Principal Computer Vision Engineer

Job Description

We're looking for a Principal Computer Vision Engineer to lead the design, development, and scaling of our Digital Biological Assessment systems — one of the most advanced drone-based computer vision platforms in agriculture R&D. You will process hundreds of terabytes of aerial imagery annually, build machine learning models that replace manual field assessments, and lead a team of engineers pushing the boundaries of what's possible in precision agriculture.

What You'll Do

• Lead a team of computer vision engineers, setting technical direction and developing talent
• Architect and maintain end-to-end image analysis systems — from drone capture through ML inference to data output
• Write production-quality Python code for image processing, photogrammetry pipelines, and ML model deployment
• Design and train machine learning models for plant counting, height measurement, health assessment, and disease/weed detection from aerial imagery
• Manage AWS cloud infrastructure supporting large-scale image processing workloads
• Drive the integration of emerging technologies (large vision-language models, foundation models) into the assessment pipeline
• Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D biologists, IT, and operational teams to translate scientific needs into technical solutions
• Communicate the team's vision and results to stakeholders at all levels, including executive leadership

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or M.Sc. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Remote Sensing, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in computer vision and data engineering, with deep ML expertise
• 3+ years of people management experience leading technical teams
• Strong hands-on Python and Linux skills — you still write code and make architectural decisions
• Experience with photogrammetry (Metashape, Pix4D, or equivalent) and/or drone-based remote sensing
• Proven ability in building and operating large-scale image processing pipelines on AWS
• Excellent communication skills — you can explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and influence across organizational boundaries
• Fluent English (written and spoken)

Bonus Points

• Experience in agriculture, crop science, or precision farming applications
• Background in multispectral/hyperspectral sensor data analysis
• Experience with large vision-language models or foundation models for vision
• Experience in fast-moving startup environments

Additional Information

Why Syngenta?

• Unmatched scale: Few teams anywhere process computer vision at this volume — hundreds of terabytes of drone imagery per year across global field trials
• Real-world impact: Your work directly accelerates the development of crop protection products that help feed the world sustainably
• Innovation freedom: Strong leadership support, dedicated budget, and room to explore cutting-edge AI/ML approaches
• Flexible work: Remote-friendly with occasional travel to Basel (1–2x/year). We prioritize the best talent regardless of location
• Growth path: Clear trajectory to R&D or Digital leadership roles at the leadership team level

Please send your complete application with English CV, diploma and work certificate copies (if applicable).