Applied Machine Learning & Process Modeling Engineer (Water Treatment) at Ecolab in Switzerland, with remote options, is a hands-on role at the crossroads of process engineering, applied mathematics, and machine learning with a strong focus on real world industrial impact. You will work with engineers and plant operators to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs and environmental footprint, and increase robustness of our water treatment systems. To succeed, demonstrate 2+ years experience and an MSc or PhD in a relevant field, a solid grasp of industrial water processes, and strong Python skills (pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn). Highlight predictive models for processes such as ACF, IEX, RO, data analysis, modelling, and deploying models to practice, plus willingness for on-site international visits and cross-functional collaboration.
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 (e.g., ACF, IEX, RO)
Data-driven models (regression, tree-based methods, etc.)
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, etc.)
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