Agriculture Engineer

Delaware State University, United States

Updated: about 15 hours ago
Location: Dover, DELAWARE


General Description of the Position

This position reports to the Associate Research Director (ARD) and the Associate Dean of Research (ADR) at Delaware State University (DSU), College of Agriculture, Science, and Technology (CAST). The Agriculture Engineer operates as part of a multi-disciplinary team to conceptualize and develop innovative engineering approaches to quantify and simulate complex, multifaceted agriculture systems issues. The Agriculture Engineer will be responsible for working with the software, electrical, and mechanical design teams to identify, select, and integrate precision technologies. The Agriculture Engineer has a strong commitment to lead a novel research program in the engineering of food and/or agriculture-based products and processes. The Agriculture Engineer demonstrates effective research capability to advance CAST's emphasis in multiple concentration areas such as machine systems and precision agriculture, bioprocessing, postharvest engineering, ecological engineering, and environmental engineering. The Agriculture Engineer trains upper-level undergraduate and graduate-level students in precision and digital agriculture and plays an integral role in expanding food process engineering opportunities in the College. Skills related to effective teaching, communication, and problem solving as well as the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams are required. Applicants should have proven research experience beyond a Ph.D. and the ability to articulate how their established research program(s) will integrate with or facilitate collaborative interactions within and beyond the discipline. This role is also responsible for independently designing and implementing research projects or programs as well as advancing innovation/tech transfer activity.


Essential Functions & Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Essential Functions
The following are the functions essential to performing this role.

  • Develop an externally funded research program leading to national and international recognition, pertaining to environmental design and engineering at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and to contribute to the operation and promotion of the department, college, university, and the profession.
  • Interface with research and extension faculty in Crop and Soil Science, Horticultural Science, Animal Science, Engineering, and related sciences.
  • Research responsibilities related to engineering as applied to food, water, and/or renewable products.
  • Experience in automation and sensing topics relevant to local agriculture. Examples include system autonomy and controls, model-based software algorithm development, real-time crop and soil property sensing, perception sensing and machine vision, and embedded cybersecurity.
  • Enhance computational areas such as Al, modeling, optimization, control, or simulation of batch and continuous engineering processes.
  • Knowledge and understanding of data generation and handling for agricultural equipment.
  • Understanding of sensing technologies and their integration to mobile platforms.
  • Experience with precision agriculture technologies.
  • Knowledge and understanding of RFID is a strong plus.
  • Familiarity with software design
  • Ability to understand scalable software architectures for use in mobile machinery.
  • Ability to generate usable software requirements.
  • Experience with C++ or similar languages a strong plus.
  • Experience with software validation or the definition of validation plans.
  • Proficient in mobile machinery communication protocols and standards, such as SAE J 1939 and ISO 11783.
  • Ability to specify communications interfaces between precision ag systems and the core machine.
  • Solid understanding of network communications for both on-board and off-board technologies.
  • Provide input to create efficient, intuitive, and user-friendly graphical user interfaces for mobile machinery.
  • Lead informative, relevant product training for internal technical service staff, service training, and other engineering teams including field tests.
  • Participates in the development of project goals, stating problems to be investigated, creating engineering design, and proposing procedures to be followed.
  • Assists in developing systems for data collection and data management; writes portions of manuscripts and reports; prepares.
  • materials for conferences; work well with a team of scientists; consults colleagues or scientific literature to develop professional expertise.
  • Provides a balance of research, analysis, and engineering support on a broad range of issues related to agriculture and energy efficiency,
  • Perfon-n research that connects agriculture needs with policies that help lower technology adoption barriers and accelerate technology adoption.
  • Provides agricultural engineering services to internal collaborators and external customers.
  • Secure extramural research funding, to develop collaborative research projects, and to directly support the mission of the engineering program.
  • Candidates must be knowledgeable in animal waste management system designs, structures, and facilities, permitting, as well as with civil site development skills (drainage and grading) and AutoCAD. Prior experience in renewable energy, including nutrient recovery, green energy, natural gas, and biogas are a plus.
  • Designs and provides assistance for manure storage, storm water and erosion control, feed storage and barnyard runoff control.
  • Experience with farm machinery, specifically hay equipment.
  • Guide the research of graduate and undergraduate students in engineering (e.g. mass/energy balances, thermodynamics, chemical/biochemical reaction engineering, transport phenomena, or process design and control).
  • Engage in departmental, college and university-level service activities, as well as participate in national and international professional activities.
    • Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
    The individual in this job must possess these skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.
  • Minimum of three years' experience in a highly intensive research environment.
  • Highly analytical and attentive to detail.
  • Excellent writing and presentation skills.
  • Organizational and project coordination skills.
  • The Ability to work independently and successfully prioritize and coordinate multiple projects and meet deadlines.
  • Takes the initiative to recognize problems and clearly explain potential solutions.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, using oral and written communication skills.
    • Other Functions
    Individuals in this job may be assigned one or more of the following tasks on a rotating or as-needed basis.
  • Build expertise relevant to a variety of technologies and contribute to impactful projects that address key challenges and opportunities related to the engineering sector in the U.S.
  • Support outreach to stakeholders for agriculture engineering programs.
  • Contribute to detailed research reports, white papers, fact sheets, and regulatory comments, and to presentation materials including formal presentations, seminars, and short courses.
  • Coordinate and collaborate with numerous research faculty on cross-cutting research projects as well as with external colleagues and partners.
  • Other duties as assigned by the PI/Dean.


    • Qualification Standards

  • Education: Applicants should possess a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering, or a related field Degree in professional engineering. The background must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
  • Must have or be able to obtain and maintain a Professional Engineering License for the state in which the work is performed.
  • Working knowledge of Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulations, state and county regulations relating to agricultural engineering.
  • Demonstrates business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, and effective decision making.
  • Successful experience: One or more years of successful experience in managing, analyzing, and reporting using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Access, and PowerPoint.


    • Performance Standards & EEO Statement

    The criteria for evaluation in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Experience with, or sound knowledge of, energy efficiency, processing, and agriculture systems.
  • Demonstrated passion for energy, environmental, and/or agricultural production.
  • Engages with federal agencies and policymakers.
  • Reliable attendance and work results.
  • Effective interaction and working relationships with fellow researchers.

    • EEO Statement

    Delaware State University is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community. The University is dedicated to enhancing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruitment and employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. The University is committed to achieving a diverse faculty and staff and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply.

    Equal opportunity employer/program'' and “auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities''. 


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