Data Scientist

Coherent is a global leader in photonics, developing advanced laser, optical and materials technologies that enable semiconductor manufacturing, AI infrastructure, advanced communications and precision industrial applications worldwide.

Data Scientist

Join our Semiconductor Devices team in Zurich and help transform manufacturing through the power of AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics. In this role, you'll develop production-ready data science solutions that improve product quality, increase manufacturing efficiency, and enable smarter decision-making across our global operations. Working closely with production and engineering teams, you'll solve real-world challenges using machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and modern data engineering practices.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop, deploy, and maintain machine learning and deep learning models to solve complex manufacturing and production challenges.
• Build predictive analytics solutions that improve process performance, product quality, yield, and throughput.
• Collaborate with production, process, and product engineering teams to identify opportunities where AI and data science can drive measurable business impact.
• Design and execute experiments to validate models and continuously improve their performance.
• Analyze large and complex datasets from production equipment, manufacturing systems, and operational databases.
• Integrate new data sources from manufacturing equipment, machine logs, and shop-floor systems into the analytics environment.
• Develop and maintain scalable batch and real-time data pipelines across on-premise and cloud platforms.
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize deployed models and data pipelines to ensure reliability and performance.
• Apply data governance and data quality standards to support robust analytics and reporting.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to colleagues on machine learning, deep learning, and data engineering best practices.

What You’ll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Physics, Material Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• 3+ years of experience in Data Science or a related field, including the deployment of machine learning models in a production environment.

• Strong experience with machine learning and deep learning techniques and frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, or Scikit-Learn.

• Proficiency in Python for data analysis, model development, and automation.

• Hands-on experience with SQL and relational databases.

• Experience building and maintaining ETL/ELT pipelines and supporting data-intensive production environments.

• Knowledge of data preprocessing, feature engineering, model evaluation, and model lifecycle management.

• Experience with Databricks, MLflow, or similar machine learning platforms.

• Understanding of data modelling, data quality, and data governance principles.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a structured, detail-oriented approach.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within semiconductor manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, or another highly automated industrial environment.

• Experience with computer vision, image analysis, or defect detection applications.

• Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure.

• Experience with big data technologies such as Spark, Hadoop, Apache Delta, Kafka, or Flink.

• Knowledge of data lakehouse architectures and modern data platforms.

• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, GitLab CI, or software development best practices.

• Understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) principles.

• Familiarity with statistical analysis and data mining techniques.

• German language skills are advantageous.

Why Join Us?

• Work on cutting-edge AI solutions with direct impact on manufacturing performance and product quality.

• Apply machine learning and data engineering to real-world production challenges at scale.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, and manufacturing experts.

• Influence the future of semiconductor manufacturing through innovation, automation, and advanced analytics.

• Join a highly technical environment where your work delivers measurable business outcomes every day.

What We Offer

Our benefits vary by country and role. Depending on your location, your package may include:

• Competitive base salary and annual incentive eligibility
• Employer-supported pension or retirement provision
• Health, wellbeing and employee-assistance programmes
• Life and income-protection benefits
• Flexible-working arrangements, where compatible with the role
• Learning and professional-development opportunities
• Employee recognition and share programmes

Our ICARE Values

How we work is just as important as what we achieve. Everyone at Coherent is expected to demonstrate our ICARE values:

🤝 Integrity – Create an environment of trust
✨ Collaboration – Innovate through the sharing of ideas
🎯 Accountability – Own the process and the outcome
🌍 Respect – Recognise the value in everyone
🚀 Enthusiasm – Find a sense of purpose in work

Application and Selection

Current employees who wish to apply should submit a cover letter detailing their interest in the position and how their skills and experience align with the requirements of the role.

If you require an adjustment or accessibility accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact john.cairney@coherent.com. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Join us and help shape the technologies that connect, inform and transform our world.