Principal Imaging Scientist

Bayer•Creve Coeur, MO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

At Bayer Crop Science, innovation in seed production directly shapes the resilience, efficiency, and sustainability of global agriculture. As a Principal Imaging Scientist within the Seed Production Innovation (SPI) Technology organization, you play a critical role in advancing this mission by bringing cutting edge imaging science into the systems that enable smarter, faster, and more reliable Product Supply operations. As a senior technical authority, you shape the imaging capabilities embedded in next generation innovation platforms and lead imaging science and imaging system direction for complex solutions that generate high quality data and translate that data into actionable value for seed producibility and seed production operations. In this role, you sit at the intersection of science, operations, and governance—partnering with engineering, data, and biological teams and stakeholders to influence imaging technology selection, system architecture, and project direction as innovation solutions move from concept through system development and readiness. You challenge the status quo, bridge global standards with ground level execution, and build solutions beyond current frameworks to enable innovation while minimizing risk, while also collaborating with Bayer R&D, universities, and technology partners to advance and mature novel imaging approaches.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or a related discipline with 6+ years of relevant professional experience; or M.S. in a related technical field with 10+ years of relevant experience; or B.S. in a related technical field with 12+ years of directly relevant experience;
Demonstrated expertise across multiple imaging and detection technologies;
Strong foundation in imaging physics, experimental design, validation, and scientific methodology;
Experience with bench development of imaging technologies in early project phases;
Experience working with project teams consisting of diverse competencies and resolving differing perspectives;
Experience integrating imaging solutions into complex, multidisciplinary systems and navigating hardware, software, and system level tradeoffs;
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and persuasively to engineering, scientific, and business stakeholders;
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with customers, internal stakeholders, and partner engineering and data science disciplines to align priorities and drive successful outcomes.

Nice To Haves

Experience with advanced imaging modalities such as X‑ray, hyperspectral imaging, NMR, and/or MRI;
Experience supporting high throughput, automation‑adjacent, or production‑like environments;
Background working with academic institutions, vendors, or external research partners;
Familiarity with agricultural, biological, industrial, or applied research domains;
Demonstrated success advancing technologies from exploratory research to system‑ready applications.

Responsibilities

Lead imaging science and technical direction for innovation systems from early concept through system development for Product Supply applications.
Define imaging strategies across a wide range of modalities, including common imaging approaches and advanced techniques where appropriate.
Establish and maintain strong working relationships with science and data science partners as co‑developers of novel technologies in early project phases.
Establish clear and defensible rationales for imaging technology selection, outlining benefits, limitations, alternatives, and system level tradeoffs.
Drive imaging system architecture and integration in close collaboration with electrical, mechanical, software, and automation engineering teams.
Define experimental design, validation strategies, and scientific methodologies that ensure high quality data generation, data integrity, and interpretability.
Evaluate emerging imaging technologies through structured exploration and proof‑of‑concept studies, with a focus on downstream scalability and readiness.
Influence project and program scope by advising on feasibility, lifecycle support, user‑centered considerations, and long‑term sustainability.
Partner with Product Supply stakeholders to translate operational needs into imaging requirements and executable development strategies.
Collaborate with Bayer R&D, academic partners, and technology vendors to accelerate innovation and leverage external advances.
Produce high quality technical documentation, recommendations, and knowledge transfer materials that support system integration and adoption.
Contribute to intellectual property development and promote best practices for documentation, standards, and scientific rigor.