Principal Data Scientist, R&D Digitalization

Principal Data Scientist, R&D Digitalization

The Principal Data Scientist is a strategic, senior-level contributor who will build, implement, lead, and manage Mactac's Research & Development (R&D) Digitalization Program. Following program implementation, this role will serve as the company's subject matter expert (SME) for data science and machine learning, accelerating profitable growth through innovation and continuous improvement in quality.

This role will spend their first 12 to 24 months owning the end-to-end development and implementation of the R&D Digitalization Program centered on the Mactac R&D Data Informatics Platform. During this time, responsibilities will include:

• Own the design and implementation of the Mactac R&D Data Informatics Platform, including requirements definition, data model/ontology development, experiment templates, integrations (SSO, data pipelines), validation, training, and adoption KPIs.
• Partner with the software vendor, company users (R&D, Innovation departments), and internal stakeholders (IT, EHS, Quality, Sourcing) to define requirements, configure data models and experiment templates, deliver training, and lead change management to full adoption.
• Lead vendor and internal team and coordinate day ‑ to ‑ day collaboration with the enterprise R&D data Informatics platform vendor and internal stakeholders to deliver the program.
• Lead change management and training by building a core network of R&D and IT champions, developing role ‑ based training, and driving adoption across company labs and sites.
• Establish acceptance and validation criteria, ensuring go ‑ live readiness and a structured handoff to sustainment with measurable usage.

Following implementation of the company's R&D Digitalization Program, this role will lead R&D Data Science and Machine Learning (ML) program development, cultivate and support "citizen data scientists" within R&D, and act as an enterprise Data Science SME for Mactac and Lintec USA. Responsibilities include:

• Own high impact analytics and ML projects that accelerate new products, improve service/quality, and grow margin.
• Serve as a Mactac SME for data science/ML, advising leaders, mentoring scientists/engineers, setting coding/ML standards (reproducibility, versioning, documentation), and guiding governance.
• Serve as a Lintec USA SME for data science/ML, advising sister companies on developing their own platform or adopting and integrating Mactac's R&D Data Informatics Platform.
• Partner cross-functionally (R&D, Quality, Operations, Sourcing, IT, Commercial) to embed analytics into decision-making and drive portfolio visibility and predictability.
• Continuously improve the R&D data platform, including backlog management, integrations, new analytics features, data quality, and security/compliance to ensure sustainability and value realization.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry or a related technical discipline is required. Master's degree or PhD preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years professional experience in data science and/or advanced analytics within an R&D and/or product development environment is required, including a minimum of 3 years experience leading multi‑stakeholder digitalization, ELN, or analytics platform implementations, including SaaS vendor collaboration, integrations, and change management.
• Prior industry experience with chemicals, polymers/materials, adhesives, polymeric films, paper, or other web handling R&D is desirable.
• Background in pressure ‑ sensitive adhesives (PSA), polymers, coatings, or materials; familiarity with web handling, converting and label/packaging markets preferred.
• Prior experience implementing Enterprise R&D Data Informatics Platforms and Machine Learning Tools is preferred.
• Proficiency in Python, SQL, and ML frameworks is preferred, including experience with MLOps/model lifecycle, data governance, and reproducible science.
• Strong background and expertise in applied statistics and experimental design (DOE).
• Demonstrated ability to translate business and scientific problems into deployable analytical solutions that deliver measurable outcomes (profitable innovation, cost savings, quality improvement).
• Proven success managing complex programs, with exceptional stakeholder management, facilitation, training, and change leadership skills.
• Requires ability to effectively communicate, both in writing and verbally, with people of various educational and technical backgrounds, both inside and outside the company.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools.

Scope:

• Decision Impact: Enterprise ‑ level influence across R&D and adjacent functions; drives digital transformation outcomes aligned to R&D's AOP priorities and benchmarks.
• Management Responsibilities Level: Senior individual contributor with program leadership responsibilities; no direct reports initially, but leads matrixed project teams and vendor/consultant resources.
• Reports to: VP, R&D
• Direct Reports: No
• Location: Stow, OH
• Travel: Year 1-2: 25-30%, Year 3 and beyond: 10-25%
• Physical Requirements: Works in both an office and lab environment. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Relocation Eligibility: Eligible for relocation

About Mactac:

Headquartered in Stow, Ohio, Mactac was founded as Morgan Adhesives Co. in 1959 by the late entrepreneur Burton (Burt) Morgan. Along with financial backing from Bemis Co. and a business model that focused on providing high quality products, innovative solutions and superior customer service, Mactac flourished. For over 65 years, we've been manufacturing and distributing pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) materials that are used in label printing, graphic design, packaging, retail display, fleet graphics, automotive assembly, medical device assembly, and more. Today, Mactac employs more than 1,100 people and has operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Mactac's parent company, LINTEC, is a leading company in the field of adhesive materials. The product lineup covers many diversified fields including not only adhesive papers and films for seals and labels, but also shatter-proof window films, adhesive sheets for outdoor signs, interior finishing mounting sheets, automobile-use adhesive products, semiconductor-related tape, and LCD-related adhesive products.

Mactac pressure sensitive adhesives are used in a wide range of markets and industries and our business is structured accordingly. We are a vertically integrated organization comprised of five business units – each specially designed to meet the unique needs of our customers.

Disclaimers:

The above information in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

It is the policy of Mactac that all employees are employed at the will of Mactac for an indefinite period and are subject to termination at any time, for any reason, with or without cause or notice. At the same time, employees may terminate their employment at any time and for any reason.

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic information, creed, citizenship status, marital status or any other consideration prohibited by law or contract.

We will not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Please do not send agency resumes to our website or Mactac and affiliated employees.