SAI’s Florida Research Station in Fort Myers is now seeking a skilled and experienced Agricultural Technician – Sweet Pepper to join their specialized pepper breeding program. Paying $21.00 to $24.00 per hour, this full-time role is a fantastic opportunity for a bilingual agriculture professional with strong greenhouse and crop management skills to contribute directly to sweet pepper seed breeding, pollination, harvesting, and seed extraction processes at one of Florida’s premier agricultural research facilities.
About SAI — Florida Research Station
Program: SAI Sweet Pepper Breeding Program — Florida Research Station
Location: Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida, United States
Focus: Advanced pepper plant breeding including pollination, seed extraction, and variety trials
Operations: Greenhouse-based research station with off-station field trial coordination
Mission: Developing high-quality pepper varieties through rigorous scientific and agronomic research
Salary & Compensation Overview
Hourly Rate: $21.00 to $24.00 per hour — based on experience
Performance Bonuses: Performance Incentive Bonus Program + Holiday Bonus
Profit Sharing: 401(k) Program with Company Match + Profit Sharing via 401(k)
Extras: Tuition Reimbursement, 529 College-Savings Plan, Company-Paid Life & AD&D Insurance
Position Overview
The Agricultural Technician – Sweet Pepper at SAI’s Fort Myers Florida Research Station is a highly specialized and hands-on field and greenhouse role at the heart of the company’s pepper breeding program. This professional is responsible for a wide range of agronomic activities including sowing, transplanting, crop maintenance, sanitation, pollination, harvesting, evaluation, record keeping, and seed extraction — all in support of developing superior sweet pepper varieties. If you are an experienced bilingual agricultural professional searching for agricultural technician jobs in Fort Myers, Florida in 2026, this well-compensated position offers an outstanding opportunity to apply your expertise in a cutting-edge plant science research environment with a comprehensive benefits package.
Why This Role Matters: As an Agricultural Technician at SAI Fort Myers, you play a direct and critical role in advancing sweet pepper variety development through precision pollination and seed extraction, earn a competitive hourly rate of $21.00 to $24.00 with performance bonuses and full benefits, apply your bilingual English/Spanish skills in a collaborative, research-driven greenhouse environment in Florida, contribute to a pepper breeding program that impacts agricultural productivity and food quality across the industry, and build a long-term specialized career in agricultural research at a dedicated Florida Research Station.
Key Responsibilities
Pollination & Seed Extraction Operations
- Coordinate all pollination activities including training new workers in emasculation techniques, ensuring correct pollen is applied to designated seed parents, and maintaining a smooth continuous pollination cycle
- Execute full pepper seed extraction processes in strict accordance with established protocols, maintaining a clean work environment and following all seed processing standards
- Train new personnel in seed extraction procedures and inform managers promptly when chemical stocks require replenishment
- Coordinate harvest of greenhouse fruit and assist in field harvests while communicating any issues such as low seed production, contamination risks, or germinating seed to management
Greenhouse Crop Management & Maintenance
- Oversee all cultural activities for high-quality seedling and pepper crop production including irrigation management, pesticide and fertilizer applications, and ongoing inventory management
- Forecast greenhouse needs proactively including tying plants, weed management, filling grow pots, filling sow trays, and ensuring all materials are prepared and ready when needed
- Identify and promptly communicate any problems in greenhouses to management including irrigation malfunctions, infected plants, or developing crop needs requiring immediate attention
- Ensure all equipment including harvest crates, sow trays, seed bags, harvest bags, and seed processing equipment is cleaned, maintained, and ready for use at all times
Trial Coordination & Record Keeping
- Assist in coordinating, evaluating, and transplanting off-station pepper variety trials in accordance with specific research directions and protocols
- Maintain accurate and detailed records of all sowing, transplanting, pollination, harvest, and seed extraction activities as required by the breeding program
- Support evaluation activities and contribute structured data and observations that advance the pepper breeding program’s research objectives
- Perform all activities in compliance with the specific directions, protocols, and safety standards established at the Florida Research Station
Team Support & Safety Compliance
- Work reliably under varying weather and environmental conditions, including dusty, windy, wet, and high-temperature Florida outdoor and greenhouse settings
- Wear appropriate personal protective gear when required and follow all chemical handling, safety, and sanitation protocols at all times
- Be available to work extra hours, weekends, and occasional holidays as required by seasonal harvest and production schedules
- Leverage bilingual English/Spanish communication skills to train new workers, coordinate with the field team, and communicate effectively with management
Qualifications & Requirements
Education & Certification
- High School Diploma or equivalent — required as a minimum educational qualification for this position
- Must hold a valid driver’s license — required for travel between research station locations and off-station trial sites as needed
Experience Requirements
- Minimum 5 years of hands-on seed, agriculture, or crop experience — this is a firm minimum requirement for all applicants
- Strong working knowledge of pepper plant management including greenhouse operations, pollination, harvesting, and seed extraction is highly preferred
- Farm background in Florida or a comparable tropical/subtropical agricultural environment is a distinct advantage for this role
Essential Skills
- Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish — must be able to communicate effectively in Spanish and in spoken English for team coordination and training
- Ability to perform accurate, detailed work under environmental stresses and within tight production timelines in a research station environment
- Computer experience with Microsoft Office software including Excel and Word desired for record keeping and reporting purposes
- Physical ability to lift over 50 pounds on a seasonal basis and to stand or walk for extended periods in varying outdoor and greenhouse conditions
Full Benefits Package — Health, Financial & Time Off
Health & Wellness: Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance + Monthly Wellness Stipend + Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Financial: 401(k) + Company Match, Profit Sharing, Holiday Bonus, Performance Incentive Bonus, Tuition Reimbursement, 529 College-Savings Plan, Company-Paid Life & AD&D Insurance
Time Off: Paid Vacation, Paid Sick Leave, 14 Paid Company Holidays + 2 Floating Holidays
Disability: Disability Insurance plans available based on location
About SAI Florida Research Station
SAI’s Florida Research Station in Fort Myers is a dedicated agricultural research facility specializing in the development and improvement of sweet pepper varieties through a rigorous science-based breeding program. The station conducts advanced research activities including greenhouse-based pollination trials, seed extraction, variety evaluation, and off-station field trials — all aimed at producing higher-quality, higher-yielding pepper varieties for the commercial agriculture market. Working at SAI Fort Myers means joining a specialized team of agricultural professionals committed to advancing plant science and contributing meaningfully to the future of pepper crop production in the United States.
Requisition ID: 1091 — Apply directly through the company’s career portal to be considered for this exciting opportunity.
Who Should Apply?
- Bilingual Agricultural Professionals: With 5+ years of crop or seed experience and fluency in both English and Spanish
- Greenhouse Technicians: With hands-on pepper, vegetable, or specialty crop management experience in Florida or similar climates
- Seed Production Specialists: Familiar with pollination, emasculation, seed extraction, and breeding program protocols
- Farm Technicians: With a strong background in agricultural research stations, field trials, or crop science programs
- Agriculture Graduates or Experienced Farm Workers: Seeking a well-paying, full-time, benefits-rich position in a specialized Florida research setting
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