Machine Learning Engineer

About Pairwise : Pairwise is agricultures gene editing powerhouse, building a healthier world through partnership and plant innovation. Co-founded by CRISPR pioneers, the companys Fulcrum Platform accelerates the development of climate-resilient, nutritious, and sustainable crops that are easier to grow and better to eat. Founded in 2017 and based in Durham, North Carolina, Pairwise partners with global leaders and nonprofit institutions to help breeders move faster and transform food and agriculture for farmers, consumers, and the planet. The company collaborates with partners and licenses its Fulcrum CRISPR tools to diversify breeding programs and bring innovations to market fasterfrom developing the worlds first pitless cherry to improving staple crops such as corn, soy, cacao, yam, and rice. Backed by leading investors including Deerfield, Aliment Capital, Leaps by Bayer, Temasek, and Corteva Catalyst, Pairwise has raised $155 million in total funding. In 2025, the company was recognized as one of MIT Technology Review's 10 Climate Tech Companies to Watch and named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in Agriculture, while also earning "Best Ag-Bio Company" honors in the Triangle Business Journal's Life Sciences Awards. For more information, visit www.pairwise.com. About This Role : The Machine Learning Engineer will play a key role in bridging advanced AI methodologies with Pairwises biological research and operational initiatives. This individual will design, evaluate, and integrate machine learning systems that drive insight generation, innovation, and efficiency across R&D and enterprise applications. This role requires a technically adept and scientifically curious engineer who can select and piece together models to address complex biological and operational problemsand who can confidently communicate technical details and strategic implications to internal scientists and external partners. Essential Functions : Architect and integrate ML solutions by selecting, evaluating, and combining existing models and tools to solve scientific and operational problemsCollaborate with R&D teams to design data pipelines and ensure biological datasets (e.g., genomics, sequencing, bioinformatics) are suitable for robust model development.Serve as a technical translator, bridging the gap between internal scientific needs and the evolving ML / AI landscape, as well as interpreting external partner proposals for feasibility and scope.Prototype and validate new approaches to accelerate discovery, analysis, and decision-making across Pairwises R&D initiatives.Support AI / ML adoption in operational workflows by deploying and maintaining practical, user-friendly ML tools.Enable cross-functional learning by training scientists and technical teams on model capabilities, limitations, and interpretability. Required Education & Experience : Masters or PhD in Machine Learning / AI, Computer Science, or Applied Mathematics13 years of post-graduate experience applying ML techniques to real-world problems.Strong understanding of model mathematics, optimization, and statistical foundations.Experience working with biological datasets such as genomics, sequencing, or bioinformatics.Proficiency with modern ML frameworksStrong communication and collaboration skills across multidisciplinary teams. Preferred Qualifications : Experience with multi-modal data integration (e.g., sequence, image, and phenotype data).Background in life sciences or computational biology.Experience deploying ML solutions in research or cloud environments.Demonstrated success engaging with technical partners or collaborators. Offerings : Comprehensive Benefits Plan, including Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA / FSA, 401k, Life Insurance, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability, and more!Flexible PTO (use what you need, when you need it), in addition to company holidays.Casual work environment.Mission-driven organization focused on creating healthier fruits and veggies.A cutting-edge, driven community looking to lead the industry in innovation and nutrition. Physical Demands : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel, and techniques that require fine motor skills and repetitive motions. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must frequently lift and / or move up to 10 pounds. The employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. EEO Statement : We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Dont meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Pairwise we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if youre excited about this role but your past experience doesnt align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. No Recruiters please.