Product Owner, AI Products for R&D

Covestro AG; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Covestro AG is seeking an R&D AI Product Owner to lead the vision and roadmap for AI-powered applications that embed intelligence into R&D workflows.

You will coordinate data scientists, software engineers, chemists and external partners to deliver secure, high-impact AI solutions from lab to market.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master in science/engineering with industrial R&D experience.
• 5+ years in data science / data analytics / generative AI.
• 5+ years in project management in large global initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Define product vision and roadmap for AI applications in R&D.
• Coordinate with data scientists, software engineers, chemists and external partners.
• Translate business objectives into product requirements and ROI metrics.
• Communicate strategy to stakeholders and maintain buy-in.
• Own vendor selection for non-technical services and track product metrics.

Skills

Product ownership

Stakeholder mgmt

Cross-functional

Agile PM

Education

PhD in science/engineering

Master in science/engineering

Tools

AI/ML frameworks

Job description

We are Covestro. We are curious. We are courageous. We are colorful. We refine chemical material solutions with game-changing products. Let us empower you to push boundaries. Join us and our 18,000 colleagues now and together we will make the world a brighter place. Are you ready to shape the future of specialty chemicals R&D? Covestro is building an AI-native platform that will transform how we discover, design, and deliver breakthrough materials. As our R&D AI Product Owner, you'll be at the forefront of this transformation, translating decades of proprietary chemistry expertise into AI-powered software that accelerates innovation from lab to market. You'll own the product vision and roadmap for AI applications that embed intelligence directly into our R&D workflows—moving beyond generic chatbots to AI that ideates, recommends, and executes alongside our scientists. Working at the intersection of cutting-edge AI technology, materials science, and global R&D operations, you'll coordinate cross-functional teams spanning data scientists, software engineers, chemists, and external AI partners to deliver secure, high-impact solutions. This isn't just product management—it's pioneering a competitive advantage in an industry where AI adoption will separate leaders from followers. If you have deep R&D experience, AI/data science expertise, and the vision to turn complex technical challenges into transformative products, this is your opportunity to define how a Fortune 500 materials science company wins with AI.

Major Tasks & Responsibilities

• Strategy & Vision
• Communicate the Digital R&D AI Strategy to stakeholders and maintain organizational buy-in.
• Own the product roadmap and prioritization framework
• Define which use cases to pursue in what sequence
• Translate business objectives into product requirements
• Stakeholder and User Management
• Own relationships with R&D chemists, simulation experts, and other end users
• Conduct user research, gather feedback, and validate use case
• Manage leadership expectations and communications on product progress
• Coordinate with IT, security, and external vendor on product-level needs
• Business & Operations
• Drive use case validation and ROI quantification
• Manage budget priorities and resource allocation decisions
• Own vendor selection for non-technical product services
• Track and report on product metrics, adoption, and business outcomes.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in a science or engineering field with 5+ years’ experience conducting R&D or process optimization in an industrial setting; OR Master’s degree in a science or engineering field with 6+ years’ experience conducting R&D or process optimization in an industrial setting
• 5+ years of relevant experience in data science / data analytics / generative AI
• 5+ years of experience in project management in large global and cross-functional initiatives

Preferred Qualifications

• Completed coursework and certifications in machine learning, deep learning, AI agents, software engineering using AI.

Knowledge and Skills

• Extensive practical knowledge of agile project methodologies
• Structured problem-solving approach
• Agile mindset
• Team player familiar with virtual organizations

Covestro is a world-leading supplier of high-tech polymer materials: innovative, sustainable and diverse. Guided by our purpose to make the world a brighter place, we develop products and solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible. And to this aim, we are focusing fully on the circular economy. There’s life at work and outside of work. At Covestro, we see the whole picture.

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