Precision Agriculture Research Associate Jobs Montana 2026

Montana State University is hiring a Precision Agriculture Research Associate for the Precision Agriculture Lab at its Northern Agricultural Research Center (MSU-NARC) in Havre, Montana. As the lab’s primary field researcher, you will oversee daily laboratory operations, run field research trials, manage data analytics workflows, and draft technical reports and extension materials. The work supports research on optimizing crop inputs, site-specific weed and pest management, satellite and aerial remote sensing, and spatial variability across Montana’s dryland cropping systems. The posting is only a few hours old and shows fewer than 25 applicants, and screening begins on November 17, 2026.

Site: 3,000 acres at the main facility, plus 3,960 acres of grazing land in the nearby Bear Paw Mountains

Research Mix: Supports both crop and livestock research, which the posting describes as distinctly unique within MSU

Facilities: $2.8 million of recent construction and renovation, including a new $2.1 million office and laboratory complex

Equipment: Two research-suitable center pivots installed in 2014, with a modern research-scale greenhouse planned

Guidance: A local advisory board of producers and industry representatives from five surrounding counties helps set research priorities

3,000

Acres at the main facility

3,960

Acres of grazing land

$2.1M

New office/lab complex

5

Counties on advisory board

Why This Research Role Stands Out in 2026

Hands-On Precision Ag: Work with targeted spray systems, variable-rate applicators, drones, and field sensors rather than only reading about them

Real Farm Connection: Run on-farm experiments with producers and share results through workshops, field days, and publications

Modern Facility: A newly built lab complex, working pivots, and a mixed crop and livestock research site

Early Applicant Window: Fewer than 25 applicants so far and screening not yet started

Screening begins November 17, 2026. Applications are accepted until a strong applicant pool is established, so submit your resume and cover letter early.

Position Overview

The Precision Agriculture Research Associate runs the day-to-day work of the Precision Agriculture Lab at MSU-NARC. You manage the lab, the field equipment, the sensor inventory, and the field schedule, and you coordinate, train, and supervise research technicians and student workers within university protocols and safety standards. You also lead the planning, spatial layout, and field implementation of small-plot and on-farm precision agriculture trials. On the data side, you manage spatial and tabular field datasets and use R or Python for rigorous statistical analysis, including linear and mixed models and spatial statistics, to judge both agronomic and technology performance. You support field operations with smart and targeted spray systems, precision applicators, digital soil mapping, and field robotics. Finally, you work with farmers and ranchers on on-farm experiments and help share the findings through extension activities. It is a role for someone comfortable moving between a data screen and a muddy field in the same week.

Why This Role Matters: Dryland farming in Montana depends on getting inputs right, because moisture is limited and margins are tight. Precision agriculture research answers practical questions: where a weed patch really is, how much product a field zone needs, and whether a new sprayer saves money without hurting yield. The research associate is the person who turns those questions into properly designed trials and clean data that growers can trust. When a result is published or shown at a field day, it gives producers something to act on. That link between careful experimental design and decisions made on real farms is the core of this job, and it is why attention to method matters as much as enthusiasm for the technology.

 Key Responsibilities

Lab & Field Management

• Manage daily lab operations, field equipment, sensor inventory, and field schedules
• Coordinate, train, and supervise research technicians and student workers in line with university protocols and safety standards
• Keep equipment ready and organised so trials start and finish on schedule

Experimental Design & Trial Execution

• Lead the planning, spatial layout, and field implementation of small-plot and on-farm precision agriculture research trials
• Develop and carry out research studies that support precision agriculture practices to improve farming and livestock efficiency and profitability in Montana
• Design agronomic trials so the results can be analysed properly and trusted

Data Management & Analytics

• Manage spatial and tabular field datasets from collection through analysis
• Run rigorous statistical analysis, including linear and mixed models and spatial statistics, using R or Python
• Evaluate agronomic and technological performance and write the findings up as technical reports

Precision Equipment & Targeted Spray Operations

• Support field operations involving smart and targeted spray systems, precision applicators, digital soil mapping, and field robotics
• Work with remote sensing, including satellite and aerial imagery, to study spatial variability across cropping systems

Producer Engagement & Extension

• Work with farmers and ranchers on on-farm experiments to test and refine precision agriculture techniques
• Contribute to sharing research findings through extension activities, including workshops, field days, and publications

Qualifications & Requirements

Required

• Master’s degree in Precision Agriculture, Agronomy, Agricultural Engineering, Data Science, Spatial Sciences, or a closely related field
• Or a Bachelor’s degree in one of those fields plus at least three years of relevant professional experience in precision agriculture, agronomy, or agricultural data analysis
• Familiarity with remote sensing technologies and satellite imagery analysis
• Proficiency in statistical analysis using software such as R or Python
• Effective written and oral communication with researchers, educators, research center staff, and producers

Preferred

• Hands-on experience with targeted or smart spot-spraying technology, variable-rate applicators, or precision spray platforms
• Experience operating UAVs (drones) and processing images with Pix4D or similar software
• Understanding of experimental design and statistics
• Experience with agricultural sensors, RTK-GNSS positioning systems, or ground-based geophysical sensors

The Successful Candidate Will

• Be well organised, a strong multi-tasker, and a good problem solver in both office and demanding field environments
• Work effectively with producers, research faculty, extension specialists, and industry partners
• Build good working relationships with co-workers, faculty, and staff in a team-oriented environment

How to Apply — Announcement STAFF – VA – 27156

Required documents: Resume and Cover Letter. Supplemental questions are optional.

Questions about the position: Ricardo Pinto — ricardo.pinto@montana.edu — 406-994-6374

Note: This position is not eligible for new sponsorship.

 About Montana State University

Montana State University is the employer, and this role sits in the College of Agriculture and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, within the AES NARC department. The hiring office is listed under MSU’s Bozeman address, while the work itself is based at the Northern Agricultural Research Center in Havre. MSU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status. In line with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU gives preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans.

Good to Know: The listing says salary is commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications and gives no figure. The appointment is a professional contract with a fiscal-year term, and the position does not have supervisory duties, although you will coordinate and train technicians and student workers.

Who Should Apply?

1. Precision Ag Graduates: With a master’s degree in precision agriculture, agronomy, agricultural engineering, data science, or spatial sciences
2. Agronomists With Data Skills: Holding a bachelor’s degree and three years of experience who are comfortable in R or Python
3. Drone and Remote Sensing Operators: Who process imagery in Pix4D and want to apply it to real field trials
4. Field Researchers: Who enjoy designing plots, running trials, and working directly with farmers and ranchers
5. Candidates Who Can Work in Montana Without Sponsorship: Ready to be based at the Havre research center

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