Senior R&D Engineer - System Dynamics and Controls

We are seeking a Senior R&D Engineer to lead the architecture, integration, and deployment of advanced digital agriculture systems.

This is a hands-on systems engineering leadership role with ownership from concept through field deployment. You will design and integrate hardware and software systems, develop production-representative platforms, and deliver solutions that are robust, scalable, and deployment-ready.

You will work directly with OEM and industry engineering teams to define requirements, lead execution, and ensure systems meet real-world performance expectations.

What You'll Do

• Lead system architecture and integration of automation and control systems for real-time vehicle applications

• Design and implement multi-sensor data pipelines to support control development and system performance analysis

• Develop and validate vehicle dynamics and system models to inform control strategies and hardware selection

• Define and execute validation strategies across simulation, HIL, lab, and field environments

• Integrate embedded systems with vehicle networks (e.g., CAN, Ethernet) and real-time control architectures

• Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies into deployable, production-representative systems

• Lead cross-functional engineering efforts, delivering against technical milestones and partner expectations

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

• Mentor engineers and contribute to a high-performance engineering culture focused on ownership, innovation, and execution

Required Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor's degree and 8 years related experience, 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., Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship., + 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

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., 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.