Manager Research and Development Engineering

Position Title:

Manager Research and Development Engineering

Job Group:

Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience guiding multi-disciplinary teams solving engineering problems within the electrical, sensing, controls, automation, and software domains on mobile vehicle or similar systems.
Experience with defining requirements, project planning, feature prioritization, and milestone tracking across a multi-person team.
Experience mentoring and guiding technical team members through complex problems.

Job Description:

The Digital Agriculture Innovations Team at Iowa State University is accepting applications for an R&D Engineering Product Owner who will provide vision and leadership to engineering project teams in vehicle systems with a focus on automation and sensing technologies. The ISU Digital Agriculture Innovation Team (www.isudigitalag.org) consists of professional staff and graduate students who work closely with agricultural industry partners to develop innovative technology solutions for agriculture and vehicle systems. The team has a strong innovation record with over 90 patents and licensed technologies.  As an R&D Engineering Product Owner with a focus on automation, your job duties will involve defining and prioritizing innovation-based feature development and providing a product vision to an engineering team focused on off-road vehicle solutions. This work will focus on translating technology from early proof of concept (TRL 3) to a system prototype (TRL 7).

Digital Ag’s vision to enhance knowledge and innovation in agriculture is reinforced by our mission to innovate, educate, and outreach by bridging the gap between ideas and practical application, cultivating a culture of continuous learning, and elevating individuals and organizations to adopt advanced ag tech solutions for a more sustainable and efficient future.  Strengthened by a team of service driven and abundant thinkers, passionate about agriculture and striving for excellence, we are committed to combining technological advancement with practical solutions, emphasizing Digital Ag’s role in driving positive change in the agricultural industry. 

Daily responsibilities of this position may include:

• Own and drive the product vision, strategy, and roadmap, collaborating with key internal and external stakeholders to define priorities and align with business objectives.

• Translate high-level product requirements into actionable steps, detailed features, and technical specifications that guide the development team.

• Act as the primary point of contact between business stakeholders and development teams, ensuring clear communication and understanding of expectations.

• Prioritize and manage the product backlog, continually refining and adjusting priorities based on user feedback, market trends, and business needs.

• Lead project management activities including facilitating internal and external meetings, maintaining team communication, and recurring grooming of priorities.  

• Collaborate with engineering teams to provide clarity on milestones, resolve technical queries, and make timely decisions to ensure smooth development progress. Monitor project progress, identify potential risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure on-time delivery of high-quality products.

• Maintain a keen awareness of industry trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies, incorporating innovative ideas into the product strategy.

• Foster a collaborative and innovative environment by promoting cross-functional teamwork, knowledge sharing, mentoring of junior team members, and a culture of continuous improvement. 

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to work independently and collaboratively; complete projects within a specified timeline; meet project design criteria; communicate effectively and provide technical leadership to design team members; and ensure a safe working environment for project staff. 

  

This is an initial three-year term position, with expectation for renewal based on availability of funding.

This posting will be open until filled. However, to receive full consideration, applications should be received by midnight on February 6, 2025.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an on-going basis without sponsorship. 

Level Guidelines
• Aware of key annual objectives of department or work unit
• Understands linkage between daily activities and achievement of annual objectives of department/work