Position Title:
Senior Spray Technology Engineer

Job Group:
Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree and 5 years of related experience

Job Description:

The Opportunity
We are seeking a SeniorSpray Technology Engineer to lead the technical execution of sponsored research and development projects focused on agricultural application systems. This role combines hands on engineering, field validation, project leadership, and industry collaboration to deliver innovative technologies from concept through field deployment.

This is a highly technical, hands-on position for an engineer who enjoys solving complex problems, working directly with agricultural equipment, and leading multidisciplinary project teams. You will collaborate with industry sponsors, researchers, engineers, and students to develop practical solutions that improve application accuracy, efficiency, and agronomic outcomes.

This position provides technical and project leadership without formal personnel management responsibilities, allowing the successful candidate to remain focused on engineering, field validation, and sponsor collaboration.

What You’ll Do

• Provide technical leadership for sponsored research projects by coordinating cross-functional teams, guiding engineering decisions, and ensuring successful project execution without formal supervisory responsibility.

• Lead the design, integration, testing, troubleshooting, and validation of liquid and dry application systems across laboratory and field environments, including ground and aerial platforms.

• Evaluate application technologies and system performance, including spray nozzles, pumps, flow control, PWM technologies, sensors, and other application hardware, using engineering and field data to improve agronomic outcomes.

• Collaborate with industry sponsors and project teams to define technical requirements, communicate progress, coordinate engineering, agronomy, technicians, and students, and deliver project objectives.

• Prepare technical reports, presentations, testing documentation, and project recommendations while supporting proposal development and identifying future research opportunities.

• Mentor engineers, technicians, and students by providing technical guidance, fostering collaboration, and promoting engineering best practices.

What You Bring

• Experience designing, developing, testing, or validating agricultural application equipment, spray systems, precision agriculture technologies, or related agricultural equipment.

• Strong mechanical and systems engineering skills, with the ability to troubleshoot complex equipment and evaluate system performance.

• Experience planning and executing laboratory, field, or product validation testing and translating engineering results into agronomic outcomes and customer value.

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical projects involving multiple stakeholders and collaborate effectively with industry sponsors, researchers, and multidisciplinary teams.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to independently manage multiple technical projects while maintaining high standards of safety and quality.

Technology & Systems You May Work With

• Spray systems, nozzles, pumps, and flow control (including PWM)

• Targeted and variable-rate application technologies

• Drone and aerial application systems

• Lab and field-testing platforms

• Agricultural equipment and precision application systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.

• Experience with agricultural application systems through product development, field engineering, technical service, product support, or related roles within agriculture, OEMs, or ag input companies.

• Experience planning and conducting field trials, performance testing, and validation programs while translating engineering performance into agronomic outcomes.

• Demonstrated ability to define technical requirements, lead cross-functional technical projects, and mentor engineers, technicians, or project teams.

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 an R&D Engineer III.

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 [redacted], or call [redacted] or Toll Free: [redacted].

Appointment Type:
Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)

Proposed End Date or Length of Term:

November 1, 2029

Number of Months Employed Per Year:
12 Month Work Period

Time Type:
Full time

Pay Grade:
PS812

Original Posting Date:
September 4, 2026

Posting Close Date:
September 20, 2026

Job Requisition Number:
R19897

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.