Location(s): 

Herndon, VA, US

Function:  Digital & Analytics
Job Category:  Project Management

Principal Data Scientist

Wärtsilä is an innovative technology company known for being a forerunner in the Marine and Energy markets. Every day, we – Wärtsilians - put our hearts and minds into turning Wärtsilä's purpose of enabling sustainable societies through innovation in technology and services into reality. Our ultimate aim is to provide increased value to both our customers and society. New, game-changing ideas and continuous improvement have been part of our DNA since 1834. Together, we can create new business opportunities and more sustainable future that we can all be proud of. 

We want to transition the world towards a decarbonised and sustainable future. By pushing the boundaries of engineering and technology, we can make it work. We are always on the lookout for future-oriented talent – want to join the ride?

 

We are seeking a highly skilled, technically detailed, and articulate Manager of Data Science to lead our battery science team. This manager will work cross functionally between the cloud applications software engineering team, the embedded software engineering team, and various commercial and technical departments to support core business objectives and product development goals. This manager will lead the development of simulation models, estimation methods, forecasting techniques, and data driven algorithms for utility scale lithium-ion battery energy storage systems, using software development technologies such as Python and MATLAB Simulink. Additional aspects of this role include project bidding support, supply agreement support, product design support, and other business needs. Especially valued are experience in utility scale lithium-ion battery energy storage systems, battery reliability modeling, commercial aptitude, team management, and communication. The role will be an integral part of the Simulation and Data Science team in a Research and Development role, working to accelerate the development of our software capabilities while supporting new product development initiatives in the field of advanced battery power plant automation, optimization, and data analytics.

 

Essential Responsibilities


•    Lead the team that builds software products and algorithms to estimate state of charge (SoC), SoC Imbalance, SoH, Useable Energy, Round trip efficiency, and detect anomalies; including collaboration with lifecycle, product, and engineering teams
•    Provide subject matter expertise to the business in the areas of vendor techno-commercial supply agreements, fade curve warranties, beginning of life sizing, and other performance guarantee related topics
•    Ensure continuity of battery cell testing, including vendor prioritization and periodic cell performance reporting
•    Support other business needs on topics including ad hoc field data analytics, customer usage statistics, commissioning / capacity test support, and warranty design
•    Communicate complex technical findings and concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders alike
The candidate must be able to embrace the fast and dynamic environment of a growth stage company, comfortable with adjusting quickly to changing priorities.

 

Qualifications/Requirements


•    Ph.D. in battery chemistry, physics, material science, mathematics, computer science, or engineering
•    Demonstrated good management experience
•    Utility scale energy storage engineering experience
•    Lithium-ion battery cell testing experience
•    Extensive experience with time-series data
•    Track record of a career trajectory in data science and renewable energy
•    Strong Python programming level (3-5 years)
•    Can work independently and provide strong leadership

 

Desired Characteristics

•    An enterprising spirit
•    In-depth understanding of LFP batteries
•    Consistently bases decisions and designs on first principles
•    An appreciation for Richard Feynman style communication
•    Experience with data visualization tools such as Grafana, Tableau, or PowerBI
•    Passion for renewable energy and energy storage
•    Prior experience developing a monitoring and reporting platform
•    An appreciation for solving difficult problems
•    Familiar with large, distributed datasets for high-speed computing
•    Strong leadership record with active participation in renewable energy associations, forums, clubs, or groups
•    Evidenced responsibility, good communication, and accountability in a remote and digital world

Last application date: 17/03/2026 

 

At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities. 

Please note that according to Wärtsilä policy, voluntary consent for a security check may be required from candidates being considered for this position, depending on the applicable country.

 

This is Wärtsilä 

Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Our team of 18,300 professionals, in more than 230 locations in 77 countries, shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. Read more on www.wartsila.com


Nearest Major Market: Washington DC