Research Engineer

About the Job

Department: CFANS GEMS Informatics Center

Supervisor: Bryan Runck, PI Real-time GeoInformation Systems Lab

Location: 248 Ruttan Hall and 305 Cargill, St. Paul Campus

We seek a highly motivated multidisciplinary engineer to serve in the Runck Lab in the GEMS Informatics Center. The successful candidate will support research in instrumentation and internet of things systems and will support the GEMS Sensing Service Organization.

Description:

This is a 100% research position with the primary aim of prototyping and supporting existing distributed, low cost electronics systems. Work is performed under general supervision, following established lab procedures and guidelines.

• Research and Development (70%)

• Sensing & Instrumentation: Assist in assembling, soldering, testing, and debugging low-power embedded hardware and sensor systems.

• Prototyping & Manufacturing: Print CAD models/components using 3D printers and assist in assembling prototype Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs).

• Software & Connectivity: Write scripts (Python, Matlab, R, Embedded C/C++) to assist with data processing, basic firmware development, and data extraction/ingestion into lab databases.

• Testing & Evaluation: Assist with gathering basic user feedback, administering standardized user surveys, and supporting design review meetings.

• Documentation & Reporting: Contribute to research documentation, including assisting with standard operating procedures (SOPs), training tutorials, lab wikis, and drafting technical sections of research reports or manuscripts.

• Field Support: Assist the Lab Field Manager with standard setup, maintenance, and basic troubleshooting of field-deployed sensing units.

• Research support (20%)

• Support workspace operations by adhering to quality standards and maintaining experimental stations in a clean, organized manner.

• Execute routine lab maintenance tasks, including restocking consumables, maintaining 3D printer performance, and performing basic hardware/tool setup under direction.

• Assist with placing equipment/component orders by requesting vendor quotes under supervisor direction.

• Guide student workers on proper lab cleanup, safety procedures, and basic tool usage.

• Education and Training (10%)

• Assist in preparing basic instructional materials and demonstrations for online or face-to-face learning modules.

• Help facilitate routine hands-on training sessions on basic IoT and sensor technology for undergraduate students, K-12 groups, or workshop attendees.

Qualifications

Required

• A BA/BS degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field, or a combination of education and relevant work experience to equal at least four years.
• Academic or professional experience with basic Internet of Things (IoT) hardware or embedded prototyping.
• Exposure to low-level programming/firmware (e.g., Embedded C/C++) or scripting languages (e.g., Python, Matlab, or R).
• Basic familiarity with computer-aided design (CAD) software (e.g., Solidworks, Autodesk360) or PCB layout tools (e.g., Altium, Eagle).
• Demonstrated ability to follow detailed protocols and execute recurring tasks with precision and timeliness, working collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team of engineers, data scientists, and non-engineers.

Preferred

• Coursework or additional education in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field
• Hands-on experience (coursework, projects, or work) building Internet of Things (IoT) prototypes for sensing, instrumentation, robotics, or wireless connectivity, such as low-power embedded systems, power electronics, analog signal chains, or printed circuit boards
• Exposure to hardware and firmware tools such as embedded C/C++, Eagle, Altium, Xilinx, Solidworks, or Autodesk360, including troubleshooting existing hardware and firmware and operating 3D printers
• Experience programming in Python, Matlab, or R; use of GitHub and the Particle IoT platform; exposure to Markdown, HTML, or LaTeX
• Work, project, or field experience with sensing, instrumentation, robotics, advanced manufacturing, or wireless connectivity, including deploying or maintaining sensors outdoors or in low-connectivity settings
• Familiarity with the stages of a hardware system life cycle (specification, design, prototyping, manufacturing, quality assurance, deployment, maintenance, decommissioning) and with the IoT stack from sensing to wireless backhaul, web servers, databases, and front-end applications
• Willingness to travel occasionally, primarily day trips to field sites

About the Department

The Runck Lab focuses on the science and engineering of real-time geoinformation systems ranging from data collection (hardware, firmware) through to data storage, modeling, and visualization. On-going work focuses on the application of novel spatial machine learning and artificial intelligence models in real-time to support decision-making, the development of novel sensing modalities, and the effects of geovisualization systems on cross-organization decision-making and action.

Funding for the lab comes from diverse sources including recurring funding through the GEMS Informatics Center from the MnDRIVE program, federal grants, state grants, foundations, and private companies. The lab fluctuates between 8 and 12 members with two full-time research staff supporting lab operations and GEMS Sensing, a service organization focused on research support for environmental data collection. Due to the applied and cross-sector nature of R&D, the lab provides an opportunity to broadly engage in large, multidisciplinary, and high impact R&D.

The GEMS Informatics Center is a joint initiative of the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences and the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute and is a highly diverse international and interdisciplinary team of professionals. The Center is re-imagining the relationships between data, institutions, and disciplines to inform and accelerate innovation within the food and agricultural sectors. GEMS broadly seeks to make genomics, environmental, management, and socioeconomic data inter-operable at varying spatial and temporal scales to generate actionable information and promote new innovation partnerships that accelerates and sustains growth in local and global food and agricultural systems.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $27.26 - $29.30 per hour; depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail jobcentr@umn.edu.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nations most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.