Ice Cream Digital and Data – Data Scientist

Unilever; Sharnbrook; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A global food company is looking for a Data Scientist to enhance innovation in product design using advanced data modelling techniques. The successful candidate will leverage AI, collaborate across teams, and work in a hybrid environment. Candidates should hold a degree in Engineering and have experience with food process modelling tools and Python for machine learning. This role also offers competitive salary benefits and flexibility.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

Subsidised gym membership

Discounted staff shop

Qualifications

• Experience in food process modelling and simulation tools.
• Strong knowledge of Design of Experiment (DoE).
• Hands-on experience with machine learning, preferably in Python.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary custodian of process data.
• Apply domain-specific analytics to validate data for modelling.
• Build models for predictive process design and control.

Skills

Food process modelling and simulation tools

Machine learning in Python

Design of Experiments

Collaboration across teams

Excellent communication skills

Education

BEng/MEng/MSc in Engineering (Chemical, Food, Mechanical, Control, Electrical)

Tools

COMSOL

Aspen

gPROMS

CFD packages

Job description

Ice Cream Digital and Data – Data Scientist page is loaded

Ice Cream Digital and Data – Data Scientist

Apply locations Colworth Science Park time type Full time posted on Posted Yesterday time left to apply End Date: August 11, 2025 (12 days left to apply) job requisition id R-61395

Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.

Job Title: Ice Cream Digital and Data – Data Scientist

Location: Colworth Science Park

JOB PURPOSE

The job holder will be a member of the Ice Cream Data Science and Modelling team which is part of the Digital and Data group within the Ice Cream Research, Design and Innovation (RD&I) organisation. The team focuses on driving the in-silico first culture by leading the model building programme in RD&I. The team utilizes the latest digital technologies to foster a data-driven decision-making culture, which in turn will deliver faster and superior innovation, to support the growth of The Magnum Ice Cream Company.

This role is critical to shaping the future of product and process design by leveraging AI, modelling, and simulation to accelerate innovation, improve product performance, and maximise the insights from physical experimentation. The job holder will play a key role in developing and applying data-driven and mechanistic models to simulate food manufacturing processes, optimize formulation-process interactions, and design products that delight consumers—all in silico.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as the primary custodian of process data, ensuring quality and completeness
• Apply domain-specific analytics to prepare and validate data for use in modelling and simulation
• Build models that predict relationships between process parameters and formulation properties
• Build models for predictive process design and control
• Collaborate with product developers, process engineers, and digital technologists to ensure process asset maps are up to date to enable accurate simulations and building of digital twins
• Contribute to the development of process digital assets, tools, and platforms that enable scalable model reuse and deployment across RD&I and Supply Chain (Ice cream manufacturing operations).
• Work closely with automation and IoT engineers to streamline data capture from process equipments to enable model building and simulations.

ALL ABOUT YOU

• BEng/MEng/MSc in Engineering (Chemical, Food, Mechanical, Control, Electrical). PhD is an asset.
• Strong experience in food process modelling and simulation tools (e.g., COMSOL, Aspen, gPROMS, CFD packages).
• Strong knowledge of Design of Experiment (DoE)
• Solid understanding of unit operations and process-structure-property-performance relationships in foods.
• Hands-on experience with machine learning, preferably in Python (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, etc.).
• Experience with hybrid modelling approaches (combining mechanistic and data-driven models) is a plus.
• Familiarity with digital twin technologies and in silico experimentation concepts.
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work across multi-functional teams.
• Excellent communication skills, with an ability to bridge technical detail and strategic vision.

Key Standards of Leadership

• Purpose and Service
• Agility
• Passion for High Performance

Key Interfaces

• IC RD&I project and workstream leaders and team members
• RD&I Digital and Data group
• RD&I Novel Formats and Process Team
• Ice Cream Manufacturing Operations

NOTES

About Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, Tresemme, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Marmite, The Vegetarian Butcher, Graze and Pot Noodle.

Faced with the challenge of climate change and the need for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace’

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Unilever | Unilever .

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