AI/ML & Automation Expert (m/f/d) R&D

ABOUT THE WELLA COMPANY

Together, WE enable individuals to look, feel, and be their true selves.

Wella Company is one of the world’s leading beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally, presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves. As innovators in the hair and nail industry, Wella Company empowers its people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals, engage communities, and deliver sustainable growth to its stakeholders.  

Wella R&D is foremost in leading the industry in complex product formulation of world beating global Salon and Retail hair and nail products.

For additional information about the Wella Company please visit www.wellacompany.com

THE ROLE & KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Wella R&D is seeking a hands-on, forward-looking specialist who will personally develop and implement scripting, automation, and AI tools while guiding and growing our R&D team in adopting these innovations. This role is central to building internal capabilities, reducing reliance on external contractors, and giving our organization a competitive edge.

In this position, you’ll not only identify and apply cutting-edge tools but also gain invaluable experience in transforming a global team from within. If you’re excited by the opportunity to learn about and shape the future of how to do better R&D within in cosmetic formulation product development—by creating smarter, faster, and more efficient processes—this role offers a unique chance to lead that journey.

Key Responsibilities:

• Consolidate AI use cases across the global R&D organisation.

• Connect across the organisation regularly to sense check new use cases
• Prioritise use cases based on benefit / feasibility
• Execute solutions with key stakeholders.

• Share back with the organisation use cases to fuel future use cases.
• Personally develop and implement workflow automation and AI/ML solutions to improve data analysis and ways of working within Wella’s global R&D organisation.
• Train and mentor R&D members to ensure that knowledge and skills are built in-house preferably using open source packages and Python, reducing the need for external resources.
• Pilot AI tools to support formulation design and predictive modelling, giving our team first-hand exposure to new technologies.
• Drive the internal development of digital capabilities, making the organization more agile and competitive as these skills grow internally.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Computer science / Data Science or Applied Mathematics academic background with experience and interest in AI/ML
• Applied hands-on experience with scripting languages like Python or R to solve “real world” challenges
• Ability to configure environments to deliver coding solutions.
• Ability to design, build, and orchestrate AI pipelines
• Expertise in constructing AI workflows and agentic systems that integrate data, models, and logic to solve real-world problems
• Interest or experience in applying AI and machine learning to scientific challenges
• A passion for both teaching and learning, helping the team grow in technical capabilities while expanding your own expertise.
• Agile problem solver
• Effective communicator within an international organisation – strong English communication skills.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities

WHAT WE OFFER YOU

This role offers a rare chance to be on the forefront of blending chemistry with cutting-edge digital innovation, while playing a key role in fostering in-house expertise that will drive our competitive advantage into the future.  But also drive your CV with experience in real world business implementation challenge of new emergent technologies.  We have a 2/3 WFH/office policy and expect presence in Darmstadt 3 days / week.

• Attractive salary package with a wide range of benefits
• Free company parking as well as central location and good public transport connections
• Promotion of personal potential and individual career paths
• Support during the induction period and the opportunity to take on responsibility at an early stage
• Flexible working hours and the opportunity to work from home
• A collegial working atmosphere at an employer with an appreciative corporate culture
• Open communication and an international as well as diverse environment in which the "WE" is in the foreground!

Become a part of the "WELLA- family" - we live our values! #wellafamily #WellaCareers

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

We offer equal employment opportunity to qualified individuals without regard to ethnical origin, religion, color, national origin, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Wella Company with disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.

#LI-WB