Innovation Researcher & Analyst (AI Expert) - Smart Home Appliances

About the role

You will be the Innovation Researcher & Analyst (AI expert) driving deep-research to identify intelligent features in our next-generation smart home appliances. You’ll scan emerging AI trends, design high-impact use cases, and work with engineering, product, UX, Patents, Insights and Analytics teams to research & assess potential use-cases for the Engineering team(s) to define concepts into new products or launched features that delight consumers and differentiate our portfolio.

The impact you’ll make

1. Trend and technology research

• Continuously monitor AI trends relevant to smart homes (on device ML, energy optimization, computer vision, voice and multimodal interfaces, etc).
• Track competitors, startups, big tech and academic research to identify new opportunities for our appliance categories.
• Produce concise insight briefs translating external trends into actionable ideas and recommendations for our roadmap.

2. Consumer and data insights

• Analyze appliance telemetry, app usage, and customer feedback to uncover pain points and opportunities for AI features.
• Define what data needs to be collected (signals, frequency, quality) to enable future AI capabilities.
• Partner with UX and Consumer insights, Foresights team(s) to validate hypotheses about how AI can improve everyday home tasks.

3. AI use case definition and prioritization

• Define ideation for AI features across product lines (e.g., predictive maintenance, auto program selection, adaptive cleaning cycles, energy saving modes).
• Translate ideas into clear problem statements, solution concepts, and measurable success metrics.
• Build and maintain an AI feature backlog, prioritizing by user value, business impact, feasibility, and risk.

4. Solution design and technical skillsets

• Design high level technical architectures for AI enabled features (device, edge, and cloud components; data pipelines; APIs).
• Select appropriate AI/ML techniques and tools for each use case, balancing performance, cost, and privacy.
• Collaborate closely with embedded, cloud, and mobile teams to integrate models into appliances and companion apps.
• Provide technical guidance and review for AI components throughout design, development, and deployment.

5. Prototyping, experimentation and validation

• Build or coordinate rapid prototypes and proof of concepts using real or simulated appliance data.
• Design and analyze experiments (lab trials, A/B tests, beta pilots) to validate feasibility and user impact either internally or by collaborating with external partners.
• Document findings and translate them into clear product requirements and next steps.

6. Responsible AI, data governance and compliance

• Define and promote best practices for data quality, model evaluation, monitoring, and lifecycle management.
• Ensure AI features comply with relevant privacy, security, and emerging AI regulations in our key markets.
• Promote explainable and user controllable AI behavior, especially for safety critical or high impact functions.

The skills and knowledge you’ll bring

• Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Data Science, AI/ML, or a related field (or equivalent industry experience).
• 5+ years of hands on experience building and deploying AI/ML solutions, ideally in IoT, embedded, or consumer electronics contexts.
• Strong expertise in researching tools/technologies by leveraging both internal and external data-sources.
• Strong proficiency in Python and modern ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit learn).
• Solid understanding of data engineering basics: data pipelines, APIs, cloud services, and model deployment practices.
• Experience working with sensor/telemetry data, time series analysis, or edge/on device ML is a strong plus.
• Ability to translate ambiguous business problems into well structured AI solutions and communicate trade offs clearly.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in smart home, domestic appliances, consumer electronics, or adjacent IoT domains.
• Familiarity with voice assistants, Matter or other smart home standards, and home energy management systems.
• Comfort operating in an exploratory, experimental environment with imperfect data and evolving requirements.

What we’ll give you in return

• Performance-based Annual Incentive Program, rewarding those who dare and achieve more.
• Top-of-the-market pension plan with the opportunity for higher employee contributions.
• Work-from-home and phone allowances to support your home office setup and business connectivity.
• Balanced office-based working | With a strong focus on in-office collaboration, we offer flexibility to work from home based on team needs and individual circumstances.
• Work from abroad | Up to 30 days per year.
• Structured holiday policy | Includes defined care days, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, and a capped option to purchase additional leave days annually.
• Special health insurance plan for Versuni employees with convenient conditions when signing up with our partner insurance.
• Product discounts on all Versuni products sold under the Philips brand and our other brands.
• High-growth environment, offering exciting learning and career development perspectives beyond your first role.

Ready to make an impact?

From developing game-changing air fryers to perfecting the art of coffee making, Versuni’s purpose is turning houses into homes — and we’re calling on your talent to bring it to life. Join our global team of 6,000+ passionate individuals, work with world-class brands, and shape the future of home living.