Senior Data Scientist

Ford Motor Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Immediate medical, dental, vision

Flexible family care days

Paid time off and holidays

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a Senior Data Scientist, DCC, based in Dearborn, MI. This hybrid role requires four days onsite weekly and focuses on building AI data products, optimizing models, and delivering analytics at scale.

You will work with data engineers and software engineers, leveraging GCP, AI/ML, and optimization to drive business value for cost efficiency analytics and product teams.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in quantitative fields or related experience.
• 5+ years hands‑on Python, SQL, ML, AI, optimization or statistics.
• 3+ years delivering analytics solutions and 3+ years Agile.
• PhD preferred in quantitative fields is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Model development and optimization: design, train and fine‑tune AI models.
• Deploy models to production and provide robust analytics products.
• Collaborate with data engineers and software engineers across teams.
• Evaluate model performance and monitor in production scale.
• Stay current with AI advancements and apply them to products.

Skills

Python

SQL

Machine learning

Optimization

Statistics

AI

Education

Master’s degree in quantitative fields

PhD preferred in quantitative fields

Tools

Google Cloud Platform

Crew.ai

Langraph

APIs

Job description

We made history and now we work to transform the future – for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

Do you believe data tells the real story? We do! Redefining mobility requires quality data, metrics and analytics, as well as insightful interpreters and analysts. That's where Global Data Insight & Analytics makes an impact. We advise leadership on business conditions, customer needs and the competitive landscape. With our support, key decision makers can act in meaningful, positive ways. Join us and use your data expertise and analytical skills to drive evidence-based, timely decision making.

In this position...

In Global Data Insight & Analytics (GDIA), we aspire to navigate Ford Motor Company through the disruptiveness of the information age, harnessing the power of data and artificial intelligence to realize the enterprise’s known goals, reveal hidden opportunities, and achieve data superiority.

The GDIA Cost Efficiency Analytics team develops data products, analytic software and provides insights to a broad range of skill teams and delivers value to Ford using critical thinking, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and optimization techniques.

As a Senior Data Scientist, DCC, you will use your knowledge of data and advanced analytics to identify and articulate the role data and analytics products play in helping the business achieve their goals. You will develop analytics products using your expertise in visualization, AI/ML, Statistics and Optimization using GDI&A approved packages and architectures. You will collaborate with Data Engineers and Software Engineers to develop robust analytics products. You will use your knowledge of the product driven operating model, analytic and software delivery via Google Cloud Platform to optimize the delivery of value. You will interact with business partners in Cost efficiency analytics to align with their needs and processes to ensure relevancy of products.

Based in Dearborn, MI, this is a hybrid position with a required four-day onsite presence each week

What you'll do...

• Model Development and Optimization: Designing, training, and fine‑tuning AI models (including Deep learning and LLMs) to solve specific business problems.

• Familiar with LLM orchestration workflows like Crew.ai, Langraph, Google ADK for quick development and scaling strategies to build robust pipelines.

• Deployment and Integration: Transitioning models from research environments to production, often by converting them into APIs or integrating them into existing software applications.

• Infrastructure Management: Building and maintaining the infrastructure for AI development, data pipelines, and automated workflows.

• Collaboration: Working with data scientists to define AI strategies, understand requirements, and implement solutions.

• Performance Evaluation: Testing, validating and monitoring AI models in production scale to ensure reliability.

• Research and Innovation: Staying current with AI advancements (e.g., Generative AI, LLMs) and applying them to improve existing products.

Additionally, you will…

• Accelerate the application of value‑added analytics and machine learning into the portfolio of products for CEA.

• Drive analytic excellence into product teams by collaborating with Data Scientists, Data Engineers and Software Engineers in analytic and machine learning methods.

• Work closely with the Product Manager and Product Owner to translate Business Value needs into analytic deliverables and, where appropriate, software products for delivery by product teams.

• Work hands‑on with the team and other partners to deliver solutions that meet our customers’ requirements and needs.

• Act as a consultant to the business vs. an order taker.

• Balance "doing it right" with "speed to delivery" by identifying and mitigating risk, generating options, educating business and other decision makers, and taking on justified technical debt.

You’ll have...

• Master’s degree in quantitative fields, such as Data Science, Engineering, Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics OR Computer Science or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience

• 5+ years of hands‑on experience with Python, SQL, mathematical programming, machine learning, artificial intelligence, optimization/simulation techniques, or statistical analysis

• 3+ years of experience delivering analytics solutions

• 3+ years of experience with Agile team methodology

Even better, you may have...

• PhD degree is preferred in quantitative fields, such as Data Science, Engineering, Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field

• Knowledge and experience working with OGC and related teams/activities (e.g., Compliance, Litigation and Regulatory)

• Proven experience with developing data products/solutions to support analytic applications in Ford’s data ecosystem

• Experience with Product Driven Operating Model or Agile Product Development Process

• Proven proficiency in developing and deploying analytic models, working in a team environment, supporting customers and/or end users

• Comfortable working in an environment where problems are not always well‑defined

• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with ability to communicate complex topics to leaders and peers in a simple and clear manner

• Well‑organized, independent, and ready to work with minimal supervision

• Inquisitive, proactive, and interested in learning new tools and techniques

• Demonstrated hands‑on experience with deploying data products and/or analytic models in Ford’s on‑prem and/or Google Cloud Platform

• Demonstrated experience to translate real‑world business problems into analytical formulations and interpret analytics results with non‑analytics business partners

• Working knowledge of Manufacturing IT legacy systems such as FIS, Maximo, QLS, etc.

• Thorough understanding of the 'Common Data Model' standard published by Manufacturing

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder...or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage

• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp‑up programs, subsidized back‑up childcare and more

• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more

• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases

• Tuition assistance

• Established and active employee resource groups

• Paid time off for individual and team community service

• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day

• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position is a salary grade of 7 or 8 and ranges from $99,600- 192,900.

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

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