Research Officer, Digital Controlled Environment Systems

The role

As a Research Officer you will play a key role in designing and managing experimental systems that simulate diverse agricultural and environmental conditions. You will lead research and technology development efforts that combine biological environmental and digital systems to improve plant productivity resource efficiency and sustainability.

Working collaboratively with NRC researchers engineers and external partners you will help establish NRC as a global leader in digital agriculture and controlled environment research.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop operate and optimize controlled environment systems (growth chambers greenhouses vertical farms) to support crop and environmental simulation and production research through programming sensor integration and systems optimization.
• Design and manage experimental systems that mimic various climatic soil and environmental factors affecting crop growth.
• Implement advanced digital twins and automated technology platforms with a emphasis on indoor agriculture and controlled environment technology (ex. IoT robotics drones AI autonomous instrumentation sensors non-destructive data acquisition and phenotyping platforms).
• Design and conduct experiments that examine the effects of environmental variables (light temperature humidity CO₂ nutrient delivery) on plant growth physiology and yield through digital and automated crop measurement and environmental modeling
• Conduct innovative R&D on plant-environment interactions to improve production efficiency sustainability and crop quality through simulated environmental platforms and digital twins.
• Design and analyze multifactorial experiments integrating environmental biological and digital data to support data-driven decision-making and modeling.
• Lead the generation of high-quality scientific and technical outputs including reports peer-reviewed publications patents and prototypes.
• Collaborate with NRC teams and external partners in industry academia and government to develop and transfer technologies.

Screening criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

Ph.D. in Controlled Environment Biosystems Engineering or Biological Agricultural Engineering Environmental Science Plant Science Horticultural Science or related with combined relevant post-doctoral experience in controlled environment technologies system design and optimization environmental control data driven farming.

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad please see Degree equivalency

Experience

• *Significant and ***recent experience designing operating optimizing and troubleshooting integrated controlled environment systems such as growth chambers greenhouses or vertical farms.
• *Significant and ***recent experience developing or applying advanced digital agricultural technologies and automation for plant production environments
• *Significant experience with research on plant-environment interactions to optimize plant production composition and growth systems.
• *Significant and ***recent experience with integration of IoT data acquisition and automation systems for precision environment and automation control.
• **Experience in conducting multifactorial experiments and data-driven analyses involving environmental and biological variables.
• ***Recent experience in managing research projects and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.
• **Experience with writing and presenting scientific reporting publications and patents.

*Significant experience is defined as 4 to 6 years of experience.
**Experience is defined as 2 to 3 years.
***Recent experience is defined as experience acquired within the last 5 years.

Condition of employment

Reliability Status

For a Reliability Status verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required.

Language requirements

English

Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests

Assessment criteria

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

Technical competencies

• Solid knowledge of crop physiology plant-environment interactions in support of sustainable production systems
• Solid knowledge regarding the application of integrated digital and automated agricultural technologies in research or industry (GIS IoT robotics drones AI crop modeling).
• Strong knowledge of applying modeling to interpret and predict plant-environment interactions for optimization of plant production and growth systems for indoor agriculture.
• Knowledge of the application of sensors data integration data acquisition and automation systems for precision environment control.
• Knowledge of analytical skills data interpretation problem solving and scientific communication abilities.

Behavioural competencies

Competency Profile(s)

For this position the NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profile(s):Research;

View all competency profiles

Compensation

The intent of this hiring action is to staff this position at theAsRO to SROlevel which is a mid to seniorposition with a salary range of $83985 to $143127.

NOTE: Please note that the full RO/RCO salary scale has five levels. Salary determination will be based on a review of the candidates expertise outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the such the initial salary could be within another level of the RO/RCO salary scale (i.e. above or below the intended level for this position).

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan comprehensive health and dental coverage disability and life insurance office closure at the end of December and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.

Discover the possible

Anything is possible at the NRC named in 2025 one of Canadas Top Employers for Young People Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canadas Best Employers!

As Canadas largest research and innovation organization our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canadas future and the world.

At the NRC youll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. Youll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly youll discover whats possible within you as you grow make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground-breaking discoveries to a life-changing career discover your possible at the NRC.

Notes

• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRCs directives.
• A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one year period.
• Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.