Product Engineer

Product Engineer

The Product Engineer contributes to the design, analysis, and continuous improvement of manufacturing and materials processes, with a strong focus on geospatial analytics in an agricultural context. This role combines agronomy knowledge with data-driven geospatial analysis to develop, validate, and communicate engineering solutions that meet cost, quality, and regulatory requirements. The Product Engineer supports the creation and evaluation of engineering standards, participates in inspections and process improvements, and prepares clear, professional summaries of analytical findings for use by stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Analyze information related to manufacturing and materials processes to define methods, process steps, plant machinery, and equipment that improve performance while meeting cost and quality requirements.
• Contribute to the design of engineering solutions that leverage geospatial analytics and agricultural datasets to address process and system challenges.
• Develop feasibility testing approaches for proposed engineering solutions and support or supervise their implementation to validate effectiveness.
• Assist in drafting engineering standards and specifications and evaluate their effectiveness under the guidance of senior colleagues.
• Conduct inspections, under supervision, to assess the quality of engineering work, installations, or structures and recommend corrective actions to ensure compliance with specifications and regulations.
• Identify shortcomings in existing processes, systems, and procedures and apply established change management programs to implement improvements.
• Work within defined project management plans to achieve project goals, deliverables, and timelines.
• Utilize geospatial data and analytical tools to interpret agricultural datasets and generate insights that support engineering and agronomy-related decisions.
• Prepare clear, well-structured PowerPoint presentations or PDF summaries that communicate analytical findings and engineering recommendations in an easy-to-understand, professional format.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure that analytical outputs and engineering documentation align with organizational standards and stakeholder needs.
• Develop professional capabilities through ongoing assessments, development planning, formal and informal training, coaching, industry conferences, professional accreditation, and continuous review of emerging technologies and best practices.

Essential Skills

• Experience working with agricultural datasets and the ability to interpret data in an agronomy context.
• Background in geospatial analytics specifically applied to agriculture, combining agronomy knowledge with analytical skills.
• Proficiency with geospatial tools such as ArcGIS Pro and QGIS.
• Ability to work with geospatial data to support engineering and process improvement initiatives.
• Experience with analytical platforms and programming languages such as Databricks, Python, and R.
• Mechanical and design skills relevant to manufacturing or materials processes.
• Ability to use design tools such as Solid Works to support engineering solutions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex analytical findings clearly.
• Ability to assemble professional, easy-to-understand PowerPoint slide decks and PDF summaries that effectively communicate analysis and recommendations.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow engineering standards, specifications, and regulatory requirements.
• Capability to work within structured project management plans and meet defined goals and deliverables.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Interest in or exposure to agronomy and agricultural production systems, combined with data analytics experience.
• Ability to balance practical agronomy knowledge with geospatial and data analytics to deliver integrated solutions.
• Comfort working under the guidance of senior engineering colleagues and incorporating feedback into standards, specifications, and process improvements.
• Willingness to participate in ongoing professional development through training, coaching, conferences, and accreditation.
• Strong organizational skills for managing multiple tasks, documentation, and project timelines.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders who will present the materials you prepare.

Work Environment

The role is primarily based onsite at an office in Johnston, Iowa. The position may sit at either of two local facilities, with consideration for fully remote work for candidates who can be available approximately 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Remote team members must be able to travel to the Des Moines area one or two times per year for onsite collaboration.

The environment is professional and technology-driven, utilizing tools such as Solid Works, ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, Databricks, Python, and R to support geospatial analytics and engineering work. Work is performed in a standard office setting with typical…