Liebherr Mining – where careers evolve

His story shows how an environment that values long-term development can open doors to new opportunities.

Today, Rachid is a data scientist in Liebherr Mining’s digitalisation department in Colmar, France. He and his team find ways of integrating artificial intelligence into mining equipment to optimise performance, anticipate failures, improve energy efficiency and facilitate remote diagnostics. Working at the intersection of engineering expertise and innovation reflects Liebherr Mining’s commitment to shaping the future of the industry. But his Liebherr career looked a whole lot different when he first started working with the company in 2009.

‘I first joined Liebherr as part of the aftersales team for the earthmoving product segment on a fixed 12-month contract. It was my job to resolve customers’ technical difficulties and provide maintenance solutions best suited to their needs – a bit different to what I do now,’ says Rachid.

After his initial contract came to an end, Rachid worked in a number of engineering roles before having the opportunity to join Liebherr’s mining product segment in 2014 as a systems engineer. These different roles allowed him to continuously expand his skill set while staying within the same company.

‘I had such positive memories from my first time working with Liebherr that I jumped at the opportunity to work with the company again!’ enthuses Rachid. ‘It felt like a place where technical expertise is trusted and where careers can evolve.’

From hydraulics systems to data science

As a systems engineer, Rachid worked on a number of different projects, including developing the hydraulics system for a new truck. This involved designing, testing and validating the system that eventually became a core part of the truck’s build. The role gave him broad exposure to complex systems and close collaboration across teams.

‘I will never forget that moment in 2017 when we transitioned from the virtual world of design and calculations to tangible reality. Turning the ignition key, seeing the engine start and watching the truck drive forward for the first time was incredibly moving,’ Rachid recalls.

Rachid had been working as a system engineer for around seven years when a change in Liebherr Mining’s product strategy gave him the opportunity to reflect on his professional career and which parts of it had brought him the most joy over the years. This openness to change and reflection was encouraged by a company culture that supports personal growth.

‘I had always loved programming, analysis and modelling – particularly the part where you draw lessons from technical indicators,’ he explains.

His passion for programming and technology led him to read widely about artificial intelligence, ‘big data’, data science and their growing role in industrial processes. At Liebherr, curiosity and continuous learning are seen as key drivers of innovation. He also discovered testimonials from engineers like himself who had technical backgrounds and had redirected their careers to become data scientists.

‘It was around this time I saw a unique opportunity to leverage my years of experience and position myself at the forefront of technological innovation at Liebherr as a data scientist myself.’

Becoming a data scientist

Rachid reached out to his professional network and found a specialised school that offered an intensive bootcamp in data science. But there was a catch – the bootcamp lasted 15 weeks. Not a timeframe that’s particularly friendly to someone with a full-time job. However, open dialogue and mutual trust made the next step possible. And so he shared his ambitions with his manager.

‘He was immediately receptive and very supportive. He even helped me to start discussions with our human resources department. I set a meeting with them, where we discussed my ambitions, my transferable skills and how my changing careers would still allow me to share my knowledge and experiences with Liebherr. I left that meeting more motivated than ever,’ he says. ‘It really showed me that development is something the company actively supports.’

After his discussion with HR, Rachid then met with the manager of Liebherr Mining’s data department and expressed his motivations and how his experiences in mechanics and hydraulic systems could contribute to his success as a data scientist. The meeting must have gone well since he officially started working with the data department in September 2024 and began the data science bootcamp just a week later!

‘Being part of the data department before I began my training allowed me to make a smooth transition into my new role as a data scientist once the training came to an end,’ Rachid explains.

After 15 weeks of full-time data science training, Rachid completed the intensive bootcamp, mastering programming languages, the basics of statistics and machine and deep learning algorithms – eventually applying his new-found skills to real-world projects. With Liebherr’s support – which included assistance with the expenses associated with the 15-week training program – Rachid was able to apply his newfound knowledge in ways to help Liebherr Mining customers around the world. The investment in his development quickly translated into tangible value.

When support meets success

Rachid is incredibly grateful for the support he received during this time of transition and is proud to work for a company that helps its employees achieve their dreams.

‘My career change is undoubtedly one of the most important and enriching decisions of my professional life. It allowed me to reinvent myself, to give new meaning to my work and above all to rediscover my passion for learning and building with technology,’ he enthuses.

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