At Chewy, it is our mission to become the most trusted and convenient online destination for pet parents and our partners – vets and service providers – alike. Our success is measured by the happiness of the people and pets we serve, not simply by the amount of pet supplies we deliver. That’s why we continue to think of outside-the-Chewy-box ways to delight, surprise, and thank our loyal pet lovers!

Our Opportunity:

Chewy is growing at a rapid pace, and our ability to adapt and innovate continues to create new opportunities in optimizing fulfillment center (FC) operations! If the idea of solving open-ended science questions, optimizing large-scale warehouse operations, and leading research threads in a dynamic environment excites you, we want to talk to you!

Chewy's Fulfillment Science Team is seeking a Research Scientist III with a strong background in Operations Research (OR) and Machine Learning (ML). This role will focus on tackling some of the most challenging problems in FC operations, from optimizing how we process shipments to reducing costs while meeting on-time delivery commitments. You will lead high-impact research initiatives, collaborate with a team of versatile scientists, and drive innovation to shape the future of Chewy’s FC operations.

What You’ll Do:

• Develop, implement, and deploy optimization and ML models to improve FC operations, including but not limited to pick planning and inventory slotting.
• Investigate complex FC operational data to uncover insights, find opportunities, and recommend solutions that drive system improvements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (including Engineering, Operations, and Product) to understand business challenges and translate them into science-based solutions.
• Lead research initiatives that improve operational metrics, contribute to Chewy’s research community, and advance our commitment to operational excellence.
• Effectively communicate technical findings and their implications to non-technical partners, ensuring alignment and understanding across teams.
• Mentor and guide junior researchers, fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment.

What You’ll Need:

• A Master’s degree in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related field. A Ph.D. is strongly preferred.
• At least 3+ years of professional experience leveraging OR and ML toolkits to solve real-world problems; knowledge and experience in warehouse operations is a strong plus.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, with prior experience with optimization solvers like Gurobi and ML libraries like TensorFlow, PyTorch, PySpark, etc.
• Hands-on experience in deploying science models in cloud environment like AWS, Azure, Google cloud, etc.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to simplify complex problems and present clear, actionable insights.
• Proficiency with collaborative programming tools (Git, Confluence, etc.)
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize effectively.