Automation Engineer Jobs in Iowa

Automation Engineer jobs in Iowa are in steady demand, concentrated in food and beverage processing, advanced manufacturing, and agricultural equipment production across a state that punches well above its size in industrial output. The heaviest hiring is in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and the Quad Cities corridor, where employers like John Deere, Rockwell Collins (now Collins Aerospace), and Quaker Oats (PepsiCo) maintain significant engineering operations. PLC programming, SCADA integration, and robotics cell design are the specialties Iowa manufacturers seek most consistently, with openings at both entry and senior levels. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles30
Top employerBAKER
Top cityCedar Rapids, IA
Cities hiring17
Work type56% Hybrid
Top industryAutomotive

Showing 5 of 30+ Automation Engineer jobs

OpCon Workload Automation Administrator - Software Engineer III
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OpCon Workload Automation Administrator - Software Engineer III
Deloitte
Des Moines, Iowa
Business Development
Partnerships & Business Development
Sales
$91k - $152k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Automation Engineer
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Automation Engineer
NICOLET NATIONAL BANK
Iowa City, Iowa
Automation QA
Cloud & DevOps
DevOps
Bachelor's degree in engineering
201-500

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2027 Electrical & Automation (E&A) Engineer Development Program
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2027 Electrical & Automation (E&A) Engineer Development Program
Nestlé USA
Waverly, Iowa
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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Senior Software Engineer – Tooling, Automation, and Verification Infrastructure
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Senior Software Engineer – Tooling, Automation, and Verification Infrastructure
Collins Aerospace
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Automation QA
Cloud & DevOps
DevOps
$87k - $165k/yr
10,000+

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Controls and Automation Engineer
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Controls and Automation Engineer
Shearer's Foods, LLC
Burlington, Iowa
Automation QA
Cloud & DevOps
DevOps
$39.88 - $42.88/hr
Associate's degree in electrical engineering
1,001-5,000

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See All 30 Automation Engineer Jobs in Iowa

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Automation Engineer Jobs by City in Iowa

Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Cedar Rapids
4 jobs
Iowa City
3 jobs
Des Moines
3 jobs
Ankeny
2 jobs
Marion
2 jobs
Le Mars
2 jobs
Waverly
2 jobs
New Hampton
2 jobs
Charles City
2 jobs

Automation Engineer Job Market in Iowa

A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

BAKER4 open roles
The ESCO3 open roles
SHAZAM2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Automotive
  • Food & Beverage
  • Staffing & Recruiting

What Iowa Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in automation engineer jobs across Iowa.

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or automation engineering or a closely related field
  • Hands-on programming experience with Allen-Bradley or Siemens PLC platforms
  • Proficiency designing or maintaining SCADA and HMI systems in a manufacturing environment
  • Ability to read and create electrical schematics, panel layouts, and instrumentation diagrams
  • Experience with robotics integration, motion control, or automated conveyor systems
  • Strong troubleshooting skills for industrial control systems with minimal production downtime

Automation Engineer Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become an automation engineer in Iowa?

Most automation engineer roles in Iowa require a bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or systems engineering from an accredited program such as those at Iowa State University or the University of Iowa. Iowa does not mandate a state-issued license for the automation engineer title itself, though engineers who stamp designs for public projects must hold a Professional Engineer license issued by the Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board. Earning a Certified Automation Professional credential strengthens candidacy significantly with Iowa industrial employers.

How much do automation engineers make in Iowa?

Automation engineers in Iowa earn a median of about $103,090 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,580 for the lowest 10% to over $129,760 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire automation engineers in Iowa?

Companies currently hiring automation engineers in Iowa include BAKER, The ESCO, and SHAZAM, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Iowa's concentration of food processing plants, agricultural equipment manufacturers, and defense electronics facilities means demand is spread across both large anchor employers and regional system integrators serving those industries.

Which Iowa cities have the most automation engineer jobs?

Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and Des Moines consistently post the most automation engineer openings in Iowa. Des Moines anchors demand through its growing advanced manufacturing base and corporate headquarters, Cedar Rapids draws heavily from food processing giants and aerospace suppliers like Collins Aerospace, and the Quad Cities corridor reflects the long-standing John Deere manufacturing presence that has historically shaped engineering hiring across eastern Iowa.

Are there remote automation engineer jobs in Iowa?

Yes, but they're rare. Automation engineers typically work on-site to program, commission, and troubleshoot physical control systems, making fully remote work uncommon in this field. About 56% of automation engineer openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to be in project engineering, controls architecture, or technical sales support roles where site visits are periodic rather than daily.

How can I get hired as an automation engineer in Iowa with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a co-op or internship at one of Iowa's large manufacturers before graduation, since employers like John Deere and Collins Aerospace run structured programs specifically for students from Iowa State, the University of Iowa, and Iowa community college engineering technology programs. Candidates without a degree can enter through controls technician or industrial electrician roles at food processing plants in Cedar Rapids or Waterloo, then build toward an engineer title. A portfolio demonstrating a working PLC ladder logic project, even from a lab setting, gives early-career applicants a concrete edge.

Where can I find and apply to automation engineer jobs in Iowa?

You can find and apply to automation engineer jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to Iowa employers and locations. Search the listings for roles that match your experience and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 30 Automation Engineer Jobs in Iowa

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