Lead Data Scientist

Career Area:

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Job Summary

Provides technical leadership in applying Data Science, AI, and Machine Learning to transform large-scale data into actionable insights, intelligent automation, and business value across Packaging and related enterprise functions.

What You Will Do

• Lead the design, development, deployment, and optimization of AI/ML, Deep Learning, Computer Vision, and Generative AI solutions to address complex Packaging, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Engineering challenges.
• Direct large-scale data gathering, data mining, feature engineering, and data processing activities; create scalable data models and data pipelines.
• Explore, promote, and implement AI-driven capabilities using LLMs, Agentic AI Frameworks, NLP, semantic search, and advanced analytics techniques.
• Drive development and deployment of predictive, optimization, quality, sustainability, and automation solutions using machine learning and data science methodologies.
• Lead definition of business requirements, analytical scope, and solution architecture; translate business needs into scalable technical solutions.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, conduct workshops, and communicate actionable insights through dashboards, visualizations, and executive presentations.
• Establish MLOps, model governance, monitoring, retraining, and continuous improvement processes to ensure reliable production deployment of AI solutions.
• Conduct research and evaluation of emerging AI technologies, algorithms, and frameworks to improve solution effectiveness and business impact.

What You Have

Business Partnership & Requirements Analysis

Knowledge of business analysis techniques and stakeholder engagement practices; ability to translate business needs into scalable data science and AI solutions.

Level: Extensive Experience

• Engages with business leaders, clients, and stakeholders to understand strategic priorities.
• Leads workshops, requirement-gathering sessions, and solution discovery activities.
• Defines analytical scope, success criteria, and technical requirements for AI initiatives.
• Translates complex business challenges into data science, machine learning, and automation solutions.
• Effectively communicates technical concepts to executive, technical, and business audiences.
• Partners with cross-functional teams to drive adoption and business value realization.

Query & Database Access Tools

Knowledge of data management systems and data access technologies; ability to retrieve, transform, and optimize enterprise data for analytics and AI applications.

Level: Extensive Experience

• Writes, optimizes, and supports complex SQL queries across multiple databases and data sources.
• Works extensively with structured and unstructured data environments.
• Designs data retrieval and transformation strategies supporting AI and analytics workloads.
• Consults on query optimization, performance tuning, and database best practices.
• Utilizes big data technologies and distributed data processing frameworks.
• Evaluates database technologies and architectures supporting AI initiatives.

Data Analysis & Statistical Modeling

Knowledge of statistical methods, predictive analytics, and data-driven decision-making; ability to transform data into meaningful business insights.

Level: Working Experience

• Performs advanced statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and machine learning experimentation.
• Uses statistical techniques to identify patterns, trends, anomalies, and business opportunities.
• Translates complex analytical findings into actionable business recommendations.
• Develops metrics, KPIs, and analytical frameworks to support strategic decisions.
• Evaluates model accuracy, effectiveness, and business impact using statistical methodologies.
• Communicates analytical insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

Knowledge of machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, computer vision, and agentic frameworks; ability to develop, deploy, and manage AI-based solutions that drive business outcomes.

Level: Working knowledge

• Leads the design and deployment of Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Computer Vision, and Generative AI solutions.
• Develops and implements LLM-based applications utilizing Agentic AI, NLP, embeddings, summarization, and semantic search technologies.
• Selects, trains, evaluates, and optimizes models using TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-Learn, PySpark MLlib, and related frameworks.
• Monitors model performance and implements retraining, scalability, and error-handling strategies.
• Coaches and mentors teams on AI technologies, methodologies, and best practices.
• Applies AI solutions to solve complex packaging, logistics, engineering, and supply chain business challenges.

Programming Languages & Software Development

Knowledge of programming concepts, software development practices, and application development frameworks; ability to build scalable AI-enabled applications and enterprise solutions.

Level: Working Experience

• Demonstrates expertise in Python, SQL, PySpark, Apache Spark, APIs, and distributed computing technologies.
• Develops scalable AI applications using Streamlit, Gradio, and cloud-native architectures.
• Integrates AI services with enterprise business systems and backend platforms.
• Implements software engineering best practices, code reviews, testing frameworks, and CI/CD processes.
• Guides teams in selecting development tools, frameworks, and coding standards.
• Oversees development activities ensuring quality, maintainability, and performance.

Cloud & Data Engineering

Knowledge of cloud platforms, data engineering practices, and enterprise-scale distributed systems; ability to design and implement scalable AI and analytics solutions.

Level: Working Knowledge

Designs and deploys end-to-end distributed solutions on Azure, AWS, Databricks, and cloud-native environments.

• Works with relational and non-relational databases, data warehouses, big data platforms, and caching technologies.
• Develops and optimizes large-scale data pipelines and feature engineering workflows.
• Utilizes cloud-native architectures to support AI, analytics, and automation solutions.
• Implements scalable data processing and storage solutions supporting enterprise AI systems.
• Evaluates emerging cloud technologies and recommends improvements.

MLOps & Production Deployment

Knowledge of model lifecycle management, MLOps frameworks, and deployment architectures; ability to operationalize AI solutions at enterprise scale.

Level: Working Knowledge

• Implements MLOps frameworks using MLflow, Docker, Kubernetes, Git, Azure DevOps, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Builds automated deployment, monitoring, governance, and model management solutions.
• Ensures scalability, reliability, security, and maintainability of production AI systems.
• Establishes best practices for version control, collaboration, testing, and deployment.
• Develops monitoring strategies to track model drift, performance degradation, and operational issues.
• Drives continuous improvement of AI operations and deployment methodologies.

Domain Expertise – Packaging, Supply Chain & Logistics

Knowledge of packaging engineering, supply chain, logistics, transportation, procurement, and manufacturing operations; ability to apply AI/ML technologies to business-specific challenges.

Level: Working Knowledge

• Applies AI/ML techniques to packaging, logistics, supply chain, transportation, procurement, and engineering domains.
• Understands operational workflows, business processes, and optimization opportunities within industrial environments.
• Develops AI-driven solutions for quality prediction, defect detection, optimization modeling, sustainability, and automation.
• Leverages domain expertise to accelerate solution adoption and business impact.
• Collaborates with engineering and business teams to identify high-value AI opportunities.
• Provides technical leadership on AI initiatives supporting Packaging and Supply Chain transformation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, Statistics, or a related discipline.
• 12+ years of overall professional experience with at least 3+ years in Data Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or Advanced Analytics.
• Proven experience delivering enterprise-scale AI/ML solutions in production environments.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, leadership, and collaboration skills.
• Continuous learning mindset with relevant certifications in AI, Cloud, Data Engineering, or Analytics preferred.
• Experience working in Packaging, Supply Chain, Logistics, Transportation, Procurement, or related industrial domains preferred.
• Flexibility to support global teams and business operations when required.

Caterpillar is not currently hiring individuals for this position who now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status; however, as a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of India which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers.

What You Will Get:

Our goal at Caterpillar is for you to have a rewarding career. Our teams are critical to the success of our customers who build a better world. Here you earn more than just wage, because we value your performance, we offer a total rewards package that provides day one benefits along with the potential of a variable bonus. Additional benefits include paid annual leave, flexi leave, medical and insurance (prorated based upon hire date).

Final Details:

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.

If you are interested in joining our team, please apply using an English version of your CV. We look forward to meeting you!

This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job. At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization.

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

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