Head of Materials AI

Your Role

As we are in the middle of a fundamental shift in how R&D gets done. Over the next several years, AI, automation, and connected data infrastructure will reshape every stage of the materials discovery cycle, from ideation and simulation to lab experimentation and analysis. The Head of Materials AI leads the team and portfolio at the center of that transformation.

This is not a greenfield role. You will inherit a deployed portfolio of AI products with real users, a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers already in motion, and a committed strategic investment behind you. The mandate is to scale what works, sharpen what doesn't, and define the operating model for AI-amplified R&D before the industry converges around one.

Strategic Scope & Impact

Multi-year transformation portfolio spanning AI co-scientists, Bayesian optimization, ML-based simulation, lab digitization, and ELN infrastructure across all global R&D sites

Annual program budget from the technology leadership board and multi-year investment commitment

Direct influence on how R&D scientists design experiments, capture data, and analyze results closing the gap between AI capability and daily research practice

External representation of EMD Electronics' AI leadership e.g. at conferences etc.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Portfolio

Define and execute the Materials AI roadmap across the Connected → Amplified → System-Ready R&D phases

Own and prioritize a portfolio of concurrent AI and digital programs; manage budget, vendors, and delivery milestones

Present strategy and progress to the Technology Leadership Board and Electronics CTO

Team Leadership

Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team (AI engineers, computational scientists, product managers, data governance) across Germany, the US, and Asia

Foster cross-functional collaboration across CTO, R&D sites, DD&IT, and business functions globally

Technical & Operational Delivery

Architect and scale a deployed multi-agent AI co-scientist platform into the primary R&D workflow tool

Extend modeling and ML interatomic potential (MLIP) simulation capabilities to new material systems and R&D use cases

Complete global lab digitization: 100+ instruments connected to ELN, 1.7M historical experiments migrated

Stakeholder Management

Build and maintain relationships with Electronics CTO, Technology Leadership Board, R&D site leads, and external vendors and partners

Represent EMD Electronics' AI capabilities externally through conferences, partnerships, and customer engagements

Who You Are

Minimum Qualifications:

Advanced degree (PhD or equivalent) in computer science, data science, chemistry, materials science, or a related field or equivalent experience

10 + years leading technical teams and large-scale digital transformation programs, including exposure to R&D or science-driven organizations

Hands-on experience with AI/ML, LLMs, Bayesian optimization, or data-driven modeling, in a real deployment context

Track record delivering digital products in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment; ability to bridge data/AI strategy and operational delivery

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in new product development, scale up commercialization.

Proficiency in agentic AI architectures, large language model-based systems, and modern data infrastructure

Proven ability to drive technological adoption, not just building tools, but embedding them in how people work

Experience leading international and multi-site teams of scientists and engineers across disciplines

Understanding of scaled agile frameworks for managing concurrent digital programs

Familiarity with research and development workflows and scientific data, including wet lab, simulation, or instrumentation contexts

Background in semiconductor or specialty chemicals research and development is an advantage

Executive communication and presence; comfortable presenting to senior leadership and external audiences

Location:  San Jose, United States; Germany; Taiwan; Korea; Japan