Nexteer Automotive

Global Engineer, Industrial Data Science

Nexteer Automotive$95K — $115K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years in manufacturing analytics, quality analytics, or a related field.
  • Strong experience applying data analysis to operational improvement.
  • Proficient in Python for data analysis and automation.
  • Working knowledge of SQL and relational databases.
  • Experience with Power BI and advanced Excel for business intelligence projects.
  • Excellent communication skills, particularly explaining analytics concepts to non-technical audiences.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and work within global teams.

Responsibilities

  • Analyze manufacturing and quality data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
  • Develop predictive and prescriptive analytics to reduce scrap and improve quality metrics.
  • Build statistical models for anomaly detection and process optimization.
  • Acquire and integrate data from various manufacturing systems.
  • Support digital manufacturing initiatives such as MES and Digital Twins.
  • Create automated dashboards and visual analytics for performance reporting.
  • Lead cross-functional analytics projects and coach team members on data practices.

Benefits

  • Collaborative work environment focused on continuous improvement.
  • Opportunities for international travel and global collaboration.
  • Access to advanced technologies and tools for data analytics.
  • Professional development and training in industrial analytics practices.
  • Involvement in innovative projects related to Industry 4.0 and Digital Manufacturing.
Full Job Description
Position: Global Engineer, Industrial Data Science

Position: Global Engineer, Industrial Data Science

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

Industrial Data Science

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.

Business Intelligence

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 authorizationDo 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.)

Employment Agencies

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.

About Nexteer Automotive

Nexteer Automotive is a global automotive supplier that specializes in developing and manufacturing steering and driveline systems. The company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Saginaw, Michigan. Nexteer Automotive has a presence in over 50 countries and has partnerships with many of the world's leading automakers. The company's products include electric power steering systems, hydraulic power steering systems, and driveline systems. Nexteer Automotive is committed to sustainability and has implemented a number of initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including the use of renewable energy sources and the reduction of waste and emissions.
Learn more about Nexteer Automotive
Size
11,900 employees
Industry
Founded
1906
NASDAQ

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