Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) R&D; Specialist Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Work Mode: On-site

Salary: Up to ₹60,000 per month

Employment Type: Full-time

About the Role We are looking for a hands-on Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) R&D; Specialist to manage and optimise our indoor farming facility of approximately 2,000 sq. ft., specialising in saffron, microgreens, and vanilla using hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation methods.

The candidate will be responsible for daily crop management, conducting research and experiments, improving crop yields, and developing efficient, sustainable, and commercially viable growing practices.

Key Responsibilities

- Manage day-to-day cultivation and maintenance of saffron, microgreens, and vanilla.
- Conduct R&D; trials to improve crop growth, yield, quality, and consistency.
- Optimise nutrient solutions, pH, EC, lighting, temperature, humidity, irrigation, and airflow.
- Monitor plant health, growth cycles, pests, diseases, and crop performance.
- Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot hydroponic and aeroponic systems.
- Track crop yields, resource consumption, production costs, and experimental results.
- Develop crop-specific growing protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce crop losses, and increase yield per sq. ft.
- Maintain accurate cultivation records and prepare regular R&D; and performance reports.
- Evaluate new cultivation techniques, equipment, and technologies for potential commercial application.

Required Qualifications &

Skills

- Degree or relevant qualification in Horticulture, Agronomy, Agriculture, Plant Science,



Agricultural Biotechnology, or a related field.
- Practical experience in hydroponics, aeroponics, vertical farming, greenhouse cultivation, or controlled workplace agriculture.
- Understanding of plant nutrition, nutrient management, pH, EC, and environmental controls.
- Strong analytical, experimental, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to collect data, analyse trial results, and translate findings into practical improvements.
- Willingness to work hands-on in an indoor farming environment.

Preferred Experience
- Experience growing saffron, microgreens, vanilla, or other high-value crops.
- Experience conducting controlled crop trials and improving yield and quality.
- Familiarity with LED grow lights, climate-control systems, irrigation automation, and farm monitoring tools.
- Experience establishing cultivation protocols for new crops or indoor farming facilities.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Improvement in marketable crop yield and quality.
- Successful R&D; trials and implementation of validated improvements.
- Reduction in crop losses and production costs.
- Efficient utilisation of water, nutrients, energy, and growing space.
- Consistent crop performance and maintenance of accurate farm records.

Ideal Candidate We are seeking a practical, research-oriented professional who enjoys both plant science and hands-on farming. The ideal candidate will take ownership of the growing environment, experiment systematically, solve cultivation challenges, and continuously improve productivity.

Compensation: Up to ₹60,000 per month, depending on qualifications, relevant experience, and demonstrated R&D; capabilities.

📌 Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) R&D Specialist (Chennai)
🏢 Be Verse Technologies
📍 Chennai