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 the AsRO to SRO level, which is a mid to senior position with a salary range of $83,985 to $143,127. 

NOTE: Please note that the full RO/RCO salary scale has five levels. Salary determination will be based on a review of the candidate’s expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level.  As 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.

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Discover the possible

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

As Canada’s 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 Canada’s future and the world.

At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s 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 NRC's 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.