R&D AI Product Owner

Covestro•Pittsburgh, PA

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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
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
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.