Data Scientist

Syensqo is all about chemistry. We’re not just referring to chemical reactions here, but also to the magic that occurs when the brightest minds get to work together. This is where our true strength lies. In you. In your future colleagues and in all your differences. And of course, in your ideas to improve lives while preserving our planet’s beauty for the generations to come.

We are looking for:  Syensqo.ai - Gen AI Scientist

Syensqo is a global leader in advanced materials and specialty chemicals, headquartered in Brussels. With a strong heritage as a spin-off from Solvay, we drive innovation in key markets such as aerospace, automotive, agriculture, electronics, healthcare, and consumer goods. Our mission is to advance humanity through scientific discovery and the responsible application of new technologies.

As part of Syensqo’s digital transformation, we have created Syensqo.ai—a dedicated startup team within the company—to accelerate the adoption and development of Artificial Intelligence, with a strong focus on Generative AI. Syensqo.ai operates as a center of excellence, leveraging the organization’s deep scientific expertise and extensive datasets to generate tangible business value, always in compliance with the highest standards of ethics and governance.

We are seeking a Gen AI Scientist to join Syensqo.ai. In this role, you will design, develop, and deploy cutting-edge Generative AI models that support Syensqo’s strategic objectives. You will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-impact solutions, ensuring quality, transparency, and reproducibility throughout the project lifecycle. Your work will be critical in advancing Syensqo’s digital transformation, enabling broader AI adoption and fostering a culture of innovation across the group.

The position reports to the Data Science Lead.

Key Responsibilities:
- Design, develop, and deploy enterprise-grade Generative AI solutions, including LLM-powered agents, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems, and advanced GraphRAG architectures;
- Lead experimentation, fine-tuning, evaluation, and benchmarking of large language models (LLMs) and other generative models, ensuring robust performance and scalability for business-critical applications;
- Implement and enhance best practices for enterprise LLM evaluation frameworks, prompt engineering, and continuous improvement cycles to maximize model value and reliability;
- Collaborate with data engineers, business stakeholders, and IT to identify high-impact use cases, integrate structured and unstructured data sources, and deliver scalable AI solutions aligned with organizational objectives;
- Ensure rigorous adherence to responsible AI principles, model governance, and compliance throughout the model development lifecycle;
- Contribute to the development and industrialization of advanced AI/GenAI pipelines, supporting robust monitoring, retraining, and deployment workflows;
- Mentor and share expertise with team members, promoting a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning in Generative AI;
- Stay at the forefront of GenAI and LLM research, evaluating emerging tools, frameworks, and methodologies for enterprise adoption and integration;
- (Optional, valued) Drive or contribute to AI initiatives involving scientific domains, including chemistry, materials science, and cheminformatics.

Education and experience:
Education:
- Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related field preferred;
- Equivalent professional experience and demonstrable skills in AI/GenAI will also be considered;
- Additional background in scientific domains (e.g., chemistry, materials science, cheminformatics) is a plus.

Experience:
- Minimum 2-5 years of hands-on experience designing, developing, and deploying AI/GenAI solutions in enterprise or entrepreneurial environments;
- Proven track record in building agentic workflows, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems, and production-ready LLM-based applications;
- Experience with multi-component pipelines (MCP), orchestration frameworks, and real-world AI deployments;
- Demonstrated passion for AI/GenAI, with ongoing engagement in the latest tools, frameworks, and research (e.g., side projects, open-source, hackathons, startups);
- Experience with Azure and Microsoft AI/cloud technologies is a strong advantage.

Technical Knowledge:
- Proficiency in Python and leading GenAI/ML libraries and frameworks (e.g., LangChain, Hugging Face Transformers, LlamaIndex, PyTorch, TensorFlow);
- Solid knowledge of MLOps and enterprise AI best practices: CI/CD, monitoring, model evaluation, versioning, and secure deployment;
- Hands-on experience with Azure AI/data services: ML Studio, Azure DevOps, AI Foundry, Fabrics, etc.;
- Strong data engineering skills: working with both structured and unstructured data, building and maintaining scalable pipelines (SQL/NoSQL, ETL/ELT, cloud integration);
- Familiarity with scientific datasets and cheminformatics tools is a plus.

Skills and behavioral competencies:
- Technical Leadership: Proven ability to drive the end-to-end delivery of complex GenAI projects, set technical direction, and mentor peers in advanced AI practices;
- Curiosity & Innovation: Actively explores emerging GenAI trends, rapidly prototypes new tools (LLMs, agents, RAG, etc.), and integrates leading-edge research into practical solutions;
- Initiative & Ownership: Proactively identifies high-impact opportunities for GenAI within the business and drives initiatives from conception to value realization;
- Entrepreneurial Agility: Adapts quickly in a dynamic, fast-paced environment; demonstrates creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience typical of startup teams;
- Communication & Evangelism: Effectively communicates complex GenAI concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences; promotes AI adoption through workshops, presentations, and internal publications;
- Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing: Facilitates team learning, shares expertise, and contributes to building a culture of best practice in GenAI development;
- Ethical & Responsible AI: Embeds ethical, privacy, and compliance considerations throughout all phases of GenAI solution development and deployment.
 
Language skills:
- English;
- French is a plus.

You will get:
- Competitive salary and benefits package;
- 16, or more, weeks of maternity/paternity and co-parenting leave, according to local regulations;
- Training platform for all employees;
- Free well-being sessions (physical and psychological).

Additional information:
Location: All
Remote work: possible.

Be part of and contribute to a once-in-a-lifetime change journey in Syensqo. 

About us

• Syensqo is a science company developing groundbreaking solutions that enhance the way we live, work, travel and play. Inspired by the scientific councils which Ernest Solvay initiated in 1911, we bring great minds together to push the limits of science and innovation for the benefit of our customers, with a diverse, global team of more than 13,000 associates. Our solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices and health care applications. Our innovation power enables us to deliver on the ambition of a circular economy and explore breakthrough technologies that advance humanity.
• At Syensqo, we seek to promote unity and not uniformity. We value the diversity that individuals bring and we invite you to consider a future with us, regardless of background, age, gender, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, ability or identity. We encourage individuals who may require any assistance or accommodations to let us know to ensure a seamless application experience. We are here to support you throughout the application journey and want to ensure all candidates are treated equally. If you are unsure whether you meet all the criteria or qualifications listed in the job description, we still encourage you to apply.