Job DescriptionAt Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. To support this mission, Syngenta's Analytics & Data Sciences Team is seeking an Operations Research Engineer in Malta, IL. This role will drive operational efficiency and decision quality across Seeds Research & Development by designing, building, and scaling algorithmic decision-support solutions.
The role applies Operations Research and Mathematical Optimization to complex end-to-end business processes-translating business objectives and constraints into robust models, integrating them into Syngenta's digital ecosystem, and enabling measurable improvements in service, cost, speed, and resource utilization.
Accountabilities:- Design, build, and deploy mathematical optimization models using Linear Programming (LP), Mixed-Integer Programming (MIP), Nonlinear Programming (NLP), Constraint Programming (CP), and hybrid approaches as appropriate.
- Translate business objectives, constraints, and operating policies into robust mathematical formulations with clear assumptions and acceptance criteria.
- Integrate optimization solutions into Syngenta's digital ecosystem.
- Identify, collect, cleanse, and structure data from multiple sources; define input/output specifications, data quality requirements, and data lineage for optimization models.
- Define and align business KPIs and metrics that drive optimization objectives and enable value tracking.
- Validate models through testing, back-testing, and scenario analysis; run simulations and what-if analyses to assess robustness and quantify trade-offs.
- Lead and manage projects delivering optimization solutions for strategic decisions and day-to-day operations, such as scope, timeline, risks, and stakeholder alignment.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams and line-of-business users to review current operational systems and processes, identify pain points, and prioritize optimization use cases.
- Communicate clearly on bottlenecks, insights, and recommendations to enable informed decisions by management and operational teams.
- Work in an agile way and adhere to engineering best practices.
- Contribute to capability building by developing technical training materials and curricula to support adoption and awareness of Operations Research solutions.
- PhD in Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, Industrial Engineering, Data Science, Management Science, Computer Science, or a related field.
- 5+ years of applied experience designing, building, and deploying Operations Research / Mathematical Optimization solutions in an industrial context.
- Strong understanding of Operations Research techniques with emphasis on mathematical programming.
- Proficiency in Python for optimization, data processing, and automation; ability to write production-quality, maintainable code.
- Hands-on experience with optimization solvers and modeling tools (e.g., Gurobi, SCIP, FICO Xpress, COPT) and building end-to-end optimization applications.
- Strong problem-framing and structured problem-solving skills: ability to identify complex business problems, assess fit for OR techniques, and deliver scalable decision-support solutions.
- Proven track record delivering implemented business process improvement solutions with measurable impact.
- Ability to identify, access, and translate relevant data into actionable, evidence-based decisions; ensure data quality, consistency, and traceability across sources.
Qualifications- Experience in Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or Logistics environments.
- Knowledge of combinatorial optimization techniques.
- Familiarity with modern development practices and tooling (Git/GitHub, code reviews, testing).
- Experience using AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot).
- Experience building lightweight decision-support interfaces and visualizations (e.g., Streamlit or similar) to support user adoption.
- Ability to operate effectively in a matrix organization by building strong partnerships and influencing stakeholders at multiple levels without direct authority.
- Ability to generate strategic insights from complex analyses and communicate them clearly to drive measurable improvements in operational efficiency and effectiveness.
- Strong analytical mindset with the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
Additional InformationWhat We Offer: - A culture that celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members. Offers flexible work options to support your work and personal needs.
- Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision) that starts your first day.
- 401k plan with company match, Profit Sharing & Retirement Savings Contribution.
- Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, Education Assistance, Wellness Programs, Corporate Discounts, among other benefits.
Syngenta has been ranked as a top employer by Science Journal. Learn more about our team and our mission here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVCN_51GbNI
Use of AI in Our Recruitment ProcessAt Syngenta, we use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen applications for high-volume roles.
When you submit an application, AI technology assesses your profile against the job requirements and generates a matching score. This score reflects how closely your qualifications, skills, and experience align with the role's criteria as defined in the job description.
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