Global Engineer, Industrial Data Science

Nexteer Automotive; Saginaw (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Nexteer Automotive seeks a Global Engineer, Industrial Data Science to develop and deploy analytics across its worldwide manufacturing operations. You will transform production, quality, and equipment data into actionable improvements using Python, ML, and data visualization.

Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Operations, IT/OT, and Digital Manufacturing teams to establish scalable analytics, data standards, and reusable solutions for MES, IIoT, and digital twins.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years in manufacturing analytics or related field.
• Proficient in Python for data preparation, analysis, and modeling.
• Strong SQL and relational data concepts.
• Experience with Power BI and advanced Excel.
• Fluent English; able to explain complex analytics to non-technical audiences.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
• Bachelor's degree in a technical field; Master's preferred.

Responsibilities

• Analyze manufacturing, quality, maintenance, and traceability data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Develop descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics for key metrics.
• Build and validate statistical and ML models for anomaly detection and predictive maintenance.
• Develop reusable Python-based analytics workflows and data products.
• Acquire and integrate data from PLCs, SCADA, MES, ERP systems, and sensors.
• Create dashboards and data visualizations using Power BI.

Skills

Python

SQL

Power BI

Data Visualization

Statistics

Machine Learning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

OPC UA

MQTT

SCADA

SAP

QAD

Historians

Job description

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Location: Saginaw, MI, US

Division: US-Corporate (COR)

At Nexteer, our strength lies in the diversity of our team—each member contributing unique backgrounds, experiences, and aspirations. We believe this diversity fuels our innovation, broadens our perspectives, and propels our collective growth.

For over a century, we’ve been innovators in the automotive industry. Our vision is clear - we are a global leading motion control technology company accelerating mobility to be safe, green and exciting. Our unwavering commitment to Quality, Collaboration, Integrity, and Accountability guides us as we solve motion control challenges for our global customers. If you’re ready to join a dynamic team that drives change and makes a difference, Nexteer welcomes you!

About the Role:

Nexteer is looking for a Global Engineer, Industrial Data Science - Manufacturing Engineering to develop, deploy, and continuously improve industrial analytics solutions across our global manufacturing operations. This role combines manufacturing knowledge, statistics, Python, machine learning, and data visualization to convert production, quality, equipment, traceability, and operational data into practical improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, launch performance, and equipment effectiveness.

You will collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Operations, Automation, IT/OT, and Digital Manufacturing teams to establish scalable analytics methods, common data standards, and reusable solutions supporting process optimization, predictive maintenance, digital twins, MES, IIoT, and industrial AI.

Key Responsibilities

As a Global Engineer, Industrial Data Science, you will be responsible to:

Manufacturing Analytics and Data Science

• Analyze manufacturing, quality, maintenance, process, and traceability data to identify trends, losses, constraints, and improvement opportunities.
• Develop descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics supporting scrap reduction, first-pass yield, throughput, OEE, process capability, equipment reliability, and warranty improvement.
• Build and validate statistical and machine learning models for anomaly detection, defect prediction, predictive maintenance, process variation, and manufacturing optimization.
• Apply experimental design and statistical methods to validate root causes and measurable business impact.
• Develop reusable Python-based analytics workflows, data products, and automation scripts for manufacturing engineering applications.

Manufacturing Data Integration

• Acquire, clean, transform, and connect data from PLCs, SCADA, MES, traceability systems, historians, quality systems, ERP platforms, sensors, and engineering databases.
• Develop and maintain scalable data pipelines and structured datasets for analysis, visualization, and model deployment.
• Partner with Automation, Controls, IT, and OT teams to improve data availability, contextualization, governance, integrity, and cybersecurity compliance.
• Support industrial connectivity using OPC UA, MQTT, SQL, REST APIs, and related manufacturing communication methods.

Digital Manufacturing and Industry 4.0

• Support Smart Factory, MES, IIoT, Digital Twin, Virtual Commissioning, simulation, and industrial AI initiatives.
• Develop analytics and optimization models that improve manufacturing system design, launch readiness, material flow, process settings, and production performance.
• Evaluate emerging analytics and AI technologies, conduct practical pilots, and define scalable manufacturing use cases.
• Contribute to global technical roadmaps, standards, reference architectures, and deployment playbooks for industrial data science.

