Senior Faculty Specialist

University of Maryland; College Park (MD); On-site; USD 88,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Maryland is seeking a Senior Faculty Specialist to lead the Digital Agriculture Systems Hub (DASH) deployment team. You will oversee day-to-day field and workshop operations, sensor testing, and data integration for regional mapping and variable-rate nitrogen applications.

You will manage personnel, equipment, budgets, and travel, collaborating with academic and industry partners. A strong background in GIS, remote sensing, and data science is required.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in GIS, remote sensing, applied data science, or related field.
• Experience collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams and partners.
• Strong data handling, visualization, and geospatial analysis skills.
• Experience with sensor systems, field deployments, and project leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the DASH deployment team and oversee field/workshop operations.
• Coordinate regional deployment of tractor-mounted sensor systems and NR mapping.
• Lead sensor testing, calibration, and imaging platform development.
• Manage personnel, purchasing, equipment, budgets, and travel for the DASH team.
• Supervise technicians and interns and ensure timely research progress.

Skills

GIS

Remote sensing

Data science

Data analysis

Education

Master's degree in GIS / remote sensing

Tools

ESRI

QGIS

Job description

Job Description SummaryPosition Summary:The Senior Faculty Specialist will work in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland. This person will lead the Digital Agriculture Systems Hub (DASH) deployment team housed at the University of Maryland, overseeing and implementing day-to-day field and workshop operations and testing. Primary responsibilities will include coordinating a mid-Atlantic regional deployment of tractor-mounted sensor systems for mapping cover crops and delivering variable rate nitrogen recommendations, leading sensor technology testing and calibration for DASH, and coordinating and managing personnel, purchasing, equipment and vehicle maintenance and use, budgets, and travel for the (DASH) deployment team.Responsibilities:• Lead the Digital Agriculture Systems Hub (DASH) deployment team housed at the University of Maryland, overseeing and implementing day-to-day field and workshop operations and testing.• Coordinate a mid-Atlantic regional deployment of tractor-mounted sensor systems for mapping cover crops and delivering variable rate nitrogen recommendations in a public-private partnership with Willard, Growmark, and The Nature Conservancy.• Lead sensor technology testing and calibration for the Chesapeake Bay region of USDA’s DASH (Digital Agricultural Systems Hub) initiative to identify weed and cover crop species and biomass mapping on experimental research stations.• Work with DASH partners to identify unique implementations of their equipment to establish imaging platforms in a non-intrusive way to allow normal equipment operation.• Lead training sessions with DASH partners to instruct users in data acquisition, operation, and best practices with imaging systems.• Execute satellite calibration with ground-truth data for measuring, monitoring, and reporting platform used in cover crop use and performance mapping in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.• Develop calibration protocols for cover crop quality estimates using hyperspectral imagery.• Assist with automation of data acquisition and integration from a wide variety of data sources.• Supervise and manage a team of technicians and undergraduate interns to complete research objectives in a timely manner, promote team-oriented research, and diagnose mechanical and electrical issues.• Collaborate on research with a diverse set of academic and scientific partners spanning agronomic, environmental, computer science, engineering, and robotics disciplines.• Procure and set up machining equipment for prototyping of custom equipment.• Coordinate and manage personnel, purchasing, equipment and vehicle maintenance and use, budgets, and travel for (DASH) deployment team.Minimum Qualifications:• Master’s degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, applied data science, or related field.• Ability to work smoothly as part of a well-organized research collaboration with stakeholders from public and private entities to meet research objectives in a time sensitive manner.• Experience troubleshooting electronics and computers on agricultural machinery; knowledge of electrical and mechanical requirements for operation.• Experience with standard agricultural practices and implements in a variety of agricultural settings.• Experience with standardizing data collection for quality control measures in agricultural research to be used at broad-scale implementation.• Experience standardizing ground-truth data collection methods across multiple stakeholder/user groups to verify agricultural models.• Experience with drones, handheld, and tractor-mounted cameras to support collection of agricultural data to verify, scale, and improve agricultural models.• Experience with metal working, welding and fabrication of custom machine parts in a safe team-oriented environment (minimum 2 years preferred)• Experience with procurement of metal machining equipment and understanding of manufacturing standards.• Experience with organizing and creating operational space to inventory and order parts for a variety of applications and unique use-cases.• Demonstrated ability in successful project and personnel management.• Demonstrated ability to deploy sensor technology in agricultural systems and troubleshooting and resolving end-user applications.• Ability to process, integrate, and analyze tabular and geospatial data.• Attention to detail, ability to keep detailed records of data processing and analytics.• Ability and interest in periodic field work that requires lifting and carrying (up to 50 lbs.) and manual labor which may require standing, kneeling, bending, stooping, and reaching.• Valid driver's license.Preferences:• Experience with agricultural cropping systems and field data collection and/or analysis.• Experience with drones, handheld, and tractor-mounted cameras to support collection of hyperspectral agricultural data.• Experience with visual spectrum (RGB), Lidar, and sonar sensors for agricultural applications to map biomass of weed and cover crop species (minimum 2 years preferred).• Ability to create data visualizations into and out of GIS software (ESRI, QGIS).• Working knowledge of Azure cloud platforms.• Experience operating and loading trailers with agricultural machinery.Physical Demands:• Ability to perform indoor and outdoor work that requires lifting and carrying (up to 50 lbs.), standing, kneeling, bending, stooping, and reaching.Licenses/ Certifications:N/AAdditional Job DetailsRequired Application Materials: (1) a cover letter, (2) a current CV or resume, and (3) contact information for three referencesBest Consideration Date: October 13, 2026Posting Close Date: October 13, 2026Open Until Filled: N/ACandidate must be eligible to work in the United States at the time of hiring. The department will not provide sponsorship for work-visa requirements.Financial Disclosure RequiredNoFor more information on Financial Disclosure, please visit Maryland's State Ethics Commission website .DepartmentAGNR-Environmental Science & TechnologyWorker Sub-TypeFaculty RegularSalary Range$88,000 to $92,000Benefits SummaryFor more information on Regular Faculty benefits, select this link .Background ChecksOffers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.Employment EligibilityThe successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization. Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.EEO StatementThe University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.Title IX Non-Discrimination NoticeResourcesLearn how military skills translate to civilian opportunities with O*Net OnlineSearch Firm Managed RecruitmentThere are some positions that are not advertised on this career site as the search is being managed by a Search Firm.