Machine Learning Engineer

About Halter

Halter is dedicated to empowering farmers and graziers to operate more productively and sustainably through cutting-edge technology. Our customers use our solutions to alleviate the labor-intensive aspects of traditional farming practices, enabling scenarios like guiding large herds of cattle calmly without the use of vehicles, dogs, or fences. Halter is revolutionizing agricultural practices, improving lives and transforming the industry. Our team thrives on tackling difficult challenges with a culture of high performance, driven by meaningful mission and innovative solutions.

Supported by top-tier investors, Halter is committed to creating significant impact by integrating progressive farming insights with advanced technology.

Role Overview

The Predictive Systems group at Halter develops sophisticated models to provide farmers with precise insights to optimize farming operations. Leveraging advanced scientific progress and unique, rich datasets, we develop state-of-the-art agricultural modeling solutions.

As a member of one of our machine learning teams, you will develop advanced models, such as those predicting pasture growth, animal condition, and activity. Our applications range from remote sensing of pasture biomass to detecting animal reproductive cycles and simulating grazing intervals to deliver expert recommendations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of predictive models from biological processes to operational farm systems tackling practical challenges.
• Conduct comprehensive research spanning machine learning methodologies and agricultural science to remain at the forefront of both fields.
• Take full ownership of model architecture, dataset creation, training, and optimization, rather than relying on off-the-shelf solutions.
• Support deployed models through monitoring and maintenance, exercising accountability for system performance in real-world conditions.
• Continuously innovate proactively to deliver creative, impactful ideas within the data science discipline.

Who We Seek

• An adaptable generalist skilled across infrastructure, databases, simulation, and machine learning development, with a drive to enhance your impact across the full technology stack using AI-powered tools.
• A machine learning expert with strong theoretical foundation and practical experience in machine learning applications, particularly within the agriculture domain.
• A developer experienced in delivering complex predictive systems incorporating multi-modal time-series and simulations, capable of translating academic research to valuable products.
• A person inquisitive about agricultural practices, eager to become well-versed in pasture-based farming to deeply understand user needs.
• A strategic, product-focused thinker capable of leveraging vast farm data to create solutions that offer tangible benefits to farmers and ranchers.
• Comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity, adept at collaborating effectively within a high-performing, fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Advanced academic or professional background in machine learning applied to real-world problems, for instance, possessing a postgraduate research-focused degree in mathematics or computer science relevant to deep neural network modeling.
• Proven track record designing, deploying, and maintaining machine learning systems in production environments.
• Strong causal reasoning skills and ability to craft models that accurately represent complex real-world dynamics.
• Proficiency with large, noisy, high-dimensional datasets and excellent data intuition.
• Experienced in Python programming and contributing to complex collaborative codebases.
• Familiarity with modern AI-assisted development tools like Copilot, ChatGPT, or similar AI companions.
• Excellent communication abilities and a collaborative mindset across multidisciplinary teams.
• Bonus: Exposure to advanced machine learning architectures such as Transformers, State Space Models, agent-based or recommendation systems.

Work Culture and Environment

Halter prioritizes an office-first approach to foster deep interpersonal connections and enhance growth, learning, and impact. While working onsite in Auckland is the norm, flexibility is available as needed within our high-trust culture. Our energetic and talented team values solving challenging problems together and building substantial relationships.

Diversity and Inclusion

We strive to maintain an inclusive workplace where everyone feels empowered to deliver their best work. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply, even if not all qualifications are met, valuing potential and alignment with our mission.

Perks of Working With Us

• Opportunity to contribute to transformative work that significantly uplifts the farming sector and supports sustainable practices.
• Collaborate with a driven, diverse, and supportive team engaged in impactful problem-solving.
• Access to continuous personal and professional growth, including a $1,000 personal development fund.
• Experience the rewarding challenges of fast-paced innovation in an ambitious company reshaping an entire industry.