Visualization and Decision Support

• Develop automated dashboards, data models, and visual analytics using Power BI, Python, and approved enterprise platforms.
• Establish clear definitions and governance for global manufacturing KPIs.
• Translate complex analytical findings into practical recommendations for plant teams, engineers, and leadership.
• Create concise technical documentation, model summaries, business cases, and training materials.

Quality, Launch, and Continuous Improvement

• Support APQP, product and process launches, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and process capability improvement.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, DMAIC, A3, SPC, and structured problem-solving methods supported by objective data analysis.
• Quantify and validate operational and financial benefits from analytics-driven improvements.
• Support replication of successful solutions across plants, products, and regions.

Collaboration and Leadership

• Lead or support cross-functional analytics projects involving global and regional manufacturing teams.
• Coach engineers and plant personnel in data literacy, statistical thinking, visualization, and data-driven problem solving.
• Share standards, best practices, and lessons learned across the global manufacturing organization.
• Maintain awareness of industrial analytics practices and recommend improvements to Nexteer methods and standards

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing analytics, quality analytics, industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, automation, data science, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience applying data analysis to manufacturing, quality, launch, or operational improvement problems.
• Practical proficiency with Python for data preparation, analysis, visualization, automation, and model development.
• Working proficiency with SQL and relational data concepts.
• Experience developing business intelligence solutions using Power BI and advanced Microsoft Excel.
• Fluent English and the ability to explain complex analytics concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Strong analytical thinking, structured problem-solving, written communication, visualization, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and within global, cross-functional teams, create accountability, and lead by example.
• Ability to travel locally and internationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Automotive, discrete manufacturing, or high-volume manufacturing experience.
• Project leadership and global cross-functional collaboration experience.
• Experience with Azure analytics services, Databricks, PySpark, predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, computer vision, digital twins, simulation, or industrial AI.

Technical Expertise

Area

Expertise

Python, SQL, data preparation, statistical analysis, regression, hypothesis testing, experimental design, time-series analytics, and machine learning.

Python Analytics

Pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, Matplotlib, Seaborn, Plotly, or equivalent libraries.

Power BI, advanced Microsoft Excel, data modeling, dashboard development, and KPI standardization.

Manufacturing Systems

MES, manufacturing traceability, SCADA, historians, PLC data, OPC UA, MQTT, SAP, QAD, or comparable platforms.

Manufacturing Engineering

APQP, launch support, process capability, SPC, root cause analysis, corrective action, Lean, and Six Sigma.

Advanced Technologies

Azure analytics services, Databricks, PySpark, predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, computer vision, digital twins, simulation, and industrial AI.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Master's degree in Data Science, Analytics, Engineering, or a related field is preferred.

This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorization. Do not apply for this role if you will need immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of Nexteer as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)

Nexteer is an Equal Opportunity Employer Disabled/Minorities/Veterans/Women

Nexteer is an E-Verify employer N-Verify is an internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employees to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees in the United States.

Accessibility for Applicants with Disabilities:

If you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please email [e-mail]. Please provide your contact information and details about the posted position of interest. Only inquiries regarding assistance for those who need an accommodation with the online application process due to a disability will be returned.

About Nexteer

Nexteer Automotive is a global leader in advanced steering and motion control systems, enabling intuitive, safe, and comfortable mobility for drivers around the world. Our innovative product portfolio includes Electric Power Steering (EPS), Steer-by-Wire™, Driveline, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technologies that support electrification, software-defined vehicles, and autonomous driving.

With approximately 13,000 employees and operations in more than 20 manufacturing plants and multiple technical centers globally, Nexteer partners with nearly every major global and regional automotive manufacturer.

Employment agencies are an important component of our talent acquisition strategy, and we value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. We will not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies for any employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Nexteer Automotive or directly to hiring managers in any form without a signed Nexteer Automotive Agency Agreement on file, and search engagement for that position, will be deemed unsolicited in nature, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired as a result of the referral or through other means. Additionally, any resume submitted without a contract in place will be considered Nexteer Automotive property and no fees will be paid to the agency if the candidate is hired.

Please note, agency agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by a member of Nexteer’s Human Resources team. No other Nexteer employee is authorized to bind Nexteer to any agreement regarding the placement of candidates by an agency.