Founding Agronomist: The Scientific Heart of a Saudi AgriTech AI Startup

Company Description

Founded in 2017, Smart Ant is a technology company dedicated to addressing water scarcity through AI, IoT, and advanced data platforms. Our flagship solution, Durra.ai, integrates satellite imagery, IoT sensors, and machine-learning models to optimize water use and increase agricultural efficiency in Saudi Arabia. Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, our mission is to reduce water waste, increase crop yields, and conserve groundwater. With headquarters in Ireland and a regional office in Saudi Arabia, our team of engineers, data scientists, and sustainability experts is committed to creating sustainable, inclusive, and transformative technology solutions.

About the Role

Are you an agronomist passionate about solving one of the biggest challenges facing Saudi Arabia? Do you want to see your expertise scaled across thousands of hectares through cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence?

Durra.ai is looking for a visionary agronomist to be the scientific cornerstone of our team. This is not a typical advisory role. You will be the bridge between the soil and the code, the farm and the data. You will be the "Ground Truth" for our AI Engine, ensuring that every recommendation our system makes is agronomically perfect.

As a founding team member, your insights will directly shape the core of our product and help us fulfill our mission of revolutionizing water usage in alignment with KSA's Vision 2030.

What You'll Do (Key Responsibilities)

• Be the Domain Expert: Serve as the primary source of agronomic knowledge for the entire team, guiding the development of our AI models with real-world science.
• Translate Agronomy into Data: Work directly with our AI/ML engineers to translate complex concepts (e.g., crop growth stages, soil water retention, nutrient stress) into parameters, rules, and data models that our AI can understand.
• Design & Oversee Pilot Programs: Lead the design and on-the-ground management of our farm pilot programs. You will be our primary liaison with partner farmers, ensuring studies are conducted with scientific rigor.
• Validate AI Recommendations: Continuously review and validate the outputs of the Manakh AI Engine against real-world conditions, creating the crucial feedback loop that makes our system smarter.
• Build Our Knowledge Base: Develop and manage our internal database of crop coefficients (Kc values), soil types, and best practices specifically for the diverse agricultural landscape of Saudi Arabia.
• Engage with Farmers: Spend time in the field to understand our customers' deepest pain points, gather feedback, and ensure our product is a tool they love and trust.

What We're Looking For (Qualifications)

Must-Haves:

• Degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Science, Soil Science, or a related field (BSc required).
• 5+ years of hands-on experience as an agronomist, with a deep, practical knowledge of crops central to Saudi agriculture (e.g., date palms, wheat, tomatoes, cucumbers).
• Expert understanding of irrigation principles, soil science, and plant physiology, specifically within an arid climate.
• Bilingual Fluency: Professional proficiency in both Arabic and English is a firm requirement.
• Strong communication skills: Ability to explain complex scientific concepts to both technical (engineers) and non-technical (farmers) audiences.
• Willingness to travel to farm sites across the Kingdom.

Nice-to-Haves

• Master's or PhD in a relevant agricultural field.
• Experience with precision agriculture technologies (e.g., IoT sensors, GIS mapping, drone imagery).
• Published research or experience in formal scientific trials.
• An existing network within the Saudi agricultural community.
• A genuine passion for technology and a belief in its potential to transform agriculture.

What We Offer

• A Founding Role: You won't just be an employee; you'll be a foundational pillar of the company with a meaningful equity stake.
• High Impact: The opportunity to shape a core product that will directly address national food and water security.
• Dynamic Environment: A fast-paced, collaborative startup culture where your ideas are valued and implemented quickly.
• Competitive Salary and benefits package.

If you are ready to move beyond traditional agronomy and build the future of farming, we want to hear from you. Apply now.