Regional Data & AI Engineer, Operations, Asia Pacific

Regional Data & AI Engineer builds and advances a scalable data and AI backbone for smart manufacturing across Asia sites within Coatings business unit. It combines the development of a standardized production data architecture across sites with the ability to translate data into business value through advanced analytics, AI-ML, and agentic AI solutions. The role ensures that production data is consistently leveraged to improve performance, enable better decisions, and drive continuous optimization across the regional manufacturing network.

Responsibilities

Define and implement the target architecture for the capture, integration, and provision of production and process data across multiple sites, ensuring scalability and alignment with global standards; Develop and implement standards and concepts for the integration of production-relevant data sources, including sensors, PLC, SCADA, historian, MES, LIMS, quality, and ERP systems, with a focus on data quality, availability, and cybersecurity; Design and structure production data models to support reporting, root cause analysis, process optimization, as well as advanced analytics and AI applications; Provide technical guidance and advisory support to business functions, production sites, and project teams, translating business requirements into robust architectural solutions; Establish and maintain regional standards for data models, interfaces, documentation, and governance; Collaborate within an international network of sites, experts, and stakeholders, and contribute to and drive global roadmaps; Drive the design, development, and industrialization of AI-ML based and agentic AI-based solutions tailored to manufacturing operations; Identify, evaluate, and manage partnerships with external vendors, startups, and technology providers

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in computer science, data engineering, Data Science / Artificial Intelligence or a comparable scientific or technical field; Min. 5 years of professional experience in data architecture, data integration, industrial data platforms or advanced analytics, ideally in a global production-related environment; Experience in designing scalable data architectures and a good understanding of data quality, governance, information security and standardization; Strong understanding of production processes and industrial system landscapes; Solid knowledge of integrating IT and OT systems and relevant standards such as ISA-95, OPC or MQTT; Strong knowledge of data processing, data modeling and data analysis, and technologies such as Python, SQL, ETL/ELT concepts and modern data platforms; Knowledge of Databricks platform, Agentic AI, and Machine Learning techniques, including decision tree learning, clustering, artificial neural networks, etc., and their pros and cons; Strong communication and facilitation skills, confidence in working with global stakeholders, strong team orientation, high degree of initiative and structuring capability; Very good written and spoken Chinese and English skills