Manufacturing Data Scientist

Manufacturing Data Scientist

Salary: £46,587.88 (inclusive of 35% holiday bonus for 33 days per year; 25 vacation & 8 bank holidays)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Monday to Thursday: 07:00 - 15:30, Friday: 07:00 - 12:30

As a Manufacturing Data Scientist, you will play a key role in shaping how data is used to improve efficiency, quality, throughput, and sustainability across the plant.

You will design, develop, and maintain a portfolio of data-driven products and projects that turn complex manufacturing data into clear, actionable insights for operators, engineers, and leadership. You will work as part of the plant manufacturing team while also being embedded within Ford's wider global data science and analytics community, helping to scale successful solutions across the enterprise.

This role embodies Ford's commitment to continuous improvement and data-led decision-making, enabling teams to adapt and improve based on the insights you deliver.

• Degree-level education in a relevant subject (such as Mathematics, Statistics, Data Analytics, Computer Science, Physical Sciences) or equivalent professional experience within an engineering or automotive environment
• Strong Python expertise
• Experience applying machine learning techniques in real-world scenarios
• Solid grounding in statistical methodologies and analysis

• SQL proficiency
• Experience with cloud computing platforms

• Demonstrate Ford+ behaviours in your daily work: ownership, collaboration, integrity, inclusion, customer focus, and continuous learning
• Lead or co‑lead cross‑site analytics initiatives and contribute to a shared analytics playbook

• Extract, transform, analyse, and report manufacturing data from multiple sources
• Put robust data quality, governance, and security controls in place
• Identify process bottlenecks and key drivers of variability to improve OEE, yield, scrap, downtime, cycle times and energy usage
• Build clear dashboards and visualisations, communicating insights in accessible, non‑technical language

• Develop and deploy predictive and prescriptive models (e.g. predictive maintenance, defect forecasting, anomaly detection, capacity planning)
• Operationalise models using cloud and MLOps best practices, including monitoring, documentation, retraining and explainability

• Work closely with engineering, quality, maintenance, IT, production and supply chain teams to translate insights into action
• Support pilot projects and help scale successful solutions across sites
• Contribute to analytics training and capability‑building within the plant

• Ensure data privacy, security and compliance considerations are embedded in all analytics work
• Champion responsible, safe and ethical use of data and models

• Access to our Employee Development and Assistance Programme
• A unique opportunity to access Fords Privilege scheme – allowing you to purchase Ford vehicles at a discount
• A great salary increasing yearly, along with our competitive pension scheme
• An excellent work‑life balance, including a generous holiday allowance of 25 days (inclusive of set shutdown dates)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• On‑site facilities such as a gym, sauna and steam room