Product Owner, AI Products for R&D

About the role

We are Covestro. We are curious. We are courageous. We are colorful. We refine chemical material solutions with game-changing products. Let us empower you to push boundaries. Join us and our 18,000 colleagues now and together we will make the world a brighter place.

Are you ready to shape the future of specialty chemicals R&D? Covestro is building an AI-native platform that will transform how we discover, design, and deliver breakthrough materials. As our R&D AI Product Owner, you'll be at the forefront of this transformation, translating decades of proprietary chemistry expertise into AI-powered software that accelerates innovation from lab to market.

You'll own the product vision and roadmap for AI applications that embed intelligence directly into our R&D workflows-moving beyond generic chatbots to AI that ideates, recommends, and executes alongside our scientists.

Working at the intersection of cutting-edge AI technology, materials science, and global R&D operations, you'll coordinate cross-functional teams spanning data scientists, software engineers, chemists, and external AI partners to deliver secure, high-impact solutions. This isn't just product management-it's pioneering a competitive advantage in an industry where AI adoption will separate leaders from followers.

If you have deep R&D experience, AI/data science expertise, and the vision to turn complex technical challenges into transformative products, this is your opportunity to define how a Fortune 500 materials science company wins with AI.

Major Tasks & Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Communicate the Digital R&D AI Strategy to stakeholders and maintain organizational buy-in.
• Own the product roadmap and prioritization framework
• Define which use cases to pursue in what sequence
• Translate business objectives into product requirements

Stakeholder and User Management

• Own relationships with R&D chemists, simulation experts, and other end users
• Conduct user research, gather feedback, and validate use case
• Manage leadership expectations and communications on product progress
• Coordinate with IT, security, and external vendor on product-level needs

Business & Operations

• Drive use case validation and ROI quantification
• Manage budget priorities and resource allocation decisions
• Own vendor selection for non-technical product services
• Track and report on product metrics, adoption, and business outcomes.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in a science or engineering field with 5+ years' experience conducting R&D or process optimization in an industrial setting; OR Master's degree in a science or engineering field with 6+ years' experience conducting R&D or process optimization in an industrial setting
• 5+ years of relevant experience in data science / data analytics / generative AI
• 5+ years of experience in project management in large global and cross-functional initiatives

Preferred Qualifications

• Completed coursework and certifications in machine learning, deep learning, AI agents, software engineering using AI.

Knowledge and Skills

• Extensive practical knowledge of agile project methodologies
• Structured problem-solving approach
• Agile mindset
• Team player familiar with virtual organizations

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Your Application

• Are you as curious, courageous and colorful as we are?
• If so, we can offer you an exciting career opportunity.
• We look forward to receiving your application and resume.
• Become part of our team - apply now!