Principal Plant Scientist / CSO (depending on experience)

Principal Plant Scientist / CSO (depending on experience)

Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Acer Resources is a startup developing the next generation of multi-tonnes per day vertical farms, growing perfect fruit and vegetable in precisely controlled conditions under LED lights.

While the vertical farming industry has struggled to deliver at scale, our experience provides a unique perspective on the innovation process we need.

Our founding team is building on the domain expertise we developed delivering two vertical farms in Japan, the first is growing 3-tonnes of leafy greens per day, and the second growing 4-tonnes per day.

Our experience means we can work from first principles to develop and integrate the technologies and cultivation treatments we need to deliver for mass-market customers in the UK and beyond.

Crucially, we’re developing the technologies we need directly at large-scale in simulation before we build. The result is that we can be confident that our multi-tonnes per day farms will be able to deliver the cultivation processes that you help to develop in the lab to the precision required, and in production, we use the simulation as the foundation for a full digital twin of the farm and use AI to continuously look for improvements in the cultivation process with the confidence they can be delivered. This is a cutting-edge approach that is only possible because of our know-how, and you will be a key part of this process.

Acer is in stealth mode (so don’t be surprised if you can’t find much about us online), but our progress is confirmed by the significant grant funding we have won, including from Innovate UK and the Freeport East Clean Growth Fund, and the quality of our partners, which include the engineers at PhysicsX, Imperial College, and B-PHOT Photonics, and the UK’s leading controlled environment agriculture experts at the University of Essex, and we are working with a multinational corporate sponsor to derisk the delivery of our first farm in 2025.

Our mission is to revolutionise fresh produce supply chains, turning them from a significant source of climate change into part of the climate solution, and to grow the most delicious, most nutritious fresh food that helps improve the health of the nation. Our farms mean local, year-round production that minimises food miles, and because we grow pesticide-free in a clean environment, what we grow can be ready-to-eat without the need for an industrial wash, meaning it stays fresher for longer, lowering waste. We use a tiny fraction of the water and nutrient, and there’s no run-off, and by only using renewable energy our produce can be carbon neutral.

We are looking for a capable and enthusiastic Principal Plant Scientist to join our team. We have specific projects to deliver and you will be working closely with the team at the Lawson Lab at the University of Essex, but the person we hire might take on the role of Chief Science Officer, depending on experience and ambition, or this might be a role that you can grow into. If all of this sounds exciting to you, we would love to talk (even if you don't tick all the boxes).

Acer is a young company and you’ll be getting onboard early. That’s not for everyone, but we are well funded and you will participate in the upside of our success. We’re excited to hear from you.

What will you do

• You will be responsible for developing the cultivation treatments that the performance of our farms relies on. You will use your knowledge to ensure that the latest academic research and commercial know-how is incorporated into the design of Acer’s cultivation processes.
• You will be heavily involved in managing and delivering Acer’s 2025/26 cultivation trials at the new, state-of-the-art Smart Technology Experimental Plant Suite (STEPS) at the University of Essex, where we are working with Professor Tracy Lawson. Together with the team at the Lawson Lab, you will help to design and deliver the trials and evaluate the resulting plant phenotyping data. The role is remote, but you should be able to travel to the trials regularly.
• You will work closely with Acer’s engineers to ensure that the design and specification of our farms is able to deliver the full range of potential cultivation treatments to the precise tolerances required.
• You will work with the scientists at our partners to optimise the cultivation treatment for their novel varieties as we move towards commercial production.
• You will communicate scientific insights on how we grow to Acer’s team and to our stakeholders, as needed.

What will you bring to the table

• The necessary background knowledge in plant science. This might mean that you are a PhD or postdoc in Plant Biology, Physiology, Horticulture, or Plant Breeding, or another related discipline, or have a Masters with commercial experience.
• Experience in controlled environment agriculture. Commercial experience in greenhouses, containers, or vertical farms is valuable, but not essential.
• A growth mindset. This is critical. We’re doing things that haven’t been done before, and the ability to think from first principles is important. We know that’s hard, and create a working environment where it is encouraged. We’re looking for people who see the opportunity in that challenge.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify causes and recommend solutions – we are hiring you for your creativity and want to hear what you think.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills – we are integrating leading edge plant science and engineering in innovative ways, and need to bring together a range of skills and experience. You will need to work effectively with Acer’s founders and engineers, and our world-leading partners.

What we offer

• Be part of something larger: Make an impact and meaningfully shape an early-stage company. Work on one of the most exciting and important parts of the climate solution. Do something you can be proud of.
• Work with a fun group of colleagues that support you, challenge you and help you grow. We’re in business to solve hard problems. If you are similarly capable, caring and driven, you'll find yourself at home here.
• Work in a flat hierarchy. We have seen many well-funded vertical farmers fail, and many seem to have made the same mistakes. Your ideas are encouraged, especially when they challenge the status quo.
• Receive a competitive compensation, based on experience.

We value diversity and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. We strongly encourage individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in tech to apply.

Please introduce yourself and attach a copy of your CV. We look forward to hearing from you.

Seniority level

Executive

Employment type

Full-time