Principal AI Solutions Engineer

Overview

Waters Corporation is seeking a Principal AI Solutions Engineer to help Global Research innovate new ways of working and prototype future products using emerging AI technologies. Waters' Global Research organization advances the analytical instruments, chemistries, and software that laboratories worldwide rely on to characterize molecules with exceptional precision — from biopharmaceuticals to the safety of the food and water supply.

This role is designed for a hands-on technical leader who enjoys both building solutions independently and guiding others through change. The successful candidate will partner with scientists and engineers across the research organization to identify high-value use cases, configure AI-enabled workflows, and scale approaches that improve productivity, accelerate discovery, and increase innovation yield in domains where AI has not traditionally been applied. In parallel, as an AI technical leader, they will help lead established AI/ML software teams on research projects to embed new AI capabilities into our products and instruments.

The role may be hybrid with regular travel to Milford, Massachusetts.

Responsibilities

AI/ML Transformation Leadership

• Identify high value opportunities where AI/ML can accelerate research, expand design space, or improve decision making in Global Research processes
• Source and configure AI/ML capabilities into existing research and engineering workflows, including mechanical and electrical engineering design, chemistry and other scientific research and software and algorithm development
• Support the use of AI/ML to unlock institutional knowledge from internal data and documentation
• Establish best practices, standards, and metrics to ensure successful and measurable AI/ML adoption
• Help establish training and ongoing learning programs to sustain long term capability growth

AI/ML Research Leadership

• Apply advanced techniques such as Bayesian optimization, surrogate modeling, generative modeling, and data driven experimental design
• Serve as technical lead or team lead for key AI/ML applied research projects spanning multiple Waters technology platforms
• Mentor scientists, engineers, interns, and members of the AI/ML champion network, spanning Global Research sites in Milford, MA, Wilmslow, UK, and Bangalore, India

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• PhD or MS in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or a related quantitative discipline, or equivalent industry experience
• 6-10 years of experience applying machine learning in research, engineering, or advanced technology development environments
• 1+ years of experience learning and applying cutting edge AI technologies and optimizing software development, engineering design or other discipline with on market and/or custom AI capabilities

Technical Skills

• Expertise in machine learning and applied data science
• Strong proficiency in Python and common ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit learn)
• Experience building end to end ML pipelines, including data preparation, modeling, validation, and deployment

Leadership & Collaboration

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical initiatives and influence scientists and engineers
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain AI and ML concepts to non ML audiences
• Experience mentoring and guiding cross functional teams

We know that sometimes the perfect candidate does not exist, and that people can be put off applying for a job if they do not fit all the requirements. If you are excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we are looking for, please go ahead and apply. You could be just what we need! We believe strongly in the value of diversity and creating supportive, inclusive environments where our colleagues can succeed. As such, Waters is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Why Join Waters

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of research at Waters by enabling AI driven discovery and innovation across the Global Research organization. You’ll have a direct impact on time to market, research productivity, and long term technology leadership.