--- title: 'Research & Development Engineering Co-op at AgZen' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/research-development-engineering-co-op-agzen-somerville-41bnmceksq9w' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-23' --- # Research & Development Engineering Co-op at AgZen - **Company:** AgZen - **Location:** Somerville, MA - **Employment:** internship - **Posted:** 2026-10-16 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-23 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/agzen/a828d0cd-1e72-45db-9ef0-244cfc61271a ## Job description This is a temporary/seasonal position running from January 2027 through June 2027. AgZen’s mission is to make agrochemical spraying more efficient and eliminate pesticide waste. Our patented retrofits allow farmers to spray up to 50% less agrochemicals while improving pest/disease control, crop health, and yield. We are a vibrant startup based in Boston, Massachusetts, and we are committed to helping farmers save money and preventing the over-spraying of agrochemicals. AgZen is venture-backed, has raised over $10.5M of capital, and was awarded over $600K in prizes and awards from prestigious competitions like the MIT 100K and the Rice business plan competition. We are looking for a sharp, tenacious, and creative Research and Development Engineering Co-op to help with the development and implementation of AgZen’s products. This paid position will collaborate directly with AgZen’s engineering teams, working on various projects and products to reduce pesticide use, focusing on our products’ readiness and implementation for the 2027 growing season. The internship has the possibility to include projects with the following topics: product development and testing, mechanical design, software development, hardware development, in-lab experimentation and data analysis. Strong communication, teamwork, and the desire to learn in a fast-paced environment are all essential skills for a successful applicant. This role could also involve up to 40% field work that will require some level of travel. What you will do: - Setup of equipment and materials for agrochemical spray testing in lab. - Assist in-lab experimentation on spray hardware and software that will translate to on-field implementation. - Produce product documentation for end-users and support teams installing and using our products. - Follow and maintain experimental protocols to ensure our products work properly. - Collect data, upload it, and assist with model labeling and processing. - Perform basic maintenance and troubleshooting on equipment in the lab and field following safety guidelines. - Aid in the design and manufacturing of the hardware of our products as necessary. - Collaborate with AgZen’s engineering teams on other tasks as needed. - Maintain detailed logs to record on-field and in-lab variabilities and conditions. - Travel to farms within the US to install and maintain our products in use as needed. - Present bi-weekly updates on progress to AgZen’s technical team. About you: - You are passionate, genuinely curious, and innovative - You have unwavering personal integrity and work ethic - You are proactive, productive, and complete tasks promptly - You excel in a team-centric environment that is transparent and accountable - You are passionate about building new technologies that integrate different fields - You are adaptable and excel working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment Qualifications: - Currently pursuing or completed an undergraduate/graduate degree in mechanical engineering, environmental science, electrical engineering, agronomy, agribusiness, crop sciences, application technology, or a related field. - Hands-on product development through lab testing and experimentation, including rapid prototyping - Solid grasp of statistical methods, data visualization and representation. - 3D printing and Solidworks experience a plus - Ability to understand and interact with agricultural equipment and technology a plus. - Basic understanding of crop production, crop protection, and agriculture a plus. - Mechanical design and/or software development experience a plus. - Ability to work well in a highly collaborative and multidisciplinary environment. - Ability to work outdoors for extended periods in heat and humidity. ## About AgZen ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: AgZen develops a real-time, AI-powered smart spraying system that enables farmers to cut chemical and water use by 30‑50% while maintaining or improving crop yields. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series B) - **Headquarters**: Somerville, Massachusetts, United States - **Founded**: 2022 (as a company; research roots date to 2020) [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/agzen) - **Founders**: Vishnu Jayaprakash (CEO), Kripa Varanasi (Chairman, MIT Professor), Maher Damak (Co-Founder & Co-Inventor) [agzen.com](https://www.agzen.com/agzen-aboutus) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Precision agriculture / AgTech - **Target customers**: Growers (farmers), ag equipment companies, agribusinesses (e.g., Corteva, Syngenta) – primarily B2B with a direct leasing/purchase model - **Mission**: “Empower growers with the tools to navigate agriculture’s ever-changing landscape… ensuring efficiency, profitability, and accessibility in farming’s future.” [agzen.com](https://www.agzen.com/agzen-aboutus) ## Products & Services - **RealCoverage®**: A bolt‑on hardware + software system that uses onboard AI, computer vision, and fluid dynamics to monitor and optimize droplet coverage in real time. It adjusts speed, droplet size, boom height, and other parameters on‑the‑fly, enabling growers to use 30‑50% less chemicals and water while achieving better pest control. [agzen.com](https://www.agzen.com/agzen-whatwedo) ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed - **Key Metric** – Total Funding: **$20M** (Series A – $10M led by DCVC Bio, April 2025; Series B – $10M led by DCVC Bio with participation from Material Impact and Astanor, 2025–2026) [agfundernews.com](https://agfundernews.com) (via search results) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: DCVC Bio (lead), Material Impact, Astanor, Syngenta Group Ventures (strategic investment), Corteva (R&D agreement) [agzen.com](https://www.agzen.com/agzen-aboutus) - **Growth Signals**: - Acreage deployed with RealCoverage grew 15× in 2025, reaching nearly **1 million commercial acres** in the U.S. - For 2026, commitments exceed **2 million acres** across three continents. - Headcount grew **58% YoY** to **35 employees** (as of mid‑2026). [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/agzen) - Partnerships with major ag companies Corteva and Syngenta. ## Competitive Advantages - **Real‑time feedback loop**: The only system that measures droplet coverage on every leaf while spraying, instantly adjusting parameters – a capability that has eluded the industry for decades. - **Bolt‑on design**: Works with any existing sprayer (any generation, any brand), lowering adoption barriers. - **Proven ROI**: Trials across 12 locations showed 30‑50% reduction in chemical use without yield loss, offering immediate payback for growers. - **Deep IP**: Founded out of MIT, with patents covering fluid mechanics, interfacial physics, and AI‑driven spray optimization. ## Strategic Focus - **Scale globally**: Expand from 1M acres (2025) to 2M+ acres in 2026 across North America, South America, and Europe. - **Deepen partnerships**: Leverage agreements with Corteva and Syngenta to co‑develop and co‑market solutions. - **Talent growth**: Continue hiring across engineering, field operations, and product management to support rapid commercial expansion. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Mission‑driven team tackling agriculture’s waste and pollution problems. Multidisciplinary (engineers, ag scientists, former farmers). Small, collaborative environment with a flat structure. - **Work setup**: On‑site at Greentown Labs in Somerville, MA (a clean‑tech incubator). Some flexibility for remote work, but most employees are expected in the office most days. - **Perks & Benefits**: - Company equity grants - 401(k) matching - Generous PTO and flexible time‑off policy - Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance - Fast‑growing startup (35 employees, 58% YoY growth) with significant career advancement opportunities. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/agzen) ## Sources 1. [agzen.com](https://www.agzen.com/) – Company overview, product, team 2. [agzen.com – What We Do](https://www.agzen.com/agzen-whatwedo) – Product details and trial results 3. [agzen.com – About Us](https://www.agzen.com/agzen-aboutus) – Mission, team, funding, partnerships 4. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/agzen) – Culture, perks, headcount, founding year 5. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/agzen) – Employee count, funding, locations, growth stats 6. AgFunder News (via search results) – Series A and Series B funding details, commercialization updates ## Other roles at AgZen - [Senior Perception Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-perception-engineer-agzen-somerville-gp8gp7e9d81g) — Somerville, MA - [Software Engineering Co-op](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineering-co-op-agzen-somerville-9q5qa74cj685) — Somerville, MA - [Product Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/product-specialist-agzen-remote-jy0azs0zr9zf) - [Field Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/field-engineer-agzen-west-lafayette-rjakn1wdr7t8) — West Lafayette, IN - [Senior Data Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-data-scientist-agzen-somerville-n2e4knfzdz97) — Somerville, MA