Smiths Group plc
Data Lead - AI & Automation
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Data Lead - AI and Automation
Birmingham, UK Full-time
About the Company
Smiths Group designs, manufactures, and delivers smarter engineering solutions for global mission-critical applications, addressing some of the world’s toughest challenges. With over 170 years of legacy, Smiths innovates through engineering and technology, serving millions through markets including Energy, General Industry, Security & Defence, and Aerospace.
A Listed company on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs 14,600+ colleagues across 50+ countries. The organisation thrives on a culture of progress, inviting employees—from novices to experts—to embrace challenges, expand their careers, and shape the future.
About the Role
The Data Lead - AI and Automation will establish, manage, and evolve AI-driven and automation-centric data processes. Responsible for shaping the company’s AI and automation strategy in alignment with strategic objectives, this role oversees the development and adoption of cutting-edge solutions across organisations, ensuring scalability, security, and business alignment.
Key duties include:
- Driving AI and automation adoption to improve efficiency, decision-making, and innovation.
- Solutioning automation workflows, software development (algorithms, neural networks, ML models).
- Establishing best practice security for AI-driven systems.
- Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to deliver data-driven insights via analytics, dashboards, and dashboards.
- Optimising offshore/onshore resourcing models to deliver maximum value.
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This role also mentors and develops Data & Analytics (D&A) team members, fostering collaboration, skill growth, and performance alignment.
Responsibilities
- Design, deliver, and support AI, ML, and automation solutions (dashboards, models, analytics).
- Own the trusted data foundation strategy (master data, data quality, governance, traceability).
- Lead data architecture, integration, visualisation, and emerging AI solutions for scalability, security, and business alignment.
- Establish and enforce data policies, standards, and operational controls (ethical compliance, platform monitoring).
- Partner with divisions to sharpen requirements, troubleshoot data issues, and enable adoption (training, documentation).
- Mentor, manage, and develop the D&A team via feedback loops, visibility reports, and engagement initiatives.
Requirements
Technical Knowledge & Experience
- Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field.
- Deep expertise in ML/DL, NLP, and computer vision.
- Multi-language proficiency in Python, Java, and R.
- Experience with ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch).
- Data Lakepontientry (Azure Databricks, Azure Datalake Gen2).
- Cloud BI and Azure landscape familiarity (SQL DB, Databricks, Logic Apps, Data Factory).
- Big Data technologies (Hadoop, Spark).
- Strong SQL skills for data analysis and profiling.
- Azure/Azure SQL/Analysis Services experience (a plus).
- Data Governance, ETL, and BI tools expertise:
- Azure Synapse, Power BI, Tableau, Cognos, or QlikView.
- Database architecture, data cleansing (preferred: On-Premise & Cloud models).
- BI/ERP implementations (nice-to-have).
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Key Competencies
- Critical thinking and cross-team collaboration.
- Problem-solving for unstructured data challenges.
- Excellence in data administration, security, and management.
- Exceptional communication (verbal & written) at all organisational levels.
- Organisational and project management agility.
- Passion for emerging technologies and innovation.
- Ability to develop visualisations that accurately represent datasets.
Diversity & Inclusion
Smiths Group is committed to fostering an inclusive culture, valuing diversity in thought, background, and experience. Applicants are considered purely based on merit and without regard to-colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, or other protected characteristics.
Warning: Avoid fraudulent recruitment practices—all applications should be submitted via the official careers portal. Smiths and related partners will never request payment for interview or assessment participation.
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