Backend Optimisation Engineer (Python)

Job Title: Backend Optimisation Engineer (Python) Report to: Simon, CTO Location: London, hybrid. Usually 3 days/week in the office in London Bridge.} Compensation: £70,000 per annum 6% employer pension with opportunity for equity. Start date: ASAP Visa/sponsorship: Not available About MannyAI MannyAI, formerly known as Pattern Project, is a VC-backed startup at the forefront of revolutionising the fashion supply chain industry. Our mission is to drive a more sustainable future by reducing garment overproduction through AI-driven solutions. We are helping transform the industry from large production runs and mass manufacturing to a network of agile factories responding to customer demand. By optimising production processes and creating digital twins, MannyAI enhances the efficiency and speed of small batch garment manufacturing matching supply to demand. By 2034, we aim to abate 10 million tonnes of CO2e annually. Founded in 2021, our team is made up of 7 wonderfully unique individuals, working at our HQ in London Bridge. Shruti, CEO, has a background in manufacturing, having previously owned a factory, in addition to 5 years experience in Silicon Valley startups. Simon, CTO, has over 15 years experience in computer science and data science and founded an award winning data visualisation studio. We’ve raised a pre-seed round from leading European investors and one of the world’s largest manufacturing companies. We are showing early signs of product-market-fit, with two potential avenues for commercialisation. Over the next 6 months we will be concurrently testing both, and aim to prove repeatability in one of these areas. You will play a key role in this period of hypothesis testing and go-to-market exploration. Role Overview: We are seeking a backend developer with strong experience in optimisation algorithms. If ant colony optimisation, reinforcement learning and heuristics are your thing we would love to hear from you. This early hire will play a pivotal role in developing and integrating our software across various factory settings. As a small start up we are looking for someone who is flexible and can help across a range of programming tasks including backend development of the platform. Due to the nature of early start ups you must be comfortable working in a fast changing environment as we discover new customer needs daily. Key Responsibilities: Site visits and requirements building: Consulting with clients online and via site visits to build requirements for software and optimisations. This can be in the UK and abroad. Software Development: Lead the design and implementation of optimization models using linear programming solvers (Highs, Gurobi), heuristic algorithms and reinforcement learning. Work with a team as needed across all development needs. AI Integration: Develop and integrate AI solutions, including LLMs, into our software to enhance factory operations. Collaboration: Work closely with stakeholders and data engineers to understand requirements and ensure seamless integration of solutions. Testing & Deployment: Design and execute testing strategies to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of the developed solutions. Support deployment in production environments. Documentation: Create comprehensive documentation outlining functionality, integration points, and usage guidelines. Troubleshooting: Provide ongoing support and troubleshooting for any issues encountered post-deployment. Skills & Experience: Operational Research Expertise: Proficiency in linear programming, mixed-integer programming, and heuristic methods. AI Proficiency: Experience working with AI technologies, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs). Solver Experience: Hands-on experience with linear programming solvers like Highs and Gurobi. Programming Skills: Strong proficiency in Python and willingness to learn AWS deployment and javascript. Experience with the Django framework is a plus. System Integration: Familiarity with integrating optimisation and AI solutions into larger systems or platforms. Industry Experience: Prior experience in scheduling or resource allocation problems, preferably in a manufacturing context. Educational Background: A degree in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field is expected. Professional Experience: At least 3 years of industry experience in relevant roles. Communication Skills: Excellent communication skills, capable of collaborating with diverse teams and stakeholders. Growth Potential: This role offers significant growth potential, with the opportunity to lead all AI efforts within the company and report directly to the CTO as the company expands. Three stages (max. 4 hours of your time). Introduction call: initial conversation to get to know each other better, and explore what motivates you (30 mins) Take-home assessment: (max. 2 hours) Final interview with CTO and optimisation expert (1 hour) How to Apply: Please send your CV/Portfolio and a short covering letter detailing your relevant experience to simonmanny-ai.com. Including a link to a GitHub repository showcasing your work with linear programming solvers and AI would be a bonus. Join us in transforming the fashion supply chain industry with innovative technology and sustainable practices