Head of Applied Science & Engineering – Search

About the Role

We are looking for a Head of Applied Science to lead the scientific strategy and execution for Search across Europe’s largest fashion & lifestyle platform. This leader will define the long-term vision for Search relevance and discovery, leveraging machine learning, AI, and experimentation to help millions of customers find the right products quickly and confidently.   

You will lead a team of managers,  and principal applied Scientists & engineers responsible for developing and deploying state-of-the-art query understanding, retrieval, and ranking models for Search. Working closely with Product, Engineering, Analytics, and Design, you will shape the future of Search by balancing customer experience, business outcomes, and scientific innovation. 

INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN

If you think you have what it takes, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!

At Zalando, our vision is to be the leading pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle e-commerce – one that thrives on diversity and is truly inclusive by design. We believe that diverse teams fuel innovation and creativity, and we actively seek out talent from all backgrounds.

We actively seek to reduce bias in our hiring and employment processes, focusing on your qualifications, skills, and contributions. To support this, we kindly ask that you refrain from including personal details such as your photo, age, or marital status in your CV, ensuring a fair and equitable evaluation based solely on your abilities and potential.

We are committed to providing an exceptional and accessible candidate experience for everyone. If you require any accommodations to support you throughout the hiring process, please let us know – we are here to assist you.

Discover more about our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/our-culture/diversity-and-inclusion

WHAT WE'D LOVE YOU TO DO

• Define and drive the long-term Applied Science strategy, aligning roadmap investments with customer needs and business priorities.

• Lead the development of advanced ML models for query understanding, retrieval, ranking, and personalization to improve Search relevance.

• Build and inspire high-performing teams of Applied Scientists and ML engineers, fostering a culture of scientific rigor, mentorship, and continuous learning.

• Optimize for business outcomes by balancing relevance, diversity, monetization, and operational efficiency.

• Accelerate innovation by investing in scalable machine learning platforms, data infrastructure, and experimentation frameworks.

• Establish best practices for model governance, offline evaluation, online experimentation, and standardized scientific methods across teams.

• Drive adoption of emerging AI/ML techniques, ensuring the organization stays at the forefront of technological advancements.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, UX, and leadership to define priorities and influence the broader organizational strategy.

WE'D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF YOU BRING..

• Proven experience leading high-performing Applied Science or Machine Learning organizations.

• Track record of defining technical vision and delivering business impact through AI and machine learning.

• Ability to attract, develop, and retain exceptional scientific talent.

• Deep expertise in machine learning, information retrieval, learning-to-rank, NLP, or related disciplines.

• Strong understanding of experimentation, causal inference, statistical modeling, and evaluation methodologies.

• Experience deploying and operating large-scale machine learning systems in production.

• Demonstrated ability to translate customer problems into scientific solutions that deliver measurable business impact.

• Experience balancing customer experience, operational considerations, and commercial objectives.

• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to prioritize long-term investments alongside near-term delivery.

• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives across engineering, product, analytics, and business teams.

• Ability to influence senior leadership through data, scientific reasoning, and clear communication.

OUR OFFER

Zalando provides a range of benefits, here’s an overview of what you can expect. Ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we offer.

• 27 days of holiday a year to start for full-time employees

• 2 paid volunteering days a year

• Employee shares program

• 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, discounts from external partners

• Relocation assistance available (subject to prior agreement)

• Family services, including counseling and support

• Health and wellbeing options (including Wellhub, formerly Gympass)

• Mental health support and coaching available

• Drive your development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review