Principal Computer Vision Engineer

Syngenta Group seeks a Principal Computer Vision Engineer in Basel to lead drone-based AI systems for agricultural R&D, managing teams and scaling large-scale image processing pipelines.

This position focuses on the design, development, and expansion of Digital Biological Assessment systems, which utilize drone-based computer vision to support research and development in agriculture. The engineer will oversee the processing of vast amounts of aerial imagery and develop machine learning models that automate manual field assessments, replacing traditional methods with advanced technology.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to a team of computer vision engineers.
• Architect and maintain complete image analysis workflows, from drone data capture to machine learning inference and final output.
• Develop production-grade Python code for image processing, photogrammetry, and model deployment.
• Design and train machine learning models to analyze aerial imagery for plant counting, height measurement, health assessment, and disease or weed detection.
• Oversee AWS cloud infrastructure to support large-scale image processing tasks.
• Integrate emerging technologies, such as large vision-language models and foundation models, into the assessment pipeline.
• Collaborate with R&D biologists, IT, and operational teams to convert scientific requirements into technical solutions.
• Communicate team objectives and results to stakeholders at all levels, including executive leadership.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or M.Sc. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Remote Sensing, or a related discipline.
• Over 10 years of experience in computer vision and data engineering, with deep expertise in machine learning.
• At least 3 years of experience managing technical teams.
• Strong proficiency in Python and Linux.
• Experience with photogrammetry tools (e.g., Metashape, Pix4D) or drone-based remote sensing.
• Proven track record of building and operating large-scale image processing pipelines on AWS.
• Excellent communication skills to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Fluent English (written and spoken).

Nice to have

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

What the company offers

• Remote-friendly work model with occasional travel to Basel (1–2x/year).
• Strong leadership support, dedicated budget, and room to explore cutting-edge AI/ML approaches.
• Clear trajectory to R&D or Digital leadership roles at the leadership team level.

About the company

Syngenta Group is a global leader in agricultural innovation, pioneering solutions that safeguard global food security while championing sustainable agriculture. The company is recognized as a top employer by Science Magazine and has been awarded the 'Friendly Work Space' label for all its Swiss sites. Syngenta prioritizes the best talent regardless of location, fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment.

• Pioneering solutions that safeguard global food security while championing sustainable agriculture.
• Ranked as a top employer by Science Magazine.
• Awarded the 'Friendly Work Space' label to all its Swiss sites.
• Prioritizes the best talent regardless of location.

How to apply

Documents to submit:

• CV
• Diploma
• Work certificate

Application language: English