Senior Automation Engineer Jobs in Pooler, GA (NOW HIRING)

Location: Early Branch, South Carolina

Relocation to Early Branch, SC is required

Lead the Growing Operation of a Large-Scale, High-Tech Greenhouse

We are seeking an experienced Head Grower / Director of Growing to lead commercial tomato production at a 30-acre high-tech greenhouse operation in Early Branch, South Carolina.

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for an experienced commercial greenhouse professional who understands high-wire tomato production, crop steering, climate control, fertigation, biological IPM, automation, and large-scale greenhouse operations.

The successful candidate will play a key role in the commissioning and startup of the greenhouse, establish crop production systems, lead growing strategies, and provide technical expertise for future expansion.

Relocation to Early Branch, South Carolina is required.

Why This Opportunity

• Lead growing operations at a 30-acre commercial greenhouse
• Play a key role in facility commissioning and operational startup
• Help shape the design and engineering of a future greenhouse expansion
• Lead advanced high-wire tomato production
• Utilize modern CEA automation, climate-control, and fertigation technology
• Establish crop steering, irrigation, IPM, and production standards
• Build and mentor a strong growing and crop-care team
• Work directly with Operations and executive leadership
• Opportunity to make a significant impact on a growing commercial operation

Key Responsibilities

Greenhouse Commissioning & Startup

• Lead the technical and biological commissioning of the 30-acre greenhouse.
• Conduct wet-testing of fertigation systems and irrigation skids.
• Calibrate environmental and crop sensors.
• Configure automated climate-control systems.
• Establish greenhouse biosecurity and sanitation zones.
• Develop slab pre-saturation and initial transplanting procedures.
• Establish production protocols for a successful commercial startup.

Crop Steering & Climate Management

• Develop 24-hour environmental strategies to optimize vegetative and generative crop balance.
• Manage VPD, humidity deficit, light integration, air circulation, CO2 enrichment, temperature, and other environmental parameters.
• Optimize climate strategies to maximize yield, fruit quality, plant health, and fruit set.
• Utilize greenhouse climate-control platforms such as Priva, Hoogendoorn, Argus, or comparable systems.

Fertigation & Root-Zone Management

• Develop and continuously refine crop-specific nutrient programs.
• Analyze water, nutrient, and drain data to optimize crop performance.
• Monitor EC, pH, drain percentage, dry-back curves, dissolved oxygen, and root development.
• Manage crops grown in rockwool, coco, or comparable commercial substrates.
• Balance irrigation and fertigation systems for consistent crop performance.

Greenhouse Expansion & Engineering Input

Provide technical growing expertise for future greenhouse expansion, including:

• Gutter height and slope
• Heating pipe distribution
• Grow pipe and rail systems
• Energy and shading screens
• Supplemental LED lighting
• Closed-loop irrigation and recirculation
• Water sanitation systems
• Greenhouse climate and environmental systems

Integrated Pest & Disease Management

• Develop and implement proactive biological IPM programs.
• Manage beneficial insects, predatory mites, and biological fungicides.
• Establish rigorous scouting and pest-threshold programs.
• Maintain sanitation and clean-break procedures.
• Minimize chemical dependence while protecting crop health and production.

Leadership & Labor Management

• Lead and mentor assistant growers, crop scouts, supervisors, and crop-care teams.
• Partner with Operations Management to establish labor requirements and production benchmarks.
• Develop SOPs for clipping, twisting, de-leafing, lowering, truss pruning, harvesting, and other crop-care activities.
• Establish productivity benchmarks and continuously improve labor efficiency.
• Train supervisors and production teams on crop-care standards.

Crop Registration & Yield Forecasting

• Conduct weekly crop registration and monitor plant development.
• Track stem thickness, growth rate, flowering speed, fruit load, and other crop indicators.
• Produce accurate 4–8 week rolling yield and harvest forecasts.
• Communicate production forecasts to packhouse, sales, operations, and executive leadership.

Food Safety & Compliance

Ensure compliance with applicable:

• PrimusGFS
• USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
• Worker Protection Standards (WPS)
• State and federal environmental requirements
• Greenhouse food-safety and worker-safety standards

Required Experience

This is a senior-level commercial greenhouse position.

• 7–10+ years of large-scale commercial high-wire greenhouse vegetable production
• Tomato production experience is required
• 3–5+ years as a Head Grower, Senior Grower, Director of Growing, or equivalent
• Experience managing crops across 10+ contiguous acres
• Demonstrated experience with large-scale commercial greenhouse operations
• Experience with greenhouse commissioning, startup, expansion, or facility development
• Advanced knowledge of greenhouse climate-control and automation systems
• Experience with Priva, Hoogendoorn, Argus, or comparable CEA systems
• Strong understanding of fertigation, irrigation, crop steering, substrate management, and root-zone management
• Experience implementing biological IPM programs
• Proven ability to lead and develop growing and crop-care teams
• Strong understanding of commercial tomato crop production and yield forecasting

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in:

• Horticulture
• Agronomy
• Agricultural Engineering
• Plant Science
• Crop Science

Equivalent commercial greenhouse experience will also be considered.

Relocation Requirement

Candidates must be willing to relocate to Early Branch, South Carolina.

This position is designed for an experienced commercial greenhouse leader who wants to take ownership of a major growing operation and play a significant role in building the next phase of the facility.

If you have successfully led large-scale high-wire tomato production and are ready to take on a major greenhouse startup and growing leadership opportunity, we want to hear from you.

Supplying the Southeast!

Pioneering the future of sustainable, locally grown produce for the Southeastern USA.

A groundbreaking transatlantic partnership blending cutting-edge Dutch horticultural expertise with American innovation, our 1,200+ acre master-planned campus in Hampton County, SC delivers premium, pesticide-free tomatoes and vegetables, harvested fresh and delivered to Southeast retailers within 24 hours.

Fresh from vine to shelf. Locally grown for superior flavor, nutrition, and environmental impact. Serving over 94 million people across the region with year-round consistency, 95% less water, zero residues, and reduced food miles