Principal R&D Data Scientist at Nestlé

We are seeking a talented Principal Scientist to join our team at Nestlé. As a Principal Scientist, you will champion the value of statistics and data science to drive innovative solutions for R&D and business partners. Your expertise will be pivotal in using advanced statistical methods and data analysis to boost product and process performance while enhancing smarter manufacturing and sensory/product experience controls.

Key Responsibilities

As a Principal R&D Data Scientist, your key responsibilities will include:

• Providing statistical, data science, or mathematical expertise to project teams.
• Leading the integration of statistical thinking and variability awareness across R&D and Operations.
• Transferring statistical knowledge and skills to R&D through regular updates, training development, and coaching.
• Assisting Operations with the application of statistical methods.
• Promoting manufacturing excellence through expertise in Statistical Process Control and Measurement System Analysis.
• Designing experiments, analyzing data, and applying advanced statistical methods to gain knowledge within projects.
• Interpreting results, translating them into relevant information for product development, and communicating through technical papers, reports, and presentations.
• Developing and using statistical/analytical tools to provide Technical Assistance to markets and SBUs.
• Participating in networks or expert communities and events to leverage cross-business knowledge and exchange best practices.
• Communicating effectively with key business stakeholders to identify business needs and promote the added value of data-driven approaches.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate should have:

• Master's Degree or PhD in Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, or related fields.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in statistics for product design.
• Experience in data science for product design is a plus.
• Practical experience building effective Design of Experiments.
• Detailed understanding of statistics and the theoretical foundation of statistical methods.
• Practical knowledge of statistical tools such as Q-stat, Statistical Process Control, Statistical Power Analysis, Linear Least Squares Regression, and Measurement System Analysis.
• Mastery of Data Visualization Tools such as Excel, Power BI, and MiniTab.
• Experience leveraging hypothesis tests to drive decision making in product development.
• Experience distilling information and building a story to effectively convey the meaning of data.
• Leadership capabilities and the ability to coach and train others.
• Highly developed problem-solving and analytical thinking skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to present results to a non-technical audience.
• Strong networking and information gathering skills, and the ability to work in teams.
• Passion for developing and maintaining scientific expertise.
• Knowledge of R or Python.
• Knowledge of mathematical optimization and advanced statistics is a plus.
• Experience building large-data predictive AI models is a plus.
• Experience transforming machine learning models into specific applications is a plus.
• Experience providing guidance on data structure is a plus.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

Supervision

In this role, you will:

• Lead, manage, and complete projects with minimal supervision.
• Have at least two formal meetings with your supervisor to evaluate progress towards goals.
• Work closely with other team members for guidance.
• Receive formal training as a newcomer to Nestlé, as well as specific courses required as an R&D employee.
• Execute a training plan set up by your supervisor.
• Have no direct reports but will lead, mentor, and coach team members in initiatives and projects you are leading or supporting.

Strategic Impact

This position supports key Nestlé Brand partners, including Stouffer's, Lean Cuisine, Hot Pockets, DiGiorno, and Tollhouse, as well as the R&D Nestlé Global environment and other Nestlé USA brands.