Agricultural Data & Systems Engineer

Position Information

Description & Details: The NDSU Agricultural Data Analytics at North Dakota State Universitys Agricultural Experiment Station is seeking a skilled Agricultural Data & Systems Engineer to support our UAV, IoT, and data intelligence initiatives. This role bridges hardware, data engineering, and business intelligence, translating field-collected data into tools and insights that serve agricultural researchers and extension stakeholders.

The successful candidate will execute UAV flight missions, help design and deploy low-cost field sensors, and build interactive dashboards to support our stakeholders. This is a hands-on, multidisciplinary role suited to someone who enjoys moving between field data collection, developing and installing sensors and embedded systems, as well as developing BI dashboards and data pipelines. The Agricultural Systems Engineer will report to the Big Data Software Engineer and collaborate closely with the Agricultural UAV Software Developer, the IoT Systems Research Engineer, Statisticians, and departmental leadership to advance the NDSU Ag Data Analytics mission of turning agricultural data into usable outcomes.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8:00am - 4:30 pm (Spring and Fall), 7:30am - 4:00pm (Summer hours).

Hiring Range: $69,069-$92,092

Pay is based on several factors, including budget, labor market, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and/or certification and other business considerations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in electrical engineering, computer science, data science, agricultural engineering, or a related technical field.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of working effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

• Willingness to work outdoors in variable field conditions during the agricultural growing season, including some early mornings and physical activity associated with field equipment and sensor installation.

• Experience with programming languages commonly used in agricultural data analytics, such as Python, R, and SQL.

• Valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and at least 50 hours of experience as UAS pilot-in-command.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in electrical engineering, business analytics, data science, or related field.

• Experience in remote sensing, digital agriculture, or managing agronomic spatial data.

• Familiarity with data ingestion frameworks and cloud-based data processing pipelines (for example, AWS, Azure, or GCP).

• Knowledge of wireless sensor networks and communication protocols used in agricultural settings, such as LoRaWAN, cellular, and Wi-Fi.

• Experience designing UAS payload integrations for collecting and analyzing geotagged sensor data.

Core Competencies and Key Responsibilities:

1. UAV Operations and Pipeline Integration

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute UAV flight missions to capture high-precision imagery of breeding and agronomy research plots throughout the growing season, including planting, in-season monitoring, and pre-harvest activities.
• Perform imagery quality assurance and ad hoc analyses using in-house tools to ensure data products meet end-user requirements.
• Collaborate with software engineers to research, develop, and integrate new capabilities into agricultural UAV data processing pipelines.
• Maintain UAV equipment, flight logs, safety records, and compliance documentation in accordance with FAA regulations.
• Support the collection, processing, and management of aerial imagery and geospatial datasets used in agricultural research.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate with a minimum of 50 hours of experience serving as UAS Pilot-in-Command.
• Experience operating UAVs and field survey equipment to collect data supporting agricultural research programs.
• Familiarity with agricultural UAV data pipelines, including image processing, orthomosaic generation, and geospatial raster data workflows.
• Working knowledge of GIS applications, remote sensing, and satellite imagery analysis.
• Basic mechanical design and fabrication skills to develop or modify UAV payload components and field hardware.
• Ability to troubleshoot UAV systems, sensors, and associated field equipment.

2. IoT Sensor and Network Development

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the IoT Systems Research Engineer to design, prototype, deploy, and evaluate low-cost field sensing technologies.
• Write, test, and optimize embedded software that interfaces with sensor hardware, microcontrollers, and communication systems.
• Install, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot sensor networks deployed across agricultural research locations.
• Partner with researchers and departments across NDSU to expand the reach, functionality, and impact of IoT research infrastructure.
• Support collection, transmission, storage, and quality assurance of environmental and phenomic sensor data.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience developing low-level embedded software for hardware and microcontroller-based systems.
• Strong electronic hardware design, prototyping, integration, and diagnostic skills.
• Proficiency with electrical design, testing, and troubleshooting tools, including digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, soldering equipment, and circuit design software.
• Working knowledge of wireless communications, sensor integration, and field-deployed IoT systems.
• Basic mechanical design and fabrication skills to support sensor housing development and field deployments.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve hardware, firmware, and network communication issues.

