Control Systems Engineer

Position Title:Control Systems Engineer

Job Group:Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree and 8 years related experience

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 partners with leading agricultural companies to imagine, design, 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 and ultimately into industry adoption.

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.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Control System Engineer to lead the architecture, integration, and deployment of advanced digital agriculture systems with OEM and industry partners.

This is a hands-on systems engineering leadership role guiding complex technical initiatives from concept through field deployment. You will architect integrated hardware and software systems, build production-representative platforms, and translate emerging technologies into practical solutions for real agricultural environments.

In this role, you will collaborate closely with industry partners, engineers, agronomists, and interdisciplinary research teams to define system architectures, lead technical execution, and ensure solutions are robust, scalable, and deployment ready.

You will have the opportunity to influence technical direction, mentor engineers, and see technologies move from early validation into real-world agricultural deployment.

What You'll Do

• Lead system architecture and integration of advanced digital agriculture platforms, including sensing, automation, and control systems for real-time vehicle applications.

• Design, develop, and optimize multi-sensor data acquisition and processing pipelines to support control system development, performance analysis, and data-driven decision-making.

• Lead development of embedded control software and machine automation systems for agricultural machinery

• Establish and execute scalable test and validation strategies across lab and field environments that reflect real-world operating conditions.

• Translate emerging technologies into functional prototypes and deployable solutions aligned with industry needs.

• Lead a cross-functional engineering team to deliver complex projects with clear milestones, timelines, and measurable outcomes.

• Develop technical documentation, scopes of work, and deliverables for external partners and stakeholders.

• Mentor and develop engineers, fostering a collaborative, high-performing engineering culture focused on technical excellence, innovation, and accountability.

The successful candidate will bring deep experience designing and integrating complex hardware-software systems for vehicle dynamics and controls, from modeling and simulation through embedded deployment, lab and field validation, and extraction of meaningful performance metrics. Strong project management, communication, and leadership skills are essential when collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, industry partners, and externally funded engineering projects.

Technology & Systems You May Work With

Projects in the Digital Ag Innovation Lab often integrate sensing, computing, and connected technologies used in modern agricultural equipment. Your work may involve systems such as:

• Vehicle communication networks (e.g., CAN, CAN FD, Ethernet)

• Sensor integration, data acquisition systems, and multi-sensor fusion pipelines

• Model-based development and simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB, Simulink)

• Embedded systems and real-time control architectures

• Mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic system design and control integration

• Agricultural, off-highway, or other mobile equipment platforms

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, or precision ag systems

• Experience commercializing applied engineering solutions

• Experience mentoring engineers in fast‑paced development environments

This is a term position with the expectation of long-term 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 IV.

For guaranteed consideration, please apply before July 24th.

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:

Resume/Curriculum Vitae

Letter of Application/Cover Letter

Why Choose Iowa State University?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

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email View email address on click.appcast.io, or call View phone number on click.appcast.io or Toll Free: View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Appointment Type:Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)

Proposed End Date or Length of Term:August 16, 2029

Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period

Time Type:Full time

Pay Grade:PS813

Original Posting Date: July 2, 2026

Posting Close Date:

Job Requisition Number:R19552

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. View phone number on click.appcast.io, email View email address on click.appcast.io.

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources ( website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.

Current employees (excluding temporary, student and graduate assistants) must apply through the Workday Internal Careers Hub ( .

By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University ( 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 ( . 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. View phone number on click.appcast.io, email View email address on click.appcast.io.

If you have questions about the application process please email View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io or Toll-Free at View phone number on click.appcast.io. 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 View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io or Toll-Free: View phone number on click.appcast.io. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or View phone number on click.appcast.io.

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources ( website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.