Site Ops AI & Automation Engineer

NEXT Retail Ltd.; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company is seeking a Site Ops AI & Automation Engineer to transform operations by integrating automation and AI into daily workflows. The role involves designing Python automation scripts, monitoring their impact, and collaborating with stakeholders. The position offers flexible working and a competitive salary range of £40,000 - £53,000, along with excellent benefits such as discounts and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

25% off most products

Company performance based bonus

Sharesave scheme

On-site nursery

Access to discounts at Staff Shops

Financial Wellbeing services

Discount on gym memberships

Qualifications

• Proven ability to design and implement automation scripts using Python.
• Experience with developing automated testing frameworks for content validation.
• Strong analytical skills with Python, SQL, and BI tools.

Responsibilities

• Integrate automation and AI into daily workflows.
• Design and implement Python based automation scripts.
• Monitor and measure the impact of automation.

Skills

Python scripting

AI/ML integration

Automated testing frameworks (Selenium, Playwright)

API consumption

SQL

Business Intelligence tools (Power BI, Tableau)

Web technologies (HTML, CSS, JS)

Job description

As the Site Ops AI & Automation Engineer, you'll play a key role in transforming our operations by integrating automation and AI into daily workflows. You'll streamline repetitive tasks, enhance accuracy and accelerate decision‑making using cutting edge tools and data analysis. Embedded in the Site Operations team, you'll drive an automation first culture by building smart, practical solutions that reduce manual effort and prepare the organisation for more advanced AI adoption.

You'll be doing all this from either our Leicestershire Head Office. Our offices are inspiring, yes. But we understand that life happens. So, we're big on making sure your work, works for you which is why we offer flexible working. Bring your energy. Play to your strengths. Make things bigger and better than before. Let's Take It On.

Business Process Automation

• Identify repetitive or manual business processes across multiple teams within the department where automation could support efficiency and reduce errors.
• Design and implement Python based automation scripts and AI enabled workflows that complement human effort, allowing scale and enhanced productivity across teams.
• Partner closely with stakeholders to map existing processes, understand team pain points, and co‑create automation solutions that improve productivity.
• Build reusable automation frameworks that can be shared across teams, encouraging consistent best practice and reducing duplication of effort.
• Monitor and measure the impact of automation, highlighting where it has helped teams work more effectively, freed capacity, or improved outcomes.
• Act as a champion for AI collaboration, showing how automation supports people in their roles and strengthens overall performance.
• Contribute to the departments wider adoption of automation and AI by upskilling colleagues, sharing knowledge, and creating accessible tools that empower teams.

Automated Testing & Quality Assurance

• Develop, implement, and maintain Python based automation frameworks to validate platform functionality and performance.
• Continuously review and enhance testing processes, introducing AI assisted validation to increase efficiency and coverage.
• Proactively identify opportunities for automation in regression testing, reporting, and operational workflows.
• Experience with building complex engineered prompts to aid implementation tasks with AI.
• Desirable; experienced in using AI to aid in code completion to drive productivity.
• Desirable; experience with Vertex AI and/or embedding for data vectorisation.
• Desirable; comfortable with the Google ecosystem such as bigquery, appscripts, cloud run etc.

Qualifications and Skills

• Proven ability to design, implement and scale efficient automation scripts and workflows, primarily using Python, to reduce manual effort, enhance efficiency, and minimize errors. This includes process mapping, stakeholder collaboration, and experience integrating AI/ML services to augment human decision‑making.
• Proficiency in developing and maintaining automated testing frameworks (e.g., Selenium, Playwright) for content validation, cross‑browser/cross‑device compatibility, and proactive error detection (e.g., broken links, missing assets).
• Strong analytical skills combining Python, SQL, and BI tools (Power BI/Tableau) with automation to accelerate insights.
• Must have hands‑on experience consuming and interpreting APIs and a working knowledge of web technologies (HTML, CSS, JS) for effective troubleshooting.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical outputs and automation impact (time saved, risk reduced) into clear, business‑focused insights for stakeholders at all levels.
• Must be a strong collaborator focused on driving an automation‑first culture and managing multiple priorities effectively.

The eCommerce team is recruiting a Site Ops AI & Automation Engineer to join the Developments team and drive AI innovation forward! Based at NEXT Head Office in Leicestershire, offering a competitive salary range of £40,000 - £53,000 and great benefits!

Benefits

• 25% off most NEXT, MADE, Lipsy, Gap and Victoria's Secret products (when purchased through NEXT)
• Company performance based bonus
• Sharesave scheme
• On‑site Nursery available; OFSTED outstanding in all areas
• 10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty
• Early VIP access to sale stock
• Access to fantastic discounts at our Staff Shops
• Restaurants with great food at amazing prices
• Access a digital GP and other free health and wellbeing services
• Free on‑site parking
• Financial Wellbeing – Save, track and enhance your financial wellbeing
• Apprenticeship – Grow and develop on the job whilst gaining a qualification
• Direct to Work – Discount online and instore, collect your items the next day for free from your place of work or local store
• Support Networks – Access to Network Groups to empower and celebrate each other
• Wellhub – Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions and more