We currently have a fantastic opportunity for someone to join the Automation Systems Research Team as Lead Research Scientist in Automated Logistics Systemsreporting to the Research Director of Automation, Digitalization, and Cyber Security in Luxembourg.

Overview

FM is a leading property insurer of the world's largest businesses, providing more than one-third of FORTUNE 1000-size companies with engineering-based risk management and property insurance solutions. FM helps clients maintain continuity in their business operations by drawing upon state-of-the-art loss-prevention engineering and research; risk management skills and support services; tailored risk transfer capabilities; and superior financial strength. To do so, we rely on a dynamic, culturally diverse group of employees, working in more than 100 countries, in a variety of challenging roles.

Industrial Automation, digitalization, and cyber security are identified areas with increasing challenges and risks in all Industries in the next decades. To provide the best-in-class actionable science-based loss preparedness and prevention solutions to businesses, FM is making vast investments into this area over the coming years, starting with the creation of the dedicated global Research Center for Automation, Digitalization, and Cyber Security headquartered in Luxembourg.

This position will be based in Luxembourg, the headquarter for the global Industrial Digitalization research activities and home to the new FM Science and Technology Center in Europecurrently under development that will also serve as the company’ regional headquarters. The Center will expand and enhance FM’s worldwide research including the research headquarters in Norwood, MA, USA, the FM Research Campus in Rhode Island, USA and the regional climate science team for Asia at the FM Centre in Singapore.

Context of the position

You will be part of the Automation Systems Research Team within FM’s Research Division, that consists of scientists studying industrial automation, digitalization, digital twins, and cyber security. It is headquartered in EMEA (Luxembourg) with additional locations in the U.S. (Norwood, Massachusetts), and (possibly in the future) in Asia (Singapore).

The goal of the group is to assess and reduce industrial risk as a result of increased digitalization of infrastructure and processes, by staying abreast of state-of-the-art implementations, developments, and roll-out of Automated Logistics System technologies and concepts, partnering with the world’s top Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Research Institutes and other engineers and researchers, and building on the practical experience from over 1300 engineers that perform over 100,000 site-specific risk assessments each year.

While the research is similar in technical rigor to that conducted at universities and in top government and industrial laboratories, the results are used to protect mutual client owner businesses via site-specific engineering, underwriting, product certification, claims, sales, and other organizations within the FM Group.

Role

You will be responsible for identifying, planning, coordinating, and conducting research related to the increasingly widespread use of Automated Logistics System technologies and solutions in industrial applications.  In particular, the associated risks of physical damage to equipment and/or stock in process resulting from Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems and other solutions in modern Logistics centers, as well and scientifically proven protection solutions to help mitigate such risks are the focus of this position.

Responsibilities Include:

• Perform fundamental and applied research to understand the technologies as well as their applications, and to assess property damage risks, relating implementations of automated logistics solutions.
• Develop industrial digitalization risk scenarios and innovative mitigation strategies related with increasing use of automation in logistics centers (e.g. Industry 4.0, digital twins, AI in industrial applications).
• Conduct strategic projects from scope to implementation, make use of most appropriate methods, technologies, and models.
• Maintain contact with industry leaders to track trends related to automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), and related automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and autonomous robotic vehicles (AMRs).
• Coordinate your activities with internal stakeholders, guiding internal and external research experts, and manage relationships with academic institutes and standardization bodies.
• Actively drive forward risk evaluation knowhow through attendance and participation in conferences/industry events/renowned industrial and scientific journals.

Qualified candidates must have:

• Demonstrated project, research, and team management abilities. The job title and level may be adjusted depending on qualifications and experience.
• Proven track record in successfully implementing projects and technologies in Logistics Systems.
• Strong knowledge of industrial control systems, IoT technologies, cloud and edge computing, data analytics and digital twin concepts as well as exposure to cybersecurity principles and best practices.
• Background with industry standards and regulations related to automated storage systems design and application.
• An extensive personal network of experts in OEMs, research, or governmental agencies as well as in industry consortia associated with automated logistics systems
• A PhD in Engineering, Computer Science or field related to automation systems. An MSc with extensive appropriate industrial research experience in industrial automation, process engineering, or a similar role also accepted with a minimum of 10 years’ work experience.

Desired Skills and Competency Areas

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with clients and partners at all levels.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable insights, strategies and plans.
• Strong leadership skills: ability to manage teams and lead projects.
• Able to envision, create, implement, and gain acceptance of new industrial digitalization driven risk scenarios.
• Shown background in business development and strategy skills (e.g. through MBA) are desirable.

If you are interested in being considered for this position, please apply via Job Postings within Employee Career Center following the instructions (https://intranet-fmglobal.icims.com/jobs/intro).