Job Information
Iowa State University R&D Engineer III - Digital Ag in Ames, Iowa
Position Title:R&D Engineer III - Digital Ag
Job Group:Professional & Scientific
Required Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor's degree and 5 years of related experience
Preferred Qualifications:M.S. or Ph.D. in Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
Background in agricultural equipment, off-highway machinery, robotics, drone systems, or precision application technology (seed and chemical; liquid and dry systems)
Experience mentoring early-career engineers or supervising technical staff
Experience contributing to grants, sponsorships, or industry-funded R&D initiatives
Job Description:
Build the Future of Agriculture
If you want your engineering work to matter outside the lab, on real machines, in real farm fields, with real impact, this is the role for you.
Who We Are
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 premiere 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.
This is a place for builders, problem-solvers, and systems thinkers who want their work to move from idea → prototype → field → industry adoption.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Research & Development Engineer III to lead externally funded applied engineering projects focused on sensing, automation, controls, and robotic systems for agricultural and off-road equipment. In this role, you will directly design, build, and validate real agricultural equipment systems, making hands-on technical decisions that move projects from concept to field deployment.
This is a hands-on technical leadership role with ownership of system design and engineering execution from concept through prototype development and field validation. You will work closely with industry partners and interdisciplinary teams to translate emerging technologies into functional equipment systems that can be tested and validated in real agricultural environments.
What You'll Do
Lead complex, externally funded R&D projects from concept through field validation
Design and integrate sensing, automation, and control systems for agricultural and off-road mobile platforms
Develop embedded and system software supporting robotics, sensing, and digital agriculture technologies
Build and validate prototypes including test stands and vehicle-integrated systems, conducting field testing and performance analysis
Interface with sensors and develop algorithms to process and analyze dynamic data
Work directly with industry sponsors to define requirements, scope, and project deliverables
Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and mentor engineers and students
Contribute to proposal development, statements of work, and sponsor reporting
The successful candidate will have experience with software development and algorithm design, familiarity with engineering analysis tools such as MATLAB or Simulink, and the ability to analyze sensor data and extract meaningful performance metrics. Strong project management, communication, and collaboration skills are also essential, particularly in environments involving externally funded engineering projects and industry partners.
Technology & Systems You May Work With
Projects in the Digital Ag Innovation Lab often involve integrating a range of sensing, automation, and computing technologies used in modern agricultural equipment. Your work may involve systems such as:
Vehicle communication networks (e.g., CAN Bus, Ethernet)
Embedded computing platforms and Linux-based systems
Sensor integration and multi-sensor data pipelines
Robotics, machine vision, and autonomy systems
MATLAB, Simulink, and other engineering analysis tools
Agricultural or off-road mobile equipment platforms
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.
Level Guidelines • Senior-level position possessing high-level professional and/or technical skills working independently under minimal supervision to support ISU’s mission and department or work unit goals • Applies senior-level professional knowledge and expertise to work requiring greater latitude • Solves moderately complex problems and regularly exercises judgment to determine appropriate action • Regularly exercises judgment to resolve problems and determine appropriate action on a broad set of issue and problems. May provide recommendations regarding problems/issues outside the bounds of defined procedures and practices • Responds to complicated inquiries, provides training, and provides direction to lower-level staff • May provide supervision for one to two other staff (i.e., leads a small work team) • May lead projects for which well-defined practices and procedures may not exist • Provides guidance to students
Appointment Type:Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)
Proposed End Date or Length of Term:April 5, 2029
Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period
Time Type:Full time
Pay Grade:PS812
Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae2) Letter of Application/Cover LetterIf you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.Why Choose ISU?Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans• Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)• Life insurance and long-term disability• Flexible Spending Accounts• Various voluntary benefits and discounts• Employee Assistance Program• Wellbeing program
Original Posting Date: March 9, 2026
Posting Close Date:March 26, 2026
Job Requisition Number:R18754
By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.
Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.
All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.
If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942.
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.