Be at the heart of actionFly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.

Apply Now

Data Scientist (Semantic Search/Recommender Systems)

Tesco UK
Digswell
3 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Data Scientist

Data Scientist

Data Scientist - Remote

Data Scientist - Palantir

Data Scientist Python Software - London (IT) / Freelance

Data Scientist

As a Data Scientist within Semantic Search, you will influence the search experience on the Tesco website by utilising advanced technologies and collaborating with a team of seasoned Data Scientists, Machine Learning Engineers, and Software Engineers.

This role is based out of our London (Farringdon) office, offering the flexibility of hybrid working. Spend three days a week in the office and the remainder working from home.

About the Team

Join our world-class team of data professionals who are passionate about solving sophisticated business problems and deploying data products at scale. Our team works across various areas of our business, personalising our customers' experience across all touchpoints, both online and in-store. We are committed to personal and career development, providing on-desk training, support, and dedicating 10% of your working week to learning and professional growth. Additionally, there are opportunities to attend and speak at external and internal events, encouraging individuals' growth as experts in the field. Our team values work-life balance, team days, and cultivates a relaxed yet engaging culture.

  • Applying, modifying, and designing algorithms and models for information retrieval and re-ranking.
  • Advising on the systems architecture, Machine Learning components, and associated technologies.
  • Using data to train and fine-tune models.
  • Developing efficient and high-quality code in Software Engineering.
  • Collaborating closely with Search Engineers, ML Engineers, and Data Scientists.
  • Promoting data science internally and effectively communicating sophisticated solutions to non-technical colleagues.

Requirements

To excel in this role, we are seeking high-reaching individuals with a strong blend of Machine Learning and Software Engineering skills. The following requirements are important:

  • An experienced Data Scientist or a PhD graduate with Semantic Search, recommender systems, information retrieval, or LLM experience.
  • PhD in a relevant field such as Mathematics, Engineering, or Computer Science.
  • Hands-on expertise with Deep Learning approaches, including modern language models based on transformer architecture.
  • Strong coding skills, preferably in Python and a solid grasp of effective methods in Engineering, including version control, development driven by testing, and Continuous Integration.
  • Desirable: Experience with Semantic Search approaches and Vector Databases combined with experience of working with Search Engine frameworks, preferably Elasticsearch.

Our vision at Tesco is to become every customer's favourite way to shop, whether they are at home or out on the move. Our core purpose is 'Serving our customers, communities, and planet a little better every day'. Serving means more than a transactional relationship with our customers. It means acting as a responsible and sustainable business for all stakeholders, for the communities we are part of, and for the planet.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) at Tesco means that whoever you are and whatever your background, we always want you to feel represented and that you can be yourself at work. In short, we're a place where Everyone's Welcome. We're proud to have been accredited as a Disability Confident Leader and we're committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process.

We're a big business and we can offer a range of diverse full-time & part-time working patterns across our many business areas, which means that we can find something that works for you. We work in a more blended pattern—combining office and remote working. Our offices will continue to be where we connect, collaborate, and innovate.


#J-18808-Ljbffr

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

AI Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Must Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK AI hiring has shifted from titles & puzzle rounds to skills, portfolios, evals, safety, governance & measurable business impact. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews, and how to prepare—especially for LLM application, MLOps/platform, data science, AI product & safety roles. Who this is for: AI/ML engineers, LLM engineers, data scientists, MLOps/platform engineers, AI product managers, applied researchers & safety/governance specialists targeting roles in the UK.

Why AI Careers in the UK Are Becoming More Multidisciplinary

Artificial intelligence is no longer a single-discipline pursuit. In the UK, employers increasingly want talent that can code and communicate, model and manage risk, experiment and empathise. That shift is reshaping job descriptions, training pathways & career progression. AI is touching regulated sectors, sensitive user journeys & public services — so the work now sits at the crossroads of computer science, law, ethics, psychology, linguistics & design. This isn’t a buzzword-driven change. It’s happening because real systems are deployed in the wild where people have rights, needs, habits & constraints. As models move from lab demos to products that diagnose, advise, detect fraud, personalise education or generate media, teams must align performance with accountability, safety & usability. The UK’s maturing AI ecosystem — from startups to FTSE 100s, consultancies, the public sector & universities — is responding by hiring multidisciplinary teams who can anticipate social impact as confidently as they ship features. Below, we unpack the forces behind this change, spotlight five disciplines now fused with AI roles, show what it means for UK job-seekers & employers, and map practical steps to future-proof your CV.

AI Team Structures Explained: Who Does What in a Modern AI Department

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are no longer confined to research labs and tech giants. In the UK, organisations from healthcare and finance to retail and logistics are adopting AI to solve problems, automate processes, and create new products. With this growth comes the need for well-structured teams. But what does an AI department actually look like? Who does what? And how do all the moving parts come together to deliver business value? In this guide, we’ll explain modern AI team structures, break down the responsibilities of each role, explore how teams differ in startups versus enterprises, and highlight what UK employers are looking for. Whether you’re an applicant or an employer, this article will help you understand the anatomy of a successful AI department.