Industrial Systems and AI Integration Expert, (Senior Director, Analyst - Remote US)

Gartner•Remote - Texas, TX

1d•Remote

About The Position

Shape the future of Manufacturing, allowing AI systems to integrate with physical devices, including robots, vehicles and machines, using a broad range of sensors and actuators to perceive, decide and act in real-world environments. Gartner Analysts are industry thought leaders who create must‑have insights, market predictions, and best practices for world‑leading organizations. A Senior Director serves as a leader within Gartner’s Business and Technology Insights sector, establishing credibility at local, regional, and global levels. They produce pragmatic and provocative research that clients use to advance key objectives and act as trusted advisors through client interactions, meetings, briefings, and conference engagements.

Requirements

12+ years of experience in Manufacturing IT, with deep expertise in manufacturing core systems and preferably deterministic, production-grade AI use cases.
Proven background in the design, deployment, and integration of: Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), including orchestration of shop-floor processes
IIoT (Industrial IoT)
Enterprise integrations across MES, ERP, Data Warehouses, PLM, and Quality systems
Deterministic AI and analytics applications in manufacturing, including: Decision-support systems, Rules-based optimization and scheduling, Domain-specific large models (DSLMs) applied to manufacturing operations, Computer vision for quality inspection and defect detection, Edge computing architectures enabling low-latency, high-reliability manufacturing use cases, Robotics and automation integration within controlled, safety-critical manufacturing environments
Analysis and improvements of manufacturing/operations data using AIoT, Data Platforms, Digital Twins/Threads
Deep knowledge of the competitive global landscape of the industrial and AI SW and service market
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; graduate degree preferred
Executive presence and ability to establish credibility quickly
Strong collaboration and organizational skills
High‑quality research, writing, analytical, and presentation skills
Ability to explain complex concepts simply
Comfort presenting to internal and external clients at various scales
Strong business and financial acumen
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multicultural environment
Learning agility and ability to navigate matrixed environments
Ability to represent Gartner’s research methodology effectively

Nice To Haves

Willingness to travel up to 25%

Responsibilities

Create innovative, thought-provoking, highly leveraged research content for Manufacturing CIOs and AI Leaders, their teams and stakeholders
Develop new research ideas and offer actionable approaches to client needs
Analyze client challenges to identify root causes and reframe thinking
Demonstrate thought leadership around the future of manufacturing; ecosystems, geopolitics, technologies, vendors and the regulations impacting it; the role of data; required business capabilities; and help shape research positions across analyst teams
Research and predict manufacturing market vendors and trends to provide actionable insights, e.g. Magic Quadrants, Critical Capabilities, Strategic Roadmaps
Assist Manufacturers in their digitalization and AI Journeys by providing guidance on readiness, strategy, use case prioritization, business case, architecture, design and vendor selection
Bring independent insights that influence research agendas and help clients make informed, unbiased decisions
Collaborate with Team Managers and Research Cohort Leads to align stakeholders and drive high‑impact outcomes
Pivot into adjacent research areas as client demand evolves and boundaries between industries and technologies blur
Provide actionable client advice via virtual or in‑person interactions
Create and deliver high‑value presentations for Gartner events and client briefings
Support Research and Sales by representing the voice of the market and driving client engagement
Peer‑review research content to ensure quality and timeliness
Build credibility as an industry expert representing Gartner research and methodology
Participate in innovation and research discussions with peers
Identify and improve research processes
Mentor and coach junior team members
Be client‑centric and encourage regular engagement with Gartner research