Senior Optimization Scientist - Crew & Scheduling Leader

easyJet Airline Company PLC; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 20% bonus

Pension contributions 7%

Staff travel benefits

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Annual holiday credit

Flexible benefits

Job summary

easyJet Airline Company PLC is seeking a Senior Operations Research Scientist to lead the design, development and deployment of optimisation models, simulation tools and decision-support solutions for key operational decisions.

You will combine deep technical expertise with strong stakeholder engagement to translate business challenges into measurable outcomes and guide cross-functional teams across crew planning, aircraft scheduling and ground operations.

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of operations research, mathematical programming, simulation, stochastic processes, and decision theory.
• Advanced programming in Python and C++, or similar high-performance languages.
• Experience with optimisation software such as Gurobi, CPLEX or Xpress.
• Proven track record delivering OR solutions in operational environments.
• Experience solving large-scale routing, scheduling or resource allocation in aviation/transport.
• Strong understanding of algorithm design and performance optimisation, including heuristics.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Degree in OR, Mathematics, CS, Engineering or related quantitative field.
• Leadership across cross-functional teams.
• Industry experience in OR and optimisation with technical leadership.
• Experience with cloud-based optimisation platforms and distributed computing.
• Machine learning and hybrid optimisation approaches.
• Simulation, reinforcement learning and advanced heuristic methods.
• Commercial airline operations, crew planning or aircraft scheduling.
• Aviation regulations and constraints.

Responsibilities

• Leading the architecture and delivery of advanced operations research solutions across crew planning, aircraft scheduling, network resilience and ground operations.
• Designing and implementing high-performance optimisation algorithms and production-grade solutions using Python, C++ and commercial solvers.
• Integrating optimisation, simulation and reinforcement learning techniques for multi-stage decisions.
• Partnering with senior stakeholders to translate business challenges into mathematical models with clear operational and commercial outcomes.
• Leading delivery across the full data science and optimisation lifecycle, from opportunity identification through deployment and continuous improvement.
• Collaborating with data and technology teams to ensure data quality and availability for optimisation solutions.
• Mentoring colleagues in operations research techniques and establishing best practices.
• Representing easyJet through industry events and partnerships.

Skills

Operations research

Mathematical programming

Simulation methodologies

Stochastic processes

Decision theory

Python & C++

Gurobi/CPLEX/Xpress

Algorithms & heuristics

Communication skills

Leadership

Cloud-based optimisation

Machine learning

Reinforcement learning

Aviation domain experience

Education

Degree in Operations Research, Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering or related quantitative discipline

Tools

Gurobi

CPLEX

Xpress

Job description

easyJet Airline Company PLC is seeking a Senior Operations Research Scientist to lead the design, development and deployment of optimisation models, simulation tools and decision-support solutions for key operational decisions.

You will combine deep technical expertise with strong stakeholder engagement to translate business challenges into measurable outcomes and guide cross-functional teams across crew planning, aircraft scheduling and ground operations.