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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Engineering Development & Systems Manager - **Company:** Ag Express, Inc - **Location:** Des Moines, IA, United States - **Experience:** Experienced - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Network Analysis, Code Coverage, Communications Protocols, Computer Engineering, Digital Electronics, Firmware, Reverse Engineering, Serial Communications, Signal Processing, Test Data - **Published:** September 20, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=902422a23d4156ab ## About the Role Required Technical Knowledge and Applied Capability Demonstrated technical knowledge and applied experience in the following areas is required: * Analog and digital electronics. * Schematic interpretation and circuit-level analysis. * PCB-level diagnostics, troubleshooting, and repair development. * Electronic measurement, signal analysis, and diagnostic equipment. * Failure analysis and root-cause analysis methodologies. * Functional testing, validation planning, and execution. * Engineering documentation, change management, and release control. Applied experience in multiple additional areas is strongly preferred: * Electronic control modules. * Embedded systems and firmware interaction. * Communication protocols, including CAN and serial communication. * Functional test systems and test-fixture development. * Component selection, substitution, and obsolescence management. * Harnesses, connectors, sensors, actuators, and equipment electronics. * Design for testability and serviceability. Leadership Competencies * Strong technical judgment and practical problem-solving ability. * Ability to lead technical teams while maintaining execution focus and accountability. * Strong prioritization, organization, and decision-making skills. * Effective communication skills, including the ability to translate technical concepts into practical business terms. * Ability to operate effectively in environments with incomplete information or evolving priorities. * Sound judgment regarding quality, timing, customer impact, cost, risk, and business value. * Ability to balance technical excellence with practical execution and operational scalability. * Ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, operations, purchasing, service, and executive leadership functions. * Ability to build structure, accountability, and process discipline without creating unnecessary bureaucracy., Experience within the agricultural, construction, industrial, automotive, military, off-highway, or heavy-equipment industries is preferred, including exposure to: * Reverse engineering or development of undocumented electronics. * Diagnostic systems, service tools, or functional test-equipment development. * Vehicle networks, sensors, and control modules. * Low-volume, high-mix technical environments. * Lifecycle sustainment and obsolete electronics support. * Depot-level technical repair and sustainment operations. * Coordination with external engineering firms, contract manufacturers, or specialty test providers. * ISO standards, quality systems, controlled documentation, or engineering release environments., + Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or a closely related technical discipline strongly preferred. + Equivalent military, industrial, or applied electronics experience may be considered when accompanied by substantial hands-on electronics expertise, demonstrated engineering-level technical judgment, and prior leadership of engineers or highly technical personnel * Work Experience: + Eight or more years of progressively responsible experience in electronics engineering, electronic repair development, embedded systems, test engineering, validation engineering, controls engineering, or a closely related field. + Three or more years of direct leadership experience managing engineers or multidisciplinary technical teams. + Demonstrated ability to independently review, question, and evaluate engineering analysis and technical work products. + Hands-on experience interpreting schematics, evaluating circuit behavior, using electronic measurement and diagnostic equipment, and conducting structured failure analysis. + Experience advancing technical work from initial problem definition through development, verification, validation, controlled release, and post-release monitoring. + Experience developing or reviewing BOMs, test specifications, validation plans, engineering changes, work instructions, technical reports, and release packages. + Experience coordinating technical work across engineering, operations, purchasing, service, and business leadership. + Experience balancing engineering rigor with customer requirements, operational practicality, business priorities, cost, timing, and risk. Physical Demands: * Lifting and Carrying: Occasionally, the role may involve lifting and carrying office equipment or materials weighing up to a certain limit. * Standing and Walking: Ability to navigate various departments and facilities within the organization's premises as part of operational oversight and engagement. * Communication: Skill in exchanging accurate information with customers, co-workers, vendors, etc., utilizing verbal, written, and electronic communication methods. * Sitting for Extended Periods: Much of the work will be conducted at a desk requiring the ability to sit for extended periods while performing tasks. * Repetitive Motion: Some tasks may involve repetitive motions of the hands, especially prolonged periods of typing on a computer to perform administrative and operational tasks. Ergonomic practices should be followed to minimize the risk of repetitive strain injuries. * Safety Awareness: Awareness of and adherence to safety protocols and procedures is essential when navigating the organization's facilities to ensure compliance and minimize the risk of workplace hazards or accidents. ## Description Technical Leadership * Direct and evaluate the technical work of engineers and technical contributors responsible for electronic repair capability development, diagnostic development, test engineering, validation, and release readiness. * Critically review and challenge engineering assumptions, troubleshooting methods, circuit analysis, proposed repair strategies, test coverage, validation results, and technical conclusions. * Require engineers to support recommendations with appropriate technical analysis, test data, documented results, and consideration of failure modes and operational risk. * Apply working knowledge of electronic components, circuitry, schematics, signal behavior, communication protocols, diagnostic methods, test equipment, and failure-analysis techniques to engage substantively in technical reviews. * Ask informed technical questions, identify gaps or inconsistencies, and redirect work when the engineering approach, supporting evidence, documentation, or validation is insufficient. * Make or facilitate timely technical decisions regarding feasibility, design direction, validation requirements, repair methodology, release readiness, and technical risk. * Establish clear expectations for engineering quality, technical rigor, documentation, productivity, and project execution. * Approve, conditionally approve, or reject technical development deliverables and release packages based on established requirements and delegated authority. * Remain actively engaged in complex