Senior Software Engineer

SOFTWARE ENGINEER @ RELAY

Relay is fundamentally reshaping how goods move in an online era. Backed by Europe’s largest-ever logistics Series A ($35M), led by deep-tech investors Plural (whose portfolio spans fusion energy and space exploration), Relay is scaling faster than 99.98% of venture-backed startups. We're assembling the most talent-dense team the logistics industry has ever seen.

THE TEAM
• ~90 people, more than half in engineering, product and data
• 45+ advanced degrees across computer science, mathematics and operations research
• Thousands of data points captured, calculated, analysed and predicted for every single parcel we handle
• An intellectually vibrant culture of first‑principles thinking, tight feedback loops and relentless experimentation

Work Alongside Industry Leaders

Rob Ladbrook – Director of Engineering

Rob was Deliveroo’s first IC to be promoted to Principal Engineer, renowned for building ultra-low-latency, fault-tolerant systems at global scale (Deliveroo, Meta). His platforms handle hundreds of millions of real-time transactions with four-nines uptime. At Relay, Rob champions innovation, consistently seeking and supporting new ideas that redefine what's possible.

Diego Protas – Director of Platform Engineering

Diego, an expert in distributed systems and hardware architecture, merging physical computing with enterprise-scale infrastructure. Previously directing teams of 170+ engineers at Mercado Libre and orchestrating large-scale ML-based inference at Meta. At Relay, Diego’s infectious enthusiasm and hands-on leadership are redefining the boundaries of speed and reliability.

Relay’s Mission

Relay exists to free commerce from friction. Today, high delivery costs act as a hidden tax on e-commerce, quietly shaping what can be sold online and limiting who can participate. We envision a world where more goods move more freely between more people, making the online shopping experience seamless and accessible to everyone.

In this future:

• Delivery feels invisible—free shipping is the default, and logistical friction disappears from consumers' minds.

• Retailers of all sizes thrive equally online, whether selling a £5 item or a £500 one, as delivery becomes universally efficient and cost-effective.

Just as the internet eliminates friction from communication, Relay removes friction from the movement of goods, enabling broader participation and creating new opportunities for merchants and consumers alike.

Tech Stack Highlights

• Python, Rust and TypeScript - we keep things simple but use the right tool for the job

• Cross-platform Flutter apps with a deep focus on user experience

• Cloud-native on GCP with extensive use of BigQuery and Cloud Run

• Extensive use of ML modelling and LLM inference - no gimmicks here, this is our daily routine

• Emerging tech integrations, including robotics and IoT-powered operations

The Opportunity

As a Software Engineer at Relay, you'll:

• Own challenging, impactful problems end-to-end, from routing algorithms to real-time optimisation services and intuitive operational tools.

• Collaborate closely with top engineers, data scientists, and product leaders in a highly autonomous and impact-driven environment.

• Regularly ship production-quality code weekly—and often daily—seeing your work directly impact Relay’s growth.

• Create incredible product experiences powering the fastest-growing e-commerce platforms, including Vinted, TikTok, and Temu, impacting millions of users worldwide.

Who Thrives at Relay?

Relay engineers share core traits, captured in our guiding principles, "The Relay Edge":

• Aim with Precision: You define problems clearly and measure your impact meticulously.

• Play to Win: You chase bold bets, tackle the hard stuff, and view constraints as fuel, not friction.

• 1% Better Every Day: You believe that small, consistent improvements lead to exponential growth. You move quickly, deliver results, and learn from every experience.

• All In, All the Time: You show up and step up. You take ownership from start to finish and do what it takes to deliver when it counts.

• People-Powered Greatness: You invest in your teammates. You give and receive feedback with care and candor. You build trust through high standards and shared success.

• Grow the Whole Pie: You seek out win-win solutions for merchants, couriers, and our customers, because when they thrive, so do we.
  If these resonate, and you combine strong technical fundamentals with entrepreneurial drive, let’s connect.

Compensation & Benefits

• Generous equity, richer than 99% of European startups, with annual top-ups to share Relay’s success.

• Private health & dental coverage, so comprehensive you’d need to be a partner at a Magic Circle law firm to match it.

• 25 days of holidays

• Enhanced parental leave.

• Hardware of your choice.

• Extensive perks (gym subsidies, cycle-to-work, Friday office lunch, covered Uber home and dinner for late nights, and more).

Fast and Focused Hiring Process

1. Talent Acquisition Interview - 30 min

2. API Integration Interview - 1 hour

3. Technical Interview - 2 hours

4. Operating Principles & Impact - 1 hour

5. Decision and offer within 48 hours, our process mirrors our pace of work, typically completed in a week.

Relay is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and fostering a workplace where everyone thrives.