Recruitment

London

4 days ago

Create job alert

Senior Optimisation Data Scientist Contract | £600-£900/day | Hybrid London

We are working with a major international transport and operations organisation building out a central AI and Data Science capability focused on solving complex operational optimisation problems across multiple business units.

This is a hands-on contract role focused on delivering real optimisation solutions that directly impact large-scale operations. The work centres around logistics, resource allocation and supply chain optimisation problems where the goal is to improve operational efficiency and reduce disruption across a distributed operational network.

Typical problem areas include optimisation of resource allocation, logistics planning and operational decision-making. One example use case involves optimising the allocation of critical components across a large operational fleet to minimise downtime and maximise utilisation. Similar optimisation challenges exist across supply chain planning, operational efficiency and network optimisation.

The team operates centrally but works closely with operational stakeholders across the organisation. Contractors will typically take ownership of optimisation problems end-to-end, from understanding the business problem through to designing and delivering production-ready optimisation models.

This role requires someone who has built optimisation or simulation solutions in real production environments. They are not looking for purely analytical data scientists or academic optimisation specialists. The successful candidate will be able to translate real-world operational problems into practical optimisation approaches and deliver working solutions.

The role requires a consultative mindset and strong stakeholder engagement. You will be expected to work closely with business teams, identify optimisation opportunities and make clear technical recommendations.

Key requirements:

* Proven experience building optimisation or simulation solutions in production * Strong operations research or mathematical optimisation background * Experience working on logistics or supply chain optimisation problems * Experience translating business problems into optimisation models * Strong Python-based modelling experience * Ability to work closely with operational stakeholders

Typical backgrounds include airlines, logistics platforms, retail supply chain, transport networks or other large operational environments.

Contract details:

* £600-£900 per day * Initial contract to end of year with likely extension * Hybrid working - 3 days onsite in London * Occasional travel within Europe may be required

To apply, please email

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Senior Data Science Consultant

Senior Staff Data Engineer

Data Science Lead

Senior Data Scientist

Data Scientist

Lead Data Engineer

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Feb 11, 2026

Careers

How Many Machine Learning Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a Machine Learning Job?

Machine learning is one of the most exciting and rapidly growing areas of tech. But for job seekers it can also feel like a maze of tools, frameworks and platforms. One job advert wants TensorFlow and Keras. Another mentions PyTorch, scikit-learn and Spark. A third lists Mlflow, Docker, Kubernetes and more. With so many names out there, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you must learn everything just to be competitive. Here’s the honest truth most machine learning hiring managers won’t say out loud: 👉 They don’t hire you because you know every tool. They hire you because you can solve real problems with the tools you know. Tools are important — no doubt — but context, judgement and outcomes matter far more. So how many machine learning tools do you actually need to know to get a job? For most job seekers, the real number is far smaller than you think — and more logically grouped. This guide breaks down exactly what employers expect, which tools are core, which are role-specific, and how to structure your learning for real career results.

Feb 3, 2026

Jobs

What Hiring Managers Look for First in Machine Learning Job Applications (UK Guide)

Whether you’re applying for machine learning engineer, applied scientist, research scientist, ML Ops or data scientist roles, hiring managers scan applications quickly — often making decisions before they’ve read beyond the top third of your CV. In the competitive UK market, it’s not enough to list skills. You must send clear signals of relevance, delivery, impact, reasoning and readiness for production — and do it within the first few lines of your CV or portfolio. This guide walks you through exactly what hiring managers look for first in machine learning applications, how they evaluate CVs and portfolios, and what you can do to improve your chances of getting shortlisted at every stage — from your CV and LinkedIn profile to your cover letter and project portfolio.

Jan 29, 2026

Careers Jobs

MLOps Jobs in the UK: The Complete Career Guide for Machine Learning Professionals

Machine learning has moved from experimentation to production at scale. As a result, MLOps jobs have become some of the most in-demand and best-paid roles in the UK tech market. For job seekers with experience in machine learning, data science, software engineering or cloud infrastructure, MLOps represents a powerful career pivot or progression. This guide is designed to help you understand what MLOps roles involve, which skills employers are hiring for, how to transition into MLOps, salary expectations in the UK, and how to land your next role using specialist platforms like MachineLearningJobs.co.uk.