troubleshooting, design reviews, validation planning, root-cause analysis, and technical escalations. * Coach engineers and technical contributors while holding them accountable for accurate, complete, repeatable, and timely work. Engineering Systems Leadership * Lead the cross-functional development system that advances qualified opportunities from scope through execution, validation, release, and post-release review. * Ensure project roles, ownership, deliverables, timelines, resource requirements, and success criteria are clearly defined before development authorization. * Maintain visibility into active development work, risks, blockers, priorities, resource constraints, and next actions. * Reinforce accountability and execution discipline to ensure development activities progress toward completion. * Align engineering development activities with defined business value, customer demand, operational needs, throughput improvement, and scalability objectives. * Drive collaboration among engineering, sustainment, service operations, documentation, purchasing, manufacturing, and external technical partners. Repair Capability Development * Lead the development of repeatable, production-ready repair solutions for electronic control modules, displays, instrumentation, sensors, and related equipment electronics. * Ensure development work defines the failure condition, diagnostic approach, root cause, repair method, component requirements, test methodology, acceptance criteria, and release documentation. * Evaluate available schematics, circuit behavior, component specifications, communication data, known failure modes, and physical evidence to guide repair-development decisions. * Ensure repair solutions address the underlying failure and do not rely solely on symptom-based component replacement without adequate technical validation. * Challenge engineers to consider alternative failure modes, intermittent conditions, environmental factors, component tolerances, software or firmware interaction, and repeatability across multiple units. * Confirm that validation samples, test coverage, fixtures, procedures, and acceptance criteria are sufficient to support a reliable operational release. * Partner with Service Operations to verify that repair methods can be safely, consistently, and efficiently performed by trained technicians. * Monitor post-release performance, including repeat failures, warranty outcomes, technician feedback, cycle time, material cost, and realized business value. Development Standards & Process Discipline * Establish and reinforce practical standards for Statements of Work (SOWs), validation plans, test procedures, technical documentation, release packages, and post-release reviews. * Maintain disciplined development gates for scope approval, execution authorization, validation, release readiness, and operational handoff. * Ensure technical documentation supports repeatable and scalable service operations. * Direct the development of standardized methods, fixtures, tooling, procedures, and validation practices. * Maintain oversight of active project capacity, prioritization, and resource planning. * Improve the consistency and quality of technical handoffs between engineering and operational teams. Project & Portfolio Accountability * Maintain an active development portfolio with defined ownership, timelines, priorities, RYG status, risks, blockers, and next actions. * Ensure approved projects have clearly defined scope, deliverables, resource plans, and measurable success criteria. * Monitor project progress and take or escalate corrective action when scope, timing, quality, cost, or resources are at risk. * Prioritize development activities based on customer demand, revenue opportunity, margin impact, technical feasibility, throughput improvement, and long-term scalability. * Ensure development-related labor, materials, prototype expenses, tooling costs, and external support costs are properly captured for leadership review. * Provide leadership with clear reporting on development progress, priorities, risks, resource needs, and completed outcomes. Cross-Functional Leadership * Partner with Service Operations to ensure released technical solutions can be implemented consistently within production repair environments. * Collaborate with Purchasing and Supply Chain regarding component sourcing, supplier quality, lifecycle risk, obsolescence management, and external partner coordination. * Work with documentation resources to ensure procedures, validation records, bills of materials (BOMs), technical guides, and release documentation are complete and accurate. * Advise business leadership regarding technical investment priorities, capability expansion, staffing needs, and long-term development strategy. * Communicate technical issues, risks, timelines, and tradeoffs in clear and practical business language. * Foster collaboration and alignment among technical, operational, and business teams. Team & Capability Development * Lead and develop engineers, technical specialists, and support personnel involved in repair capability development. * Establish role clarity, performance expectations, measurable objectives, and accountability for technical contributors. * Identify staffing, training, tooling, and technical resource needs necessary to support future growth. * Recommend organizational structure improvements and long-term capability plans for the technical development function. * Support career development and succession planning for technical team members. * Build and reinforce a practical engineering culture focused on accountability, execution, quality, repeatability, innovation, and business impact. * Strengthen long-term capability in electronics development, diagnostic systems, validation engineering, test engineering, and controlled release. ## Related Videos - [Remote Driving on Plant Grounds with State-of-the-Art Cloud Technologies](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/251-remote-driving-on-plant-grounds-with-state-of-the-art-cloud-technologies) - [Mutation Testing and Fuzzing in C#](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/703-mutation-testing-and-fuzzing-in-c) - [Playing Pong on a shoulder press machine](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100140-playing-pong-on-a-shoulder-press-machine) - [Dirty Tests And How To Clean Them](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/515-dirty-tests-and-how-to-clean-them) - [Test-reduction - Doing more with less](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/977-test-reduction-doing-more-with-less) - [More efficient software for more efficient microchips](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1164-more-efficient-software-for-more-efficient-microchips) ## Related Articles - [What is Software Engineering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/289-what-is-software-engineering) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [From developer to manager – what does it take to become an engineering manager?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/42-from-developer-to-manager-what-does-it-take-to-become-an-engineering-manager) - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [Where To Find Software Engineering Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/396-where-to-find-software-engineering-jobs) - [The 12 Best Jobs for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/401-the-12-best-jobs-for-software-engineers)