About Us

Upside Robotics is on a mission to make farming more sustainable and efficient using "physical AI." We build autonomous, solar-powered robots that navigate cornfields to apply fertilizer with surgical precision—think of them as "Roombas for cornfields."By delivering nutrients directly to the root exactly when the plant needs them, we help farmers reduce fertilizer waste by up to 70%, cut costs by $150 per acre, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With a $7.5M Seed round recently closed and a waitlist of over 200 farms, we are scaling our fleet across Ontario and into the U.S. Corn Belt. We are an "agronomy-first" company that uses robotics as a tool to solve one of the world's biggest environmental and economic challenges.

What We're Looking ForWe’re looking for a Corn Crop Scientist to help us enhance our AI models, improve our understanding of corn growth and health, and develop sustainable farming practices. This role is a bridge between cutting-edge technology and traditional agricultural knowledge.You will be our resident expert on everything from soil nitrogen cycles to leaf chlorosis, ensuring that our robots aren't just "smart machines," but "expert agronomists" in their own right. If you are passionate about precision agriculture and want to see your expertise scaled across thousands of acres via autonomous systems, we want you on the team.

Key Responsibilities• Crop Issue Identification: Assist in identifying various corn crop issues, diseases, and pests. Provide expert insight on symptoms, causes, and potential solutions to refine our robot's detection capabilities.• Data Labeling & AI Validation: Guide the engineering team in accurately labeling corn crop data (computer vision) for AI model training. You will be the final word on ground-truth validation for plant health.• Precision Prescription Development: Offer context and insights for developing targeted nutrient prescriptions. Suggest improvements to existing prescriptions based on agronomic principles to maximize yield and minimize waste.• Sustainable Farming Leadership: Educate the internal team on sustainable corn farming practices. Provide guidance on reducing chemical usage while maintaining or improving yields.• Farmer Collaboration: Work with our network of farmers to implement new technologies. Gather feedback from the field and translate it into actionable insights for our hardware and software teams.• Research & Innovation: Stay updated on the latest advancements in corn agronomy and precision agriculture. Propose innovative approaches to improve corn crop health, specifically looking at "spoon-feeding" nitrogen models.

Requirements• Education: Master's or Ph.D. in Agronomy, Plant Science, or a related field with a focused expertise in corn crops.• Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in corn crop management, research, or consulting.• Agronomic Depth: Deep understanding of corn physiology, growth stages ($VE$ through $R6$), and common North American pests/diseases.• Precision Ag Fluency: Familiarity with precision agriculture tools (VRT, soil mapping, remote sensing) and sustainable farming practices.• Communication: Strong ability to translate complex biological concepts to software engineers and roboticists.• Mobility: Willingness to travel occasionally to farm sites across Ontario and our offices in Kitchener/Waterloo.

Preferred Qualifications• Knowledge of data science principles and the ability to interpret large agricultural datasets.• Previous consulting experience in the AgTech industry.• Published research or presentations related to corn crop management or sustainable agriculture.

Benefits & Compensation• Salary: Competitive Salary. • Equity: Meaningful equity stake to ensure you share in our long-term success.• Healthcare: Comprehensive coverage provided through Alan Health.• Vacation: Unlimited. We value your expertise and results over hours clocked.• Impact: A rare opportunity to shape the "brain" of a robot that is actively solving the agricultural runoff crisis.

How to ApplyDoes this role sound like a good fit? Please apply through the link below:https://upsiderobotics.com/about#contactPlease include a summary of your research or professional experience, specifically highlighting your work with corn crops and precision technology.