Applied Machine Learning & Process Modeling Engineer (Water Treatment)

JOB DESCRIPTION Job Description

This role sits at the intersection of process engineering, applied mathematics, and machine learning, with a strong focus on real-world industrial impact.

You will work closely with engineers and plant operators to:

• Improve operational efficiency

• Reduce cost and environmental footprint

• Increase understanding and robustness of our systems

Responsibilities

• Develop predictive models for water treatment processes (., ACF, IEX, RO)

  Data-driven models (regression, tree-based methods,

  Physics-informed or hybrid models

• Translate operational data into actionable insights

• Build simple, robust models that can be used by engineering and operations teams

• Analyze plant performance to identify optimization opportunities

• Work with multidisciplinary teams (process, automation, software)

• Support deployment of models into engineering tools or operational workflows

• Participate in on-site visits internationally to understand systems and validate models

Qualifications

We are looking for a hands-on problem solver who can bridge theory and real-world systems.

Must-have

• MSc or PhD in:

  Applied Mathematics, Data Science, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or similar

• 2+ years of experience

• Strong understanding of industrial water processes and field applications

• Good programming skills (Python preferred: pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn,

• Solid understanding of:

  Modelling / simulation (deterministic or statistical)

  Data analysis and signal interpretation

• Ability to work with noisy real-world data (not clean academic datasets)

• Fluent in English

Strong plus

• Experience with:

  Water treatment or process industries

  Time-series analysis, control systems, or optimization

  First-principles modeling (mass balance, transport phenomena)

• Familiarity with:

  Hybrid modeling (physics + ML)

  Deployment of models into production tools

• Ability to communicate effectively with non-data specialists (operators, engineers)

What makes this role unique

• Work on real industrial systems, not abstract datasets

• Direct impact on sustainability and water circularity

• Opportunity to shape the digital transformation of water treatment plants

• Combination of:

  Field understanding

  Engineering

  Data science

Our Commitment to a Culture of Inclusion & Belonging
Ecolab is committed to fair and equal treatment of associates and applicants and furthering the principles of Equal Opportunity to Employment. We will recruit, hire, promote, transfer and provide opportunities for advancement based on individual qualifications and job performance in all matters affecting employment, compensation, benefits, working conditions, and opportunities for advancement. Ecolab will not discriminate against any associate or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, creed, national origin,citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, genetic information, marital status, age, or disability.