Senior/Lead Operations Research Scientist

C.H. Robinson

About The Position

C.H. Robinson is seeking a Lead Operations Research Scientist with deep experience architecting and delivering optimization solutions that power largescale logistics systems. You will own critical optimization initiatives end-to-end—from defining the problem space to build and validating LP/MIP models, to working with engineering and operations teams to implement solutions in production. This is a hands-on, highly collaborative role. You’ll set modeling standards, guide best practices, and ensure our optimization capabilities scale with the needs of the business. If you enjoy transforming complex optimization challenges into clear, actionable solutions that drive real operational impact, we’d love to talk. This position will be based only in Minnesota, Chicago or Kansas City Responsibilities:

Requirements

5+ years of real-world experience delivering end‑to-end optimization solutions in production environments, ideally within logistics, transportation, supply chain, or large‑scale operational systems.
Demonstrated ability to independently lead and deliver complex optimization initiatives
Demonstrated mastery of Linear Programming (LP) and Mixed‑Integer Programming (MIP) model formulation, constraint design, feasibility analysis, and optimization trade‑offs.
Hands‑on experience using CPLEX (or equivalent e.g. Gurobi) to solve complex modeling problems.
Strong programming skills in Python, with experience writing clean, modular, testable code suitable for production usage.
Solid experience with SQL and cloud‑based data warehouses such as Snowflake.
Experience collaborating with software engineers and integrating optimization models into production systems, including familiarity with C#–based services and APIs.
Proven ability to simplify and communicate complex technical concepts to less technical stakeholders through effective data visualization and presentation.
Deep experience validating assumptions, constraints, and operational inputs to ensure models align with real‑world logistics workflows and constraints.
Strong documentation habits and a track record of creating clear, maintainable artifacts for engineering handoffs.
Ability to work effectively in a remote environment with stakeholders across engineering, operations, and product.

Nice To Haves

Experience with web development (e.g., React, TypeScript, or ASP.NET Core) to support lightweight proof‑of-concept tools.
Familiarity with additional OR techniques such as simulation (discrete‑event or Monte Carlo), decomposition methods, or heuristics/metaheuristics.
Background in network optimization, asset repositioning, vehicle routing, facility location, supply chain modeling, or trailer pool management.
Experience deploying optimization services in cloud environments (e.g., Azure, AWS) and integrating with CI/CD pipelines.
Experience mentoring junior engineers or researchers and helping scale a technical capability.
Values a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end delivery of logistics optimization projects, from problem definition and requirements gathering through model development, validation, deployment, and iteration.
Develop and maintain optimization models using Linear Programming (LP) and Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) to solve real-world logistics, transportation, and network design problems.
Implement optimization solutions using CPLEX, including model formulation, data preparation, solver integration, parameter tuning, and performance optimization.
Write clean, maintainable, production ready Python code for model building, experimentation frameworks, data processing, and service integration.
Collaborate with software engineering teams to integrate optimization models into production applications, ensuring reliability, observability, and maintainability.
Partner with data engineering and analytics teams to access, shape, and validate high-quality datasets using SQL and Snowflake.
Translate complex mathematical and operational concepts into clear insights for non‑technical audiences through effective storytelling and data visualization (e.g., Power BI, Python visualization libraries).
Document model assumptions, constraints, design decisions, and handoff artifacts so engineering teams can operationalize solutions smoothly.
Establish and promote best practices for optimization model development, including versioning, reproducibility, testing patterns, and scalable architecture.
Collaborate cross‑functionally with product, operations, engineering, and business stakeholders to ensure alignment on goals, timelines, and implementation impacts.
Support or lead prototyping of simple web‑based tools (where helpful) to accelerate proof‑of-concept validation and stakeholder adoption.

Benefits

Your Health, Wealth and Self
Your total wellbeing is the foundation of our business, and our benefits support your financial, family and personal goals. We provide the top-tier benefits that matter to you most, including:
Three medical plans which include Prescription drug coverage
Enhanced Fertility benefits
Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Savings Account (including employer contribution)
Dental and Vision
Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance
Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
Paid observed holidays
2 paid floating holidays for U.S. hourly employees
Flexible Time Off (FTO) offered to U.S. salaried employees — no accruals and no caps.
Paid Time Off (PTO) offered to all other employees in the U.S. and Canada
Paid parental leave
Paid time off to volunteer in your community
Charitable Giving Match Program
401(k) with 6% company matching
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Plus a broad range of career development, networking, and team-building opportunities
Learn more about our benefit offerings on our BENEFITS & WELLBEING page