Remote Precision Agriculture Data Scientist

Placements24; Willows (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus opportunity

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Remote Precision Agriculture Data Scientist to convert sensor, drone, and satellite data into actionable farm insights. You will build predictive models, optimize resource use, and assess risk across large datasets from IoT devices and farm management systems.

Ideal candidates hold a Master’s or Ph.D. in a quantitative field and have 3+ years of data science experience with Python/R, ML libraries, and data visualization tools.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in a quantitative field.

Responsibilities

• Collect and preprocess large, diverse agricultural datasets.
• Develop statistical models and ML algorithms for yield, disease, and pest forecasting.
• Design experiments to evaluate farming strategies and technologies.
• Create visualizations and dashboards for stakeholders.
• Collaborate with agronomists and software engineers to implement insights.
• Identify trends and anomalies to drive operational improvements.
• Stay updated on data science advances in agriculture.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication

Independent remote work

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Data Science/Statistics/CS/Agri Eng

Tools

Python

R

Pandas

NumPy

Scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

SQL

NoSQL

Tableau

Power BI

Matplotlib

Seaborn

Job description

About the Role Our client, an innovative agricultural technology company, is seeking a highly analytical and forward-thinking Remote Precision Agriculture Data Scientist. This position is integral to transforming raw agricultural data into actionable insights that drive farm efficiency, sustainability, and profitability. Working entirely remotely, you will leverage advanced statistical methods, machine learning algorithms, and data visualization techniques to analyze vast datasets from sensors, drones, satellite imagery, and farm management systems. The goal is to develop predictive models and optimization strategies for crop management, resource allocation, and risk assessment. This role is perfect for a data science professional passionate about applying their skills to the agricultural sector and contributing to the future of farming from the convenience of their home office.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect, clean, and process large, complex datasets from diverse agricultural sources (IoT sensors, weather stations, drone imagery, soil samples, farm machinery).
• Develop and implement advanced statistical models and machine learning algorithms for yield prediction, disease detection, pest forecasting, and optimal resource management (water, fertilizer).
• Design and conduct A/B tests and experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of different farming strategies and technologies.
• Create compelling data visualizations and interactive dashboards to communicate complex findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with agronomists, farm managers, and software engineers to understand data needs and translate insights into practical, implementable solutions.
• Identify trends, patterns, and anomalies in agricultural data to uncover opportunities for operational improvement and innovation.
• Stay current with the latest research and advancements in data science, machine learning, AI, and their applications in agriculture.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of the company's data infrastructure and analytical tools.
• Ensure data integrity, privacy, and security across all analytical processes.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Agricultural Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• Proven experience (3+ years) in data science, with a strong portfolio of projects involving large-scale data analysis and predictive modeling.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and expertise in relevant data science libraries (e.g., Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with SQL and NoSQL databases, and proficiency in querying and manipulating data.
• Demonstrated experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Matplotlib, Seaborn).
• Understanding of agricultural principles and data sources (e.g., crop physiology, soil science, remote sensing, IoT in agriculture) is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly.
• Must be comfortable and highly effective working independently in a fully remote environment.

Benefits

• This remote position offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive medical and dental insurance, and a generous contribution to a retirement savings plan.
• Employees receive an annual bonus based on individual and company performance.
• Opportunities for professional development, including access to online courses, virtual conferences, and certifications, are provided.
• The role offers significant autonomy and the flexibility to work from anywhere within South Africa , fostering an excellent work-life balance.
• Join a passionate team dedicated to revolutionizing agriculture through data.