ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN III - PRODUCT ENGINEERING SUPPORT
Pay: $34-$39 (Based on experience)
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
Schedule: 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, minimal overtime
Type: Long-Term Contract, W2
Travel: Occasional U.S. travel, up to approximately 3 trips per year
Work Environment: Office, bench, shop, and tractor environments
JOB DESCRIPTION
We are seeking an Engineering Technician III - Product Engineering Support to provide hands-on technical support for Product Verification & Validation (PV&V) field test data collection. This position will support the lifecycle of in-vehicle data logging equipment used on tractor field-test machines, including equipment preparation, troubleshooting, data monitoring, documentation, coordination, and engineering support.
The ideal candidate is technically curious, hands-on, organized, and comfortable troubleshooting electrical, electronic, and communication issues. This role combines technical equipment work with data support, coordination, and independent management of day-to-day testing activities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Stage, bench-test, prepare, deploy, recover, inspect, and redeploy data logging equipment used on field-test tractors.
- Perform first-line troubleshooting of power, ground, wiring, harnesses, connectors, antennas, modems, and storage devices.
- Verify CAN bus and Ethernet communication between machines, networks, and data logging equipment.
- Investigate missing, incomplete, or poor-quality test data and determine potential equipment, network, harness, or configuration issues.
- Use multimeters and diagnostic tools to troubleshoot electrical and electronic systems.
- Build and maintain installation kits containing harnesses, mounting hardware, antennas, modems, cables, storage media, and related equipment.
- Coordinate logger installations, removals, equipment swaps, and shop work requests.
- Work with technicians and engineering teams to determine equipment mounting, integration, and connection requirements.
- Monitor logger health and incoming test data across the fleet.
- Maintain accurate machine-to-logger assignments, equipment configurations, metadata, and data-routing information.
- Assist engineers with locating, accessing, extracting, and understanding field-test data.
- Coordinate with software, electronics, harnessing, mechanical, embedded systems, vehicle integration, verification, and data teams.
- Maintain technical documentation, troubleshooting procedures, test records, and supporting information.
- Manage multiple concurrent requests and ensure equipment and resources are prepared ahead of scheduled testing.
- Identify recurring equipment or process issues and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Hands-on electrical or electronic troubleshooting experience.
- Ability to read electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, or pinouts.
- Experience using a multimeter to diagnose power, ground, wiring, and connection issues.
- Experience working with wiring harnesses, connectors, electronic equipment, or controllers.
- Working knowledge of CAN bus, Ethernet, vehicle networks, or similar communication networks.
- Ability to troubleshoot problems methodically and determine when technical escalation is appropriate.
- Strong organization and attention to detail.
- Ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple requests simultaneously.
- Ability to work independently and take ownership of day-to-day responsibilities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with engineers, technicians, and cross-functional teams.
ADDITIONAL SKILLS / KEYWORDS
Experience with any of the following is highly valuable:
- CAN Bus / CAN Tools
- Ethernet
- Vehicle Communication Networks
- Data Acquisition / DAQ
- In-Vehicle Data Loggers
- Electrical Troubleshooting
- Electronic Troubleshooting
- Multimeters
- Wiring Harnesses
- Electrical Schematics
- Controllers
- Embedded Systems
- Instrumentation
- Analog Signals
- Cellular Modems
- Antennas
- Telematics
- Linux
- GitHub / Configuration Management
- Product Verification & Validation
- Field Testing
- Vehicle Testing
- Test Equipment
Specific proprietary data acquisition or testing tools are not required on day one. Training will be provided on specialized internal systems.
EDUCATION
Preferred:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering Technology, or a related technical discipline.
Also considered:
- Associate degree or 2-year technical degree combined with relevant hands-on experience in electronics, instrumentation, automotive technology, data acquisition, or a related field.
- Equivalent combination of technical education and relevant practical experience.
Recent graduates may be considered if they can demonstrate relevant hands-on experience through internships, robotics, embedded systems, vehicle networking, engineering projects, or similar technical activities.
EXPERIENCE
- Approximately 1-3+ years of relevant engineering, technician, electronics, testing, or troubleshooting experience preferred.
- Recent graduates with strong relevant internship or hands-on project experience may be considered.
- Experience within automotive, agricultural equipment, construction equipment, electronics, instrumentation, vehicle testing, or data acquisition is highly desirable.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate is naturally curious when equipment or data is not behaving as expected. They will investigate problems, ask questions, troubleshoot potential causes, and work toward identifying a solution rather than simply reporting an issue.
Strong candidates will demonstrate:
- Hands-on electrical and electronic troubleshooting skills.
- Familiarity with CAN, Ethernet, or vehicle communication networks.
- Data acquisition, instrumentation, or data logging experience.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Ability to plan ahead and follow through on tasks.
- Ability to independently manage day-to-day priorities.
- Comfort working in an environment where plans and testing priorities may change.
- Willingness to learn new technologies, equipment, and processes.
- A collaborative, service-oriented approach when supporting engineers and technicians.
Candidates coming from automotive, agricultural equipment, construction equipment, robotics, electronics, embedded systems, or vehicle testing backgrounds may transition especially well into this position.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Position starts onsite immediately.
- Work will be split between desk-based activities and hands-on bench/shop activities depending on the testing cycle.
- Approximately half of the position may involve desk-based coordination, documentation, data monitoring, and engineering support.
- Hands-on work may include bench testing, equipment troubleshooting, supporting installations, and working around tractors and test equipment.
- Business casual dress is appropriate in the office.
- Metatarsal work boots are required in test labs, shop areas, and while visiting machines.
- Occasional travel to field-test or customer-test locations may be required, potentially up to approximately 3 trips per year.
- Drug screening is required.
- Visa sponsorship is not available now or in the future.
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