Staff Engineer Material Generation

Syngenta; Bracknell; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Bonus scheme

Private medical insurance

Life insurance

Flexible working

Training options

Job summary

Syngenta is seeking a Staff Engineer, Material Generation to advance material generation, compound discovery, and scientific workflows. You will partner with engineers, product leaders, and scientists to accelerate digital capabilities for sustainable agriculture and scientific innovation.

The role blends advanced tech with agricultural R&D in a global, collaborative setting. You will lead architecture, guide senior and junior engineers, and ensure scalable, secure solutions while maintaining

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in Python or Java backend engineering.
• Demonstrable experience in software architecture and integration patterns.
• Demonstrable experience in AI-assisted engineering with rigorous review.
• Demonstrable experience in React or Angular awareness.
• Demonstrable experience in quality, test, and documentation standards.
• Demonstrable experience in scientific workflow partnership.
• Demonstrable experience in technical leadership without line authority.
• Demonstrable experience designing and implementing scalable APIs and integration patterns.
• Demonstrable experience with cloud platforms and microservices architecture.

Responsibilities

• Lead backend engineering with Python or Java to deliver scalable outcomes.
• Design and apply software architecture and integration patterns for durable solutions.
• Apply AI-assisted engineering with rigorous review to ensure quality and scalability.
• Guide frontend awareness using React or Angular to support robust platforms.
• Promote quality, testing, and documentation standards across teams.
• Partner with scientific workflows to accelerate material generation.
• Mentor junior engineers and foster technical excellence and learning.
• Conduct thorough code reviews and set technical standards for maintainability and security.
• Collaborate across engineering, product, and scientific teams to translate complex needs into practical solutions.
• Optimize system performance and scalability in material generation workflows.
• Lead incident response and rapid production issue resolution.

Skills

Python

Java

Software architecture

AI-assisted engineering

React or Angular

Quality assurance

API design

Cloud platforms

Microservices

Technical leadership

Tools

Git & CI/CD

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Company Description

Crop Protection is a leader in agricultural innovation, bringing breakthrough technologies and solutions that enable farmers to grow productively and sustainably. We offer a leading portfolio of crop protection solutions for plant and soil health, as well as digital solutions that transform the decision-making capabilities of farmers. Our 17,900 employees serve to advance agriculture in more than 90 countries around the world. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and is part of the Syngenta Group.

Our employees reflect the diversity of our customers, the markets where we operate and the communities which we serve. No matter what your position, you will have a vital role in safely feeding the world and taking care of our planet. Join us and help shape the future of agriculture.

Job Description

We are looking for a Staff Engineer, Material Generation to support applications enabling material generation, compound discovery, and scientific workflows. This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of advanced technology and agricultural R&D, partnering with engineers, product leaders, and scientific stakeholders on capabilities with real-world impact. Help accelerate the digital capabilities that support more sustainable agriculture and scientific innovation.

What You'll Do

• Lead and apply deep expertise in Python or Java backend engineering to deliver durable, scalable outcomes.
• Lead and apply deep expertise in software architecture and integration patterns to deliver durable, scalable outcomes.
• Lead and apply deep expertise in AI-assisted engineering with rigorous review to deliver durable, scalable outcomes.
• Lead and apply deep expertise in React or Angular awareness to deliver durable, scalable outcomes.
• Lead and apply deep expertise in quality, test, and documentation standards to deliver durable, scalable outcomes.
• Lead and apply deep expertise in scientific workflow partnership to deliver durable, scalable outcomes.
• Mentor and guide junior and mid-level engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning.
• Conduct thorough code reviews and establish technical standards that promote maintainability, performance, and security across the platform.
• Collaborate across engineering, product, and scientific teams to translate complex needs into practical solutions.
• Optimize system performance and scalability, identifying and addressing bottlenecks in material generation workflows.
• Lead incident response and troubleshooting efforts, ensuring rapid resolution of critical issues in production environments.
• Set a high bar for quality, documentation, and thoughtful use of AI-assisted engineering throughout the organization.

Qualifications

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in Python or Java backend engineering
• Demonstrable experience in software architecture and integration patterns
• Demonstrable experience in AI-assisted engineering with rigorous review
• Demonstrable experience in React or Angular awareness
• Demonstrable experience in quality, test, and documentation standards
• Demonstrable experience in scientific workflow partnership
• Demonstrable experience in technical leadership without line authority
• Demonstrable experience designing and implementing scalable APIs and integration patterns
• Demonstrable experience with cloud platforms and microservices architecture
• Strong communication skills and the ability to influence across technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Fluent English, written and spoken

Bonus Points

• Experience in agriculture, life sciences, scientific computing, or a regulated enterprise environment
• Experience building platforms, products, or services used by multiple internal teams
• Experience working in distributed, international engineering organizations
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, and infrastructure automation
• Experience mentoring and developing engineering talent at multiple career levels
• Experience optimizing system performance and managing scientific data workflows at scale

Additional Information

What we offer

• Extensive benefits package including a generous pension scheme, bonus scheme, private medical & life insurance.
• Up to 31.5 days annual holiday.
• Flexible working
• We offer a position which contributes to valuable and impactful work in a stimulating and international environment.
• The opportunity to develop and apply your science within the chemical industry.
• The chance to work as part of a global team to address the current and future needs of the agricultural sector.
• Learning culture and wide range of training options.

Syngenta has been ranked as a top 5 employer and number 1 in agriculture by Science Journal.

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Learn more about our D&I initiatives here: https://www.syngenta.com/careers/working-syngenta/diversity-and-inclusion