Design Engineer Jobs in Iowa

Design Engineer jobs in Iowa concentrate in advanced manufacturing, agricultural equipment, and industrial machinery, with steady demand from entry-level positions through senior and principal roles. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and the Quad Cities metro are the largest hiring hubs, where established employers such as John Deere, Collins Aerospace, and Rockwell Collins maintain significant engineering operations. Product design, mechanical systems, and CAD-driven manufacturing engineering are the most in-demand specialties across the state. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles31
Top employerCollins Aerospace
Top cityCedar Rapids, IA
Cities hiring17
Work type60% On-site
Top industryAerospace

Showing 5 of 31+ Design Engineer jobs

Unverferth Mfg. Co., Inc.
Agricultural Equipment Design Engineer - Shell Rock, IA
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Unverferth Mfg. Co., Inc.
Added 1d ago
Agricultural Equipment Design Engineer - Shell Rock, IA
Unverferth Mfg. Co., Inc.
Shell Rock, Iowa
Customer Service
Customer Support

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Productive Resources
Product Design Engineer
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Productive Resources
Added 4d ago
Product Design Engineer
Productive Resources
Eldridge, Iowa
Engineering (Non-Software)
Systems Administration
Technical Program Management
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
51-200

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E
Design Engineer - II
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E
Added 5d ago
Design Engineer - II
EZ Liner - Vogel Traffic Services
Orange City, Iowa
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Product Management
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in engineering

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Van Meter Inc
Packaged Power Design Engineer
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Van Meter Inc
Added 1w ago
Packaged Power Design Engineer
Van Meter Inc
Urbandale, Iowa
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
Bachelor's degree in engineering
501-1,000

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Ryder System
Lead Solutions Design Engineer - SIMIO Warehouse & Transportation Simulation (REMOTE)
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Ryder System
Added 1w ago
Lead Solutions Design Engineer - SIMIO Warehouse & Transportation Simulation (REMOTE)
Ryder System
Des Moines, Iowa
Inventory Control
Logistics & Inventory
Warehouse Operations
$100k - $124k/yr
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering

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See All 31 Design Engineer Jobs in Iowa

Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Design Engineer Jobs by City in Iowa

Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Cedar Rapids
8 jobs
Des Moines
6 jobs
Dubuque
3 jobs
Ankeny
1 job
Cresco
1 job
Sumner
1 job
Le Mars
1 job
Manning
1 job
Eldridge
1 job

Design Engineer Job Market in Iowa

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

Who's Hiring

Collins Aerospace
Collins Aerospace6 open roles
Ryder System
Ryder System2 open roles
RFA Engineering
RFA Engineering2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Aerospace & Defense
  • Manufacturing

What Iowa Employers Look For

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

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or a related engineering discipline required
  • Proficiency in CAD software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or Creo required
  • Experience with product development lifecycle from concept through production
  • Familiarity with GD&T, engineering drawings, and manufacturing tolerances
  • Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams including manufacturing and quality
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills applied to component or system design

Design Engineer Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a design engineer in Iowa?

Most design engineer roles in Iowa require a bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or a closely related engineering field. For roles with public-safety responsibility, Iowa engineers may pursue licensure through the Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and later the Professional Engineering exam. Many private-sector design roles in manufacturing and product development do not require a PE license, but earning it strengthens advancement prospects.

Which companies hire design engineers in Iowa?

Iowa design engineer roles are posted by Collins Aerospace, Ryder System, and RFA Engineering and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Iowa's deep base of agricultural equipment manufacturers, aerospace suppliers, and industrial systems companies makes it one of the more consistent Midwest states for design engineering openings throughout the year.

Which Iowa cities have the most design engineer jobs?

Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Dubuque have the most design engineer openings in Iowa. Des Moines anchors demand through corporate headquarters and diversified manufacturing, Cedar Rapids draws heavily from aerospace and defense suppliers including Collins Aerospace, and the Quad Cities benefit from John Deere's long-established product engineering operations just across the Illinois border, pulling candidates from both sides of the metro.

Are there remote design engineer jobs in Iowa?

Yes, but they're rare. Design engineering typically requires hands-on collaboration with prototypes, manufacturing floors, and lab equipment, which limits remote options compared to purely analytical fields. About 40% of design engineer openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions tend to cluster in software-integrated design work, such as simulation, CAD modeling review, or systems documentation rather than physical build and test roles.

How can I get hired as a design engineer in Iowa with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is securing a co-op or internship with one of Iowa's large manufacturing employers before graduation, since John Deere, Pella Corporation, and Collins Aerospace all run structured early-career engineering programs that convert to full-time offers. Candidates without prior engineering experience often transition from drafting or CAD technician roles, which are widely available at Iowa contract manufacturers and give direct exposure to production design workflows. Building a portfolio of SolidWorks or Creo projects and obtaining the Fundamentals of Engineering credential while in school give a measurable edge in competitive new-grad pools.

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

You can find and apply to design engineer jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings across manufacturing, aerospace, agricultural equipment, and related industries. Search the listings, identify the roles that match your background and target location, and apply directly to each one that fits.

See All 31 Design Engineer Jobs in Iowa

Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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