Senior Data Scientist

About the role

In Global Data Insight & Analytics (GDIA), we aspire to navigate Ford Motor Company through the disruptiveness of the information age, harnessing the power of data and artificial intelligence to realize the enterprise’s known goals, reveal hidden opportunities, and achieve data superiority. The GDIA Cost Efficiency Analytics team develops data products, analytic software, and provides insights to a broad range of skill teams, delivering value to Ford using critical thinking, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and optimization techniques.

As a Senior Data Scientist, DCC, you will use your knowledge of data and advanced analytics to identify and articulate the role data and analytics products play in helping the business achieve their goals. You will develop analytics products using your expertise in visualization, AI/ML, Statistics, and Optimization using GDIA-approved packages and architectures. You will collaborate with Data Engineers and Software Engineers to develop robust analytics products. Based in Dearborn, MI, this is a hybrid position with a required four-day onsite presence each week.

Responsibilities

• Model Development and Optimization: Designing, training, and fine-tuning AI models (including Deep learning and LLMs) to solve specific business problems. Familiar with LLM orchestration workflows like Crew.ai, Langraph, Google ADK for quick development and scaling strategies to build robust pipelines.
• Deployment and Integration: Transitioning models from research environments to production, often by converting them into APIs or integrating them into existing software applications.
• Infrastructure Management: Building and maintaining the infrastructure for AI development, data pipelines, and automated workflows.
• Collaboration: Working with data scientists to define AI strategies, understand requirements, and implement solutions.
• Performance Evaluation: Testing, validating, and monitoring AI models in production scale to ensure reliability.
• Research and Innovation: Staying current with AI advancements (e.g., Generative AI, LLMs) and applying them to improve existing products.
• Accelerate the application of value-added analytics and machine learning into the portfolio of products for CEA.
• Drive analytic excellence into product teams by collaborating with Data Scientists, Data Engineers, and Software Engineers in analytic and machine learning methods.
• Work closely with the Product Manager and Product Owner to translate Business Value needs into analytic deliverables and, where appropriate, software products for delivery by product teams.
• Work hands-on with the team and other partners to deliver solutions that meet our customers’ requirements and needs.
• Act as a consultant to the business vs. an order taker.
• Balance "doing it right" with "speed to delivery" by identifying and mitigating risk, generating options, educating business and other decision makers, and taking on justified technical debt.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in quantitative fields, such as Data Science, Engineering, Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, or Computer Science or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with Python, SQL, mathematical programming, machine learning, artificial intelligence, optimization/simulation techniques, or statistical analysis.
• 3+ years of experience delivering analytics solutions.
• 3+ years of experience with Agile team methodology.

Qualifications

• PhD degree is preferred in quantitative fields, such as Data Science, Engineering, Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field.
• Knowledge and experience working with OGC and related teams/activities (e.g., Compliance, Litigation, and Regulatory).
• Proven experience with developing data products/solutions to support analytic applications in Ford’s data ecosystem.
• Experience with Product Driven Operating Model or Agile Product Development Process.
• Proven proficiency in developing and deploying analytic models, working in a team environment, supporting customers and/or end users.
• Comfortable working in an environment where problems are not always well-defined.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with ability to communicate complex topics to leaders and peers in a simple and clear manner.
• Well-organized, independent, and ready to work with minimal supervision.
• Inquisitive, proactive, and interested in learning new tools and techniques.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with deploying data products and/or analytic models in Ford’s on-prem and/or Google Cloud Platform.
• Demonstrated experience to translate real-world business problems into analytical formulations and interpret analytics results with non-analytics business partners.
• Working knowledge of Manufacturing IT legacy systems such as FIS, Maximo, QLS, etc.
• Thorough understanding of the ‘Common Data Model’ standard published by Manufacturing.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare, and more.
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more.
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases.
• Tuition assistance.
• Established and active employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

Pay

This position is a salary grade of 7 or 8 and ranges from $99,600 to $192,900. Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility, and competitive market value.