Remote Agronomic Systems Modeling Specialist

Kelly; Johnston (IA); Remote; USD 62,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work options

Travel to Des Moines 1–2 times perYear

Job summary

Kelly seeks an Agronomic Systems Modeling Specialist to develop, calibrate, and validate process-based crop models (APSIM/DSSAT) for decision support in corn, soybean, and cotton production. You will work with agronomists, data engineers, and product managers on large multi-environment datasets and geospatial inputs, emphasizing transparent, scientifically defensible AI-assisted workflows.

Remote work is possible; hybrid options in Cary, NC or Johnston, IA are supported, with occasional travel

Qualifications

• Experience in developing, calibrating, validating, and applying APSIM, DSSAT, or similar process-based crop models.
• Strong knowledge of crop physiology, phenology, soil water dynamics, and nutrient cycling.
• Deep understanding of corn and soybean production systems.
• Advanced proficiency in R and/or Python for data analysis and model development.
• Experience with Databricks, SQL, and cloud environments for scalable workflows.
• Demonstrated experience with AI-assisted development and reproducible analytics.
• Ability to communicate model assumptions, results, and uncertainty to diverse audiences.
• PhD or Master’s in agronomy, crop science, soil science, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Develop modeling approaches for G x E x M interactions across crops and geographies.
• Design and execute model calibration, validation, and sensitivity analyses.
• Define inputs, outputs, assumptions, and validation criteria for modeling problems.
• Work with large agricultural datasets and geospatial data layers.
• Build repeatable workflows for processing and visualizing model outcomes.
• Create agronomic constraints and validation frameworks for AI recommendations.
• Collaborate with agronomists, data scientists, software engineers, and product managers.

Skills

APSIM/DSSAT modeling

Crop physiology

Crop phenology

Soil water dynamics

Nutrient cycling

R / Python

Databricks/SQL

AI-assisted development

Communication

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in agronomy or related

Tools

John Deere Operations Center

Tableau / Power BI

Job description

Kelly seeks an Agronomic Systems Modeling Specialist to develop, calibrate, and validate process-based crop models (APSIM/DSSAT) for decision support in corn, soybean, and cotton production. You will work with agronomists, data engineers, and product managers on large multi-environment datasets and geospatial inputs, emphasizing transparent, scientifically defensible AI-assisted workflows.

Remote work is possible; hybrid options in Cary, NC or Johnston, IA are supported, with occasional travel