Position Title:
Manager Engineering - Engineering Product Owner
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 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. The team has a strong innovation record with over 30 patents and licensed technologies. As an 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).
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. All staff members are expected to interact collegially and maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, and ethics.
This is an initial three-year term position, with expectation for renewal based on availability of funding. Multiple positions are available and recruitment will be ongoing until positions are filled.
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 unit and explains to direct reports
• Focus on ISU’s mission and meeting department or work unit goals
• Supervises a small department or work team
• Often is a working supervisor with direct, previous experience performing work of those supervised
• Has full management responsibility for direct reports, specifically the authority to hire, fire, and counsel; may share part of responsibility with higher level management
• Requests approval for financial actions beyond a limited scope per policy
Appointment Type:
Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)
Proposed End Date or Length of Term:
December 31, 2026
Number of Months Employed Per Year:
12 Month Work Period
Time Type:
Full time
Pay Grade:
PS812
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:
1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter
If you have questions regarding this application process, please email [email protected] or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.
Why Choose ISU?
Iowa State University is committed to fostering a workplace of belonging, where diversity is celebrated and equity is a core value. Our 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
• This job may also be eligible for flexible work schedules and flexible workplace options that may include flexible working hours and a hybrid working environment.
Original Posting Date:
November 29, 2023
Posting Close Date:
Job Requisition Number:
R13539