Data Scientist (Operations Research & Optimization)

About the job

The story of Yıldız Holding, which started with biscuit production in Istanbul in 1944, continues today with our food-snack products that we have reached 4 billion people in 5 continents with more than 300 brands and with our retail companies all over Turkey. With our more than 80 thousand employees, the majority of whom are located in Turkey, we aim to reach the better without stopping, and we produce a wide range of products from biscuits to chocolate, from frozen food to packaging in a total of 45 factories, 20 of which are abroad. We always raise the bar in economic contribution, employment, exports, social solidarity and sustainability. We give priority to social contribution with the principle of "Make Happy Be Happy" and we have been producing happiness for more than 80 years with our products, services and sustainable social responsibility understanding.

Our company Yıldız Tech, established to support the software development journeys of our digital applications within our group and to create innovative solutions, aims to enable our customers operating in the e-commerce sector to make the most of next-generation technologies, achieve success through digital and analytical solutions, and capitalize on emerging opportunities to attain sustainable benefits.

Job Description

Yıldız Tech's Digital Transformation organization is seeking a Data Scientist (Operations Research & Optimization) to design and implement advanced optimization and decision-support solutions. In this role, you will work on projects such as route optimization, inventory and stock optimization, resource allocation, production scheduling, profit maximization, and other operations research problems. You will collaborate with business and engineering stakeholders to transform complex operational problems into scalable, data-driven optimization solutions.

What Awaits You, What Will Be Your Responsibilities?

• Researching, designing, implementing, and evaluating optimization algorithms and mathematical models (linear, integer, mixed-integer, nonlinear, stochastic programming, heuristics/metaheuristics, etc.).
• Developing models to optimize supply chain, logistics, and production planning decisions (e.g., inventory policies, routing, scheduling, resource allocation).
• Building simulation and what-if analysis tools to support strategic and tactical decision-making.
• Integrating statistical and machine learning techniques with optimization models — e.g., using demand forecasting to feed planning models, clustering to enable scalable route optimization and regression models to estimate cost effects.
• Preprocessing and preparing data from multiple sources to be used in optimization and mathematical modeling.
• Implementing robust algorithms and ensuring their scalability for large datasets and complex real-world problems.
• Creating reports, maps and visualizations to communicate model outputs and recommendations effectively.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams including operations, supply chain, production, and IT stakeholders to understand requirements and deliver impactful solutions.
• Staying updated on the latest research and industry practices in operations research, optimization, and applied AI.
• Documenting methodologies, models, and results in clear, reproducible formats.

What will be the qualifications we expect from you?

• BS/MS Degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science/Engineering (or other related quantitative fields).
• Minimum 3 years of experience in operations research, optimization, or related data science fields.
• Strong background in mathematical optimization (LP, IP, MIP/MILP, nonlinear optimization, stochastic optimization).
• Hands-on project experience in areas such as:
• Routing and scheduling (e.g., VRP, TSP, logistics planning)
• Production planning and scheduling
• Inventory and safety stock optimization
• Resource allocation and assignment problems
• Proficiency in Python and optimization libraries/tools (e.g., CPLEX, OR-Tools, Pyomo, PuLP).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to translate business problems into mathematical formulations.
• Good command of SQL for working with large-scale datasets.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work with cross-functional teams.
• Fluency in English.

Which skills will highlight you?

• Knowledge of statistical/machine learning methods to complement optimization solutions (forecasting, clustering, regression models, etc).
• Experience in cloud environments (AWS, Azure) for scalable model deployment.
• Practical experience with deploying optimization models into production environments.
• Familiarity with reinforcement learning and its applications in operations optimization.
• Strong mathematical and analytical mindset with a passion for optimization.
• Ability to design creative and practical solutions for complex operational problems.
• Effective communication and collaboration abilities.
• Hands-on mindset: from problem formulation to model implementation and deployment.
• Curiosity and eagerness to stay up-to-date with cutting-edge optimization and operations research techniques.
• Team spirit and adaptability in collaborative environments.

“Çalışan Adayı Aydınlatma Metni için ; https://www.yildizholding.com.tr/tr/kisisel-verilerin-korunmasi sayfamızı ziyaret edebilirsiniz.”