Systems Engineer Jobs in Iowa
Systems Engineer jobs in Iowa are steadily active, with the strongest concentration in defense, agricultural technology, manufacturing automation, and enterprise IT infrastructure. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport account for the bulk of openings, anchored by employers like Collins Aerospace, John Deere, and Principal Financial Group, which maintain long-term engineering operations across the state. Demand runs from mid-level embedded and network systems roles up through senior systems architects managing complex integration projects. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Novaspect, Inc., an Emerson Impact Partner, the global leader of automation systems and solutions, is currently offering an opportunity for a Field Service Control Systems Engineer to join our fast paced, customer-oriented Field Service engineering team. The successful candidate will assist our Engineering and Sales teams in the development and delivery of process control solutions for our industrial customers.
Field Services Engineer Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Work with our customers to become a Trusted Advisor by:
- Actively listening and communicating to accomplish customer’s objectives
-
Providing ongoing site support, which may include:
- Distributed Control System configuration, commissioning, startup, and tuning
- Distributed Control System, field instrumentation, and system-related troubleshooting and problem resolution
- Performing basic to complex Loop tuning
- Creating and managing interfaces to PLCs, drives, and various control bus networks
- Performing basic to complex cybersecurity maintenance
- Setting up and configuring Microsoft Windows administrator functions
- Creating and managing Ethernet IP networks
- Leading preventive maintenance visits
- Auditing control system power and grounding
- Recommending and implementing plant floor digital transformation technologies, including setting up and configuration of Operational Analytics, Product Data Management, and Operations Management Systems.
- Travelling to customer facilities
- Developing solutions with customer-provided information, system design, remote access, backup system files, virtual systems, designing and testing solutions
- Developing and delivering operator training.
Provide clear and frequent communications by:
- Performing basic to complex diagnostic and troubleshooting over the phone or video and in person
- Creating and delivering detailed and professional engineering reports offering clear recommendations and guidance to customers
- Independent customer interface, technical review of opportunities, system-generated reports, actionable recommendations
- Capturing leads for additional product or service opportunities
Work as a team by:
- Working cooperatively with others, sharing knowledge, lessons learned, and participating in or leading team meetings and projects where solutions are developed, ideas are exchanged, and processes are improved
- Helping colleagues as they encounter situations
- Participating in and supporting the Novaspect’s technical access line (NTA)
- Mentoring other Control System Engineers
- Working closely with sales to bring in any opportunities
Work to grow Novaspect as an employee-owner by:
- Representing Novaspect’s core behaviors, quality, customer service, and brand
- Developing advanced skills and knowledge in general control systems, infrastructure, and operational technology
- Complying with internal and customer safety programs
- Emphasizing Novaspect Core Behaviors and Lenses in daily activities and interactions
Field Service Engineer Education and/or Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technology field or technical work experience
- 2-6 years of experience in the control system engineering field
- Experience working with DeltaV, preferred
- Demonstrate excellence in core job responsibilities and competencies
- Seeks additional responsibilities, engages in opportunities to grow and develop skills and competencies
- Ability to perform as an embedded engineer at a customer location
- Ability to work independently as the primary technical interface for customer or sales team
Field Service Engineer Physical Requirements:
- Ability to lift up to 30lbs (i.e., Workstation Monitors and Laptop Computers)
- Ability to work extended hours on a computer
- Ability to work in a loud industrial environment
- For Field-based roles: Must be willing to work at customer sites which include, but are not limited to, oil & gas sites