(Junior)Agronomist (m/w/d)

Soyle is a young agri-tech company working on precision nitrogen management for arable crops. The idea is simple: help farmers give crops exactly the nitrogen they need - better for yields, better for margins, better for planet. We're pre-seed, based in Hannover, and part of programmes and ecosystems including ESA BIC, EIT Food Accelerator Network, StarLife (WUR), and HTI Oldenburg.

We're looking for an (junior) agronomist to lead the agronomic side of our product. The core focus is product development, with regular coordination across our trial partners, lab partners, and field sites.

Tasks

• Design and run our field trial programme, including trial plots and sampling campaigns.
• Translate N (nitrogen) estimates into fertilizer prescriptions - amount, timing, splitting, zoning.
• Coordinate with trial partners, lab partners, and field sites to keep the programme moving.
• Work closely with the CTO and CEO - challenge outputs, flag anything that doesn't look right agronomically, and help shape where the product goes next.
• Take on other tasks as needed. We're a small early-stage team, so the week might include a field campaign, a partner meeting, and a data cleanup, all in the same week.

These are the main areas of responsibility - the role isn't limited to them, and priorities will shift as the company grows.

Requirements

Must have:

• MSc or PhD in agronomy, crop science, plant nutrition, or soil science.
• A solid understanding of nitrogen dynamics in arable systems - uptake curves, critical N dilution, NUE (nitrogen use efficiency), splitting strategies.
• Practical field trial experience.
• Genuine willingness to spend summer campaigns outdoors in the heat. The best data comes from being in the field when it matters most.
• Willingness to travel regularly during the season - our trials are spread across Germany or even beyond.
• Fluent German and English.
• Basic scripting in R or Python, enough to work with datasets independently.
• Eligible to work in Germany.

Nice to have:

• Previous experience in a startup or small team - you know what it's like when priorities shift and you adapt.
• Experience with precision agriculture tools: VRA (variable rate application), N-Sensor, decision support platforms.
• Prior experience validating a model- or sensor-based product against field data.
• Valid driving licence, class B (standard passenger-car licence).

Benefits

• A challenging role with real ownership of the agronomic side of the product.
• The opportunity to help build a scalable product from the ground up, and to be part of its success.
• Room to grow as the company grows - take on more responsibility and shape your role as we scale.
• A key seat in a small, focused team.
• Fair pre-seed compensation.

Send us your CV and a one-page note on the most interesting field trial you've designed or run, and what you'd do differently now.

Selection process:

• Initial screening - we'll review applications and reach out if we'd like to move forward.
• First step: an online meeting.
• Next: a direct meeting in Hannover.
• If we both feel it's a fit, we shake hands.