Lead Systems Engineer - Digital Ag

About the role

The Digital Ag Innovation Lab at Iowa State University partners with leading agricultural companies to design, build, and deploy next-generation technologies for agriculture. Our team works at the intersection of applied engineering, industry collaboration, and the land-grant mission, moving ideas from concept to prototype to field deployment. Our vision is bold: to be the premier thought leader and partner in ag innovation . Our mission guides everything we do: Innovate. Educate. Outreach . We innovate with partners to create technology solutions that drive value into agriculture and our communities. We educate to inspire and develop students and professionals to ensure a thriving workforce that drives success within our industry. We outreach to share knowledge with farmers and ag businesses and promote practices that enhance their success. We operate with four core values: Passion. Innovation. Collaboration. Excellence . We are seeking a Lead Systems Engineer to drive the design, integration, and deployment of complex engineering systems. In this role, you will lead system-level efforts from concept through field deployment, ensuring solutions perform in real-world agriculture environments. This is a hands-on role focuses on system architecture, integration, and execution. You will work across software, electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical domains while partnering closely with sponsor engineering teams to deliver integrated solutions. The role offers the opportunity to expand your leadership impact by mentoring others, influencing technical direction, and taking on increasing ownership of projects and system outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end system engineering from concept, architecture, and requirements through deployment and field validation
• Define and integrate cross‑domain architectures and interfaces spanning mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and software systems
• Design, build, integrate, and validate complete physical systems for agricultural and off‑road equipment
• Develop system‑level hardware and software solutions, including sensing, automation, and control systems
• Build and test prototypes and vehicle‑integrated systems, using data and analysis to drive performance improvements
• Collaborate cross‑functionally and with external partners to solve complex integration challenges and deliver solutions
• Provide technical leadership through mentoring, project planning, execution, and sponsor communication
• What You Bring
• 5+ years of experience in engineering roles involving complex systems
• Experience integrating hardware and software within real-world systems
• Strong systems thinking across electrical, mechanical, software, and/or hydraulic domains
• Experience with prototyping, testing, and validating engineered systems
• Ability to troubleshoot and solve complex technical problems
• Effective communication and collaboration skills, including working with external partners
• Interest in growing into technical leadership and mentoring others
• Technology & Systems You May Work With
• Projects in the Digital Ag Innovation Lab focus on integrating advanced technologies into fully functional equipment systems. Depending on the project, you may work with:
• Mechanical, hydraulic, and vehicle subsystems
• Agricultural and off-road mobile equipment platforms
• Vehicle communication networks (e.g., CAN Bus, Ethernet)
• Embedded computing platforms and Linux-based systems
• Sensors, data acquisition, and system integration
• Robotics, machine vision, and autonomous system components
• Engineering analysis and modeling tools (e.g., MATLAB, Simulink)
• Software/controls development (Matlab, Simulink, embedded C/C++)

Requirements

• Advance degree in engineering or related field, or equivalent industry experience
• Background in agricultural equipment, off-highway machinery, robotics, drone systems, or precision application technology (seed and chemical; liquid and dry systems)
• Experience with field testing, validation, or performance benchmarking
• Experience working with industry partners or customer-driven projects
• Experience mentoring engineers or leading technical workstreams
• Follow us here: www.isudigitalag.org .
• Although this is a term position, it is expected to offer long-term opportunity, with the option for renewal.
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.
• The candidate will be hired as a Research & Development Engineer III.
• This posi

Benefits

Additional Information

Position Title: Lead Systems Engineer - Digital Ag Job Group: Professional & Scientific Required Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and 5 years of related experience Job Description: Build the Future of Agriculture Design, build, and deliver integrated engineering systems that perform in the real world while growing your technical depth and leadership in a hands-on, industry-connected environment.

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