Remote Data Scientist - Agricultural Analytics

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Performance bonuses

Online courses and growth

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly analytical Data Scientist for a fully remote role within South Africa. You will analyze crop health, weather, soil, and market data to build predictive models and data-driven solutions for sustainable farming.

The position requires 3+ years in data science, a strong ML portfolio, and proficiency in Python or R, with cloud and SQL experience. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams is essential in a distributed, remote setup.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Data Science, Statistics, CS, or related quantitative field.
• 3+ years of experience as a Data Scientist with statistical modeling & ML projects.
• Proficiency in Python or R and libraries (scikit-learn, TF, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy).

Responsibilities

• Design and implement statistical models and ML algorithms to analyze agricultural data.
• Preprocess and integrate data from sensors, satellites, and historical records.
• Build data pipelines and ETL for agricultural datasets.
• Create visualizations and dashboards to communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with agronomists, researchers, and product teams on data science projects.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis to identify trends and anomalies.
• Stay current with advances in data science for agriculture.
• Document methodologies and code thoroughly.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Python

R

SQL

Cloud platforms

Spark

Data visualization

Education

Master's or PhD in Data Science

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

NumPy

Job description

About the Role Our client, a forward-thinking agricultural technology firm, is seeking a highly analytical and motivated Remote Data Scientist to spearhead our agricultural analytics initiatives. This position is fully remote, allowing you to work from anywhere within South Africa. You will be instrumental in extracting valuable insights from vast datasets related to crop health, weather patterns, soil conditions, and market trends. Your work will directly contribute to developing data-driven solutions that enhance farm productivity, sustainability, and profitability. This role requires a blend of strong statistical modeling skills, machine learning expertise, and a passion for applying these skills to solve real-world agricultural challenges. You will collaborate with a distributed team of experts, leveraging your skills to build predictive models and analytical tools that drive innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement statistical models and machine learning algorithms to analyze agricultural data, predict crop yields, identify disease outbreaks, and optimize resource allocation.
• Clean, preprocess, and transform large, complex datasets from various sources, including sensor data, satellite imagery, and historical records.
• Develop and maintain data pipelines and ETL processes for agricultural data.
• Create compelling data visualizations and dashboards to communicate findings and insights to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with agronomists, researchers, and product managers to identify key business questions and translate them into data science projects.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis to uncover trends, patterns, and anomalies in agricultural data.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and their applications in agriculture.
• Document methodologies, code, and findings thoroughly.

Requirements

• Master's degree or PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Proven experience (3+ years) as a Data Scientist, with a strong portfolio of projects involving statistical modeling and machine learning.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas, NumPy).
• Experience with SQL and database management.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and big data technologies (e.g., Spark).
• Strong understanding of statistical principles and machine learning techniques.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently in a remote setting.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly.
• A genuine interest in applying data science to the agricultural sector is highly desirable.

Benefits

This is a fully remote position offering significant flexibility. Our client provides a highly competitive salary, performance bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package. You will have opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth, including access to online courses and virtual conferences. We offer a collaborative and inclusive virtual work environment where your contributions are valued. You will work with cutting-edge technologies and tackle challenging problems that have a real-world impact on sustainable agriculture across Durban, Johannesburg, and beyond.