Lufthansa Technik Services - Data Science Team Manager - AI/ML

I. Detailed Role Description We are looking for a highly skilled and visionary Data Science Team Manager (AI/ML) to lead a team of data scientists and machine learning engineers. This role is responsible for driving AI/ML initiatives that solve complex business problems, building scalable models and ensuring successful deployment into production systems. The ideal candidate combines hands-on technical expertise with strong leadership, business acumen and the ability to align data science strategy with organizational goals.

II. Roles And Leadership & Vision

• Develop and execute a comprehensive data strategy that integrates analytics and data science to drive business outcomes, such as revenue growth, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Translate business objectives into data-driven initiatives that deliver measurable value across departments.
• Lead Digital transformation for LTSI organization with strategic forecast on LHT vision 2030.
• Define team goals, set priorities and allocate resources effectively.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous learning.
• Provide technical guidance and ensure best practices in AI/ML development.
• Initiate Hackathons and Capability Roadshows to find solutions to address LH's global challenges.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor and manage teams of 20+ Data Analysts, Data Scientists, AI/MLOps professionals, Vision computing experts and AI platform engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration and technical excellence.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative culture that encourages experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement.

AI/ML Strategy & Execution

• Take complete responsibility of development and deployment of advanced machine learning models, predictive analytics and AI solutions for applications like forecasting, customer segmentation or process automation.
• Support organization with defining & executing the AI/ML strategy aligned with the company's business goals.
• Set up an SOP for shared leadership between Germany & BLR in identifying POC's that can be productionized.
• Stay current with emerging trends in AI/ML and guide the adoption of cutting-edge techniques.
• Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of ML projects: problem framing, data preparation, model design, training, validation, deployment and monitoring.
• Ensure models are accurate, explainable, scalable and robust for production environments.
• Drive experimentation and adoption of cutting-edge AI/ML techniques (e.g., deep learning, NLP, computer vision, generative AI).
• Drive experimentation culture to evaluate and benchmark algorithms and solutions.

Business Development

• Identify and capitalize on growth opportunities using data-driven insights to shape market strategies, pitch solutions to clients and partners and secure new business.
• Recognize potential roles that can be transitioned from high-cost locations (HAM, MIA) to lower-cost locations (India).
• Establish a potential IT team, including full stack development and technical support roles (L2, L3).
• Position LTSI as a Center of Competence for Advanced Data Analytics and AI Solutions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Business Impact

• Collaborate with C-suite executives and department heads to ensure that analytics and data science initiatives align with organizational goals, promoting data-driven decision-making throughout the company.
• Identify potential digitization and automation opportunities with over 20 teams in LTSI and implement strategies to enhance quality and efficiency.
• Work with LTSI teams to develop digital skills and prepare a future-ready workforce.
• Initiate Digital Literacy programs for tailored for all LTSI employees.
• Partner with product, engineering and business stakeholders to identify opportunities for AI/ML applications.

Data Infrastructure & Governance

• Collaborate with global IT and engineering teams to ensure robust, scalable data pipelines, cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP), and compliance with data governance and privacy regulations.
• Setup digital infrastructure to enable LTSI support functions to operate efficiently.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and security while adhering to compliance standards.
• Collaborate with data engineering teams to build and optimize data pipelines.
• Ensure data governance ambassadors are in place.
• Promote best practices in MLOps, model monitoring and continuous improvement.

Performance Measurement

• Define KPIs and metrics to evaluate the impact of analytics and data science initiatives on business outcomes.
• Set annual cost saving targets and ensure these targets are met by implementing automation, strategic projects.
• Ensure the agreed upon KPI's and objectives are successfully achieved.

Stakeholder Communication

• Develop and distribute project charters, and clearly outline milestones.
• Optimize the utilization of budgeted FTEs.
• Communicate complex data insights, model outcomes, and strategic recommendations to non-technical stakeholders, including board members, clients, or partners.

Innovation & Trends

• Establish an innovation hub at LTSI to generate viable ideas and secure funding for their implementation.
• Stay ahead of industry trends in analytics, AI, and machine learning, integrating cutting-edge methodologies to maintain a competitive edge.

Key Skills

• Expertise in analytics tools (SQL, Tableau, Power BI) and data science frameworks (Python, R or Scala, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, XGBoost, etc).
• Solid understanding of deep learning, NLP, computer vision, recommender systems or generative AI.
• Knowledge of big data technologies (Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Familiarity with MLOps tools (MLflow, Kubeflow, Airflow, Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with statistical analysis, machine learning and predictive modeling.
• Strong business acumen with experience in strategic planning and business development.
• Proven leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and align diverse teams.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills to influence stakeholders and articulate data-driven strategies.
• Knowledge of data engineering and data governance principles.
• Ability to bridge technical and business domains, translating complex data concepts into actionable Master's/PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Business Administration or a related field.
• 12+ years of experience in analytics and/or data science/ML roles, with 4+ years in a senior leadership role overseeing both functions.
• Proven track record of delivering AI/ML solutions in production.
• Proven track record of driving business impact through data initiatives and business development efforts.
• Experience in client-facing roles or strategic partnerships is a plus.

(ref:hirist.tech)