Ocado Group Hiring for Software Engineering Graduate Programme Job at Hatfield, East of England, England Full Time

Start Date: September 2023

Duration of Programme: 24 months

Contract Type: Permanent/Full-time

Closing dates for applications: Applications will close on 28 October. Successful candidates will be expected to attend an assessment centre on either 18th November or 25th November. We will reopen applications again shortly after for further assessment centres early next year, apply early to avoid disappointment!

Requirements: We consider candidates from a wide range of academic backgrounds. We will consider any candidate who demonstrates typical understanding. Candidates typically have degrees related to (but not limited to) Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, AI, Robotics, Machine Learning etc.

Location: Hatfield and London. We also operate in a hybrid way of working, so there will be a mix of remote working and time in the office depending on the placement and business needs.

We’re looking for bold, ambitious graduates who can help us push boundaries with our incredible technology and solve problems for retail partners all over the globe. If you are innovative, results-driven and embrace every opportunity to develop, the Ocado Group Graduate Programme could be a great fit for you!

About Us

Ocado Group is an innovative technology business with a strong retail heritage. We are innovators, we are creators, and we are problem solvers. We partner with some of the world’s largest grocers and provide them with the technology and infrastructure to enable them to deliver the best online shopping experience for their customers. You can find more about the Ocado Group story here.

Our teams are putting the world’s retailers online using the cloud, robotics, AI, and IoT. We provide services to partner clients globally via our innovative advanced robotics technology, known as the Ocado Smart Platform (“OSP”), this drives our highly automated, multi-million pound Customer Fulfilment Centres (CFCs). In our CFCs – together with the proprietary software applications – we operate a world-class online grocery business that automates the single pick of products, ready for your online delivery.

The Software Engineering Graduate Programme:

Our rotation scheme is designed to give you first-hand experience of a range of areas from Bot Software to Data Science. As a graduate, you will rotate through multiple departments during the two year scheme in four different six-month placements, giving you a well-rounded understanding of the business. You’ll work in teams across the Ocado Technology division, gaining knowledge and insight into the vast number of challenges. Once you’ve successfully completed the programme, you can look forward to a long-term career with a huge amount of scope and knowledge from across the business.

Here are some of the teams you could be working in on the scheme:

Bot Software & Hardware teams are at the cutting edge of product development. Our engineers focus on the successful delivery of next-generation bot software. We are a team that does what needs to be done, by identifying gaps in our current bot systems and working with talented engineers across our business to prototype and deliver quality products. We are working on niche projects, all contributing to the improvement of our robots.

The eCommerce department creates the eCommerce and Fulfilment solutions that power the Ocado Smart Platform. From the secret sauce that drives our 35 million customer searches and product recommendations, to our market-leading delivery punctuality and order accuracy. Our Mobile teams work closely with our Web teams where we plan & participate in the development of our customer-facing, native iOS app, to be used by millions of people all over the world. Each team is cross-functional; comprising Android, iOS, and backend engineers, product managers, UX designers, and data scientists, to name a few, working together to deliver features to a high standard.

The Simulation and Visualisation team create simulations on Ocado’s new automated warehouses with the intention of optimising robotic operations to increase the throughput of the warehouses.

Advanced Technology are responsible for working on novel projects that involve fast system prototyping and experimentation. The team is made up of software engineers, machine learning specialists and electronics engineers.

The Infrastructure Team consists of teams that develop, maintain, and support the hardware and software that underpins OSP. The department is looking for graduate engineers to join us to help us build a highly configurable, automated, supportable, and monitored platform suited to the forthcoming decade. If you are fascinated by “infrastructure as code” then this is the placement for you.

What are we looking for:

• Having a real passion for quality coding and cutting edge technology

• Being a logical thinker

• Embodying a collaborative approach to projects

• Not being afraid to think outside of the box

To find out more about the Software Engineering Programme click here to listen to our gradchat podcast.

Application process

Our application process consists of four stages that allow you to showcase your abilities in different environments.

1.Online Application

Initial screening process

2. Online Tests

Measures cognitive abilities, attitudes, personality and knowledge

3. Video Interview

Assesses motivations and suitability to work for Ocado Group

4. Assessment Centre

Involves 2 group activities, a presentation and a 1-2-1 interview

Benefits

Listed below are some of the most popular benefits that our employees enjoy.

• 15% discount and free delivery for all employees at ocado.com

• Hybrid working – where the roles allow it, our teams work together in the office, two to three coordinated days a week

• 25 days annual leave (plus optional to buy more)

• 30 days ‘working from anywhere in the world’ policy

• Free shuttle bus to and from Hatfield Train Station

• Generous pension and share schemes

• Private medical insurance

• Variety of discounts with other retailers

Right to Work

We are thrilled to welcome applicants from across the world. Whilst we are able to offer visa sponsorship, please note that we are only able to cover the company-specific costs. For all employment offers made for UK roles, it is expected that you will be based in the UK in commutable distance, ready for your first day of work, so please keep this in mind. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Equal Opportunities

Ocado Group is an equal opportunities employer and as such makes every effort to ensure that all potential employees are treated fairly and equally, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, age, or disability or union membership status. Find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at Ocado here.

Be Bold, Be Unique, Be Brilliant, Be You.