3. Data Framework Optimization, Business Intelligence, and Software Development

Responsibilities

• Support the testing, evaluation, validation, and continuous improvement of data frameworks that support agricultural research tools and analytics platforms.
• Recommend, develop, and implement enhancements to data ingestion and processing tools supporting diverse datasets, including UAV imagery, IoT sensor data, and phenomic data.
• Develop reporting and visualization solutions that communicate application usage metrics, project outcomes, and progress toward departmental goals.
• Contribute to software development initiatives that improve operational efficiency, data accessibility, and research decision-making.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proficiency building dashboards using Power BI, Tableau, Grafana, or comparable business intelligence and data visualization platforms.
• Experience working with data integration, validation, analytics, and reporting frameworks.
• Ability to learn and apply new programming languages and technologies, including Python, Rust, C++, TypeScript, or similar tools used by the development team.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with the ability to work across software, data, and research domains.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver scalable data and software solutions.

Applicant Materials Required:

• A cover letter outlining relevant experience and qualifications

• A current resume or curriculum vitae

• Academic transcripts

• Contact information for three professional references, including employer affiliation, phone number, and email address.

NDSU does not provide employment-based visa sponsorship for this position. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout employment.

Our commitment to caring for our employees isn't just words-it's proven. In NDSU's most recent Gallup Engagement Survey, our strengths centered on care and development. "My supervisor, or someone at work, cares about me as a person" and "I have the opportunities to learn and grow", were noted as top drivers. This reflects the culture you'll experience here.

NDSU OFFERS OUTSTANDING BENEFITS!

Join a workplace that invests in your well-being, your future, and your success.

Full-time employees are eligible for the following benefits:

Health & Wellness

• 100% employer-paid health insurance premiums for single and family coverage
• Choice of PPO/Basic or High Deductible Health Plan with HSA
• Coverage begins the first of the month after your hire date
• Wellness incentives for healthy lifestyle participation

Exceptional Retirement Plan

• Employer retirement contributions ranging from 7.5% up to an impressive 12.26%, depending on position

(One of the strongest retirement packages in the region!) - Your future is a priority, and it shows.

Time Away & Support

• Generous annual leave, sick leave, and 10 paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program for confidential support
• Supportive work-life balance

Education Benefits That Grow with You

• Tuition waivers for employees (up to three classes per calendar year)
• 50% tuition waiver for spouse/partner and dependents

Additional Optional Benefits

• Supplemental Life, Dental, Vision, Long-Term Care
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Health & Dependent Care)
• Supplemental Retirement Plans

Explore Full Benefit Details:

Benefits | Human Resources | NDSU

About Us:

North Dakota State University is distinctive as a student focused, land-grant, research university. We educate leaders who solve national and global challenges by providing affordable access to an excellent education that combines teaching and research in a rich learning environment.

NDSU is in the highest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, R1, granted to the top research institutions in the country.

NDSU has offices across the state of North Dakota, and the main campus is in Fargo, on the Minnesota border. Along with Moorhead, Minnesota, Fargo forms one of the largest metropolitan centers between Minneapolis and Seattle. The community is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live.

NDSU is committed to fostering a community where differences are recognized as strengths. Rooted in our land-grant mission, we work together to meet the needs of North Dakota and its communities through education, research and outreach.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

NDSU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, participation in lawful off-campus activity, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, spousal relationship to current employee, or veteran status, as applicable. Direct inquiries to: Vice Provost, Title IX/ADA Coordinator, Old Main 201, NDSU Main Campus, Fargo, ND, 58108, 701-231-7708, ndsu.eoaa@ndsu.edu.

No Smoking Notice:

As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. § 23-12-10.

Veteran's Preference Notice:

This position is subject to North Dakota Veteran's Preference requirements.

Reasonable Accommodation Information:

North Dakota State University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, please contact Human Resources at 701-231-8961 or ndsu.hr@ndsu.edu.