Sr. Engineer, Industrial AI and Analytics

About the role

Panasonic Energy is seeking a Sr. Engineer, Industrial AI and Analytics reporting to the Sr. Director, Next Gen Initiatives. This role operates within the Next Gen Initiatives (NGI) team, a strategic function responsible for advancing automation, AI enablement, and operational transformation across PECNA. The role focuses on the digital and systems execution layer of manufacturing: deploying analytics, industrial AI, data products, and decision-support tools that improve how manufacturing teams see, decide, and act.

The engineer will drive deployment of factory intelligence platforms, operational dashboards, AI/ML solutions, digital twin/simulation concepts, command-center capabilities, and AI-enabled decision support. This role converts Next Gen concepts into production-ready digital capabilities that improve safety, quality, productivity, throughput, and cost performance. The ideal candidate blends future-forward curiosity with a hands-on approach to problem-solving, translating complex manufacturing challenges into structured initiatives and driving cross-functional execution from early discovery through proof-of-concept and full deployment.

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Execution
  • Partner with site leadership and manufacturing stakeholders to define and prioritize analytics, digital AI, and production systems initiatives aligned to NGI pillars.
  • Translate operational challenges into clear initiative charters and drive end-to-end delivery across digital systems (analytics/AI).
  • Own use cases from discovery through proof of concept to scaled deployment, ensuring solutions are operationally relevant, explainable, and embedded into frontline workflows.
  • Manage initiative timelines, risks, and dependencies; drive issue resolution with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Next Gen Technologies
  • Evaluate, pilot, and deploy emerging analytics and digital AI technologies across production sites, including industrial data platforms, AI/ML solutions, digital twins, command centers, and agentic/GenAI tools.
  • Identify and evaluate high-impact opportunities in areas such as predictive maintenance, quality prediction, SPC automation, process optimization, yield improvement, and decision support.
  • Partner with Operations, Process Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, IT/OT, SCADA/MES, and data teams to convert manufacturing data into reliable, governed data products, dashboards, and decision-support tools.
  • Develop evaluation frameworks to assess readiness, data quality, usability, security, reliability, scalability, and ROI before scaled deployment.
• Stakeholder & Vendor Coordination
  • Bridge the gap between Operations, Engineering, Safety, Maintenance, DataX, Quality, Finance, HR, and Supply Chain to ensure digital deployments are secure, scalable, adopted, and sustainable.
  • Drive deployment of Nevada tools to Kansas.
  • Manage relationships with data/AI platform partners, systems integrators, and analytics vendors, including requirements, delivery milestones, validation, and performance accountability.
  • Define and track KPIs such as data quality, adoption, uptime/availability, throughput, yield/quality, cost performance, workflow efficiency, and ROI.
  • Document standards, data definitions, workflows, and best practices to enable repeatable digital deployment across NV and KS sites.
  • Support training and change management for sustainable ownership by relevant teams.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

  Wearing PPE is required and includes equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator. A respirator fit test will be required based on functional area.

Requirements

• Required Education, Certifications, And Licenses
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Data Science, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field.
• Preferred Education, Certifications, And Licenses
  • Master’s degree in a related field.
  • PMP, Palantir Foundry certification, or equivalent continuous improvement / digital platform certification.
• Essential Qualifications
  • 7+ years of experience in manufacturing analytics, industrial data systems, production systems, digital transformation, applied AI/ML, or systems integration within a high-volume manufacturing environment.
  • Proven cross-functional delivery from concept to adoption.
  • Knowledge of factory systems (MES, SCADA, PLCs, ERP, CMMS, SPC) and how they interconnect to support analytics and decision-making.
  • Experience building or managing delivery of operational dashboards, data pipelines, data products, analytics applications, or AI-enabled tools.
  • Strong communication, structured problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Strong project execution skills with ability to manage scope, timeline, risks, dependencies, adoption, and cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Strong communication skills, comfortable working on the shop floor with operations and presenting progress to leadership.
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in battery, semiconductor, automotive, pharmaceutical, or high-speed consumer goods manufacturing.
  • Experience with one or more programming, scripting, or data development languages such as Python, SQL, JavaScript, C#, Java, R, or similar tools.
  • Experience with industrial analytics platforms, Palantir Foundry or similar tools, operational dashboards, digital twins, predictive maintenance, quality analytics, or command-center capabilities.
  • Hands-on experience using modern large language models and GenAI tools such as Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or similar platforms.
  • Familiarity with industrial data architecture, Industrial Data Fabric, Unified Namespace, OT cybersecurity, OPC-UA/DA, MQTT, Modbus, or related data integration concepts.
  • Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, analytics adoption, data governance, or continuous improvement methodologies.
  • Experience working with Japanese manufacturing partners or in cross-cultural engineering environments.
• Travel Requirement

  Up to 25% travel required.

• Physical Demands

  Physical Activities: Percentage of time during the normal workday:

  • Sit: 50%
  • Walk: 30%
  • Stand: 20%

  Required Lifting and Carrying:

  • Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional
  • Up to 20 lbs.: Rare
  • Up to 35 lbs.: Rare
  • Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Rare

Benefits

• Health Benefits

  Medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.

• Voluntary Benefits

  Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.

• Retirement Savings & Investment Plan

  401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.

• Paid Time-Off Benefits

  Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.

• Educational Assistance

  Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.

• Health Management and Wellbeing Programs

  Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date.

• Employee Recognition Program

  High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition.

• Annual Bonus Program

  Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.

• On-site Food Options

  Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events.

• Free Shuttle

  Rides to and from work.

About the company

Panasonic Energy is dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, the team plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us. As the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, Panasonic Energy is expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas. The company fosters an environment where innovation thrives, continually pushing the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs.

Panasonic Energy is committed to a workplace that fosters inclusion and belonging, embracing diverse professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. The company offers competitive salaries and benefits, prioritizing total well-being and supporting physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health.