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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Work you'll do
As a Project - Software Engineer III on the Government and Public Services team, you will be responsible for...
Responsibilities :
- Create batch process Enhancement/Change Request documents and come up with estimates
- Built, maintain, and execute 200 + production batch jobs using OpCon
- Oversee all development in the scheduling software OpCon
- Organize all jobs into easy to manage schedules
- Performance tune batch jobs for easy and smooth execution
- Assist development team with batch framework debug/RCA analysis
- Manage all user accounts and security settings
- Hands on with System admin tasks such as shell scripting, debugging & process monitoring
- Hands on with simple to complex SQL writing
- Experience in creating indexes for SFTP project in the Splunk tool for better monitoring the batch cycles via web URL
- Responsible for sending batch execution status reports to the client every morning & publish it to the project
A successful candidate would possess these skills:
- Ability to work independently and collaborate as part of a team
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Meticulous attention to detail and quality of work product
- Ability to build and sustain professional relationships
- Ability to lead projects or workstreams
- Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
- Strong interpersonal skills and professional demeanor
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Ability to mentor and provide clear guidance to others
The team
Deloitte's Government and Public Services practice brings together people, ideas, technology, and outcomes to help clients make an impact. Serving federal, state, and local government clients, as well as public higher education institutions, the team helps organizations anticipate disruption, rethink what is possible, and advance their mission.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor's Degree
- Min 5 years EXP
- Working in rotation including night shifts required
- Experienced Batch Operator with extensive hands-on experience with designing, configuring, managing batch workflows, batch job inter-dependencies, scheduling and operating & supporting mission critical batch job cycles using OpCon Workload Automation Batch scheduler in the legacy and distributed/Cloud hosted application environments
- Experience with installing and configuring OpCon Workload Automation batch scheduler and versioning, importing/exporting job configurations from one environment to other environment
- Experience working with product vendor for addressing product related patching or issues. Hands-on experience with writing and managing Unix shell scripting necessary to configure Batch jobs in OpCon Workload Automaton Batch scheduler
- Experience coordinating with the application technical and functional teams for the resolution of the batch failures and provide reporting on the batch execution
- Experience configuring Batch execution reporting dashboard, custom configuration of alerting on batch failures based on exit codes to support with production monitoring
- Experience working with Azure DevOps to log batch incidents, escalate to application/infra team for further troubleshooting and building knowledgebase on the issue resolution
- Experience working on AWS Postgres RDS database and AWS Cloud resources
The wage range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. At Deloitte, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $91,100 to $151,800.
You may also be eligible to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program, subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors, including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.
See All 30 Automation Engineer Jobs in Iowa
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Find Automation Engineer JobsAutomation Engineer Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Automation Engineer Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



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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