Remote Agricultural Data Scientist - Crop Modeling

Placements24; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Research leadership

Professional development budget

Flexible working hours

Powerful computing resources

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a remote Agricultural Data Scientist specializing in crop modeling. This role focuses on developing predictive models to optimize crop yields, resource use, and risk assessment, leveraging weather, soil, and satellite data.

You will work with a global team of scientists and engineers, using Python or R, TensorFlow/PyTorch, and crop simulation tools to translate large datasets into actionable insights for farmers and agri-businesses.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field with modeling focus.
• 5+ years of experience building and deploying predictive models in agriculture.
• Strong Python/R, ML libraries, and HPC experience.
• Experience with large weather, soil, and remote sensing data.
• Familiarity with crop simulation models (DSSAT/APSIM) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement advanced crop growth and yield models.
• Leverage weather, soil, and satellite data to calibrate models.
• Develop data pipelines for agricultural datasets.
• Communicate insights to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with agronomists and researchers across teams.
• Publish and contribute to data-driven decision support tools.

Skills

Python

R

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Time-series analysis

Spatial analysis

Data visualization

Education

PhD in Data Science / Statistics / Agricultural Science

Master's degree in a quantitative field

Tools

DSSAT

APSIM

Scikit-learn

SciPy

GIS

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a global leader in agricultural technology, leveraging advanced data science to drive innovation and sustainability in the Agriculture & Forestry sector. We are seeking a brilliant and experienced Remote Agricultural Data Scientist with a specialization in crop modeling to join our fully remote team. This position offers the unique opportunity to work from anywhere, focusing on developing sophisticated predictive models that optimize crop yields, resource management, and risk assessment. You will collaborate with a diverse team of scientists, agronomists, and engineers, transforming vast agricultural datasets into actionable intelligence that shapes the future of farming. If you possess a strong quantitative background, expertise in statistical modeling and machine learning, and a passion for solving complex agricultural challenges, this role is an exceptional career move.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement advanced crop growth models using statistical and machine learning techniques.
• Utilize large-scale datasets (e.g., weather, soil, satellite imagery, field trial data) to parameterize and validate crop models.
• Analyze model outputs to provide insights and forecasts on crop performance, yield potential, and environmental impacts.
• Collaborate with agronomists and researchers to integrate domain knowledge into model development and refinement.
• Develop algorithms for optimizing planting dates, fertilization strategies, irrigation schedules, and pest/disease management based on model predictions.
• Build and maintain data pipelines for collecting, cleaning, and processing agricultural data relevant to modeling efforts.
• Communicate complex model findings and their implications to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Stay abreast of the latest research and advancements in crop modeling, data science, and agricultural technology.
• Contribute to the development of data-driven decision support tools for farmers and agricultural businesses.

Requirements

• A Ph.D. or Master's degree in a quantitative field such as Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Agricultural Science (with a strong modeling focus), Biometry, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in data science, with a significant focus on building and deploying predictive models, particularly in agriculture or a related biological science.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant libraries for data analysis, machine learning, and scientific computing (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, SciPy).
• Proven experience with statistical modeling, time-series analysis, spatial analysis, and machine learning techniques.
• Familiarity with crop simulation models (e.g., DSSAT, APSIM) is highly desirable.
• Experience working with large datasets, including remote sensing data and IoT data.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities for effective remote teamwork.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and comprehensive remote work benefits.
• Opportunity to lead cutting-edge research in agricultural data science.
• Significant impact on global food security and sustainable agriculture.
• Generous professional development budget for conferences and training.
• Flexible working hours and a culture that values innovation.
• Access to powerful computing resources and diverse datasets.
• Be part of a world-class, globally distributed research team.