Data Scientist

Job Description

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop, validate, maintain, and refine predictive models tailored to large-scale manufacturing environments.

• Lead end-to-end projects aimed at improving production efficiency and business outcomes through advanced modeling.

• Partner with data and software engineers to integrate predictive models into current and future data infrastructures and visualization platforms.

• Work closely with teams in process engineering, operations, production planning, and commercial functions to incorporate specialized industry knowledge.

• Conduct ad hoc data analyses as requested by senior management.

Education & Experience:

• PhD in Statistics, Physics, Engineering, Materials Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related STEM field;
  OR

• Master’s degree in a STEM field with a minimum of 3 years of experience in a data-focused role, ideally within high-volume manufacturing;
  OR

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with at least 5 years of relevant data-driven experience in a manufacturing setting.

• Demonstrated success in developing and deploying predictive models using machine learning and scientific methodologies.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Strong foundation in machine learning, mathematical modeling, statistical analysis, and scientific reasoning.

• Practical experience with machine learning platforms such as TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, Amazon SageMaker, or IBM Watson.

• Ability to explain core data science concepts—like validation, bootstrapping, bias-variance tradeoff, deep learning, and large language models—to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Proficiency in data platforms and tools such as SQL, Hadoop, Spark, or equivalent.

• Skilled in Python, C++, or other contemporary programming languages.

• Familiar with modern software development practices, including version control and virtualization.

• Experience with data exploration tools like JMP, Pandas, R, SAS, MATLAB, or Mathematica.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Working Conditions:

• Primarily office-based work, with regular on-site visits to production areas.

• Comfortable working near industrial chemicals and manufacturing machinery.

• Flexibility to occasionally take calls or work during evenings or weekends to support global operations.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods (up to 4 hours at a time).

Safety Requirements:

• Must adhere to all site-specific Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) protocols and Coherent Corp. corporate EHS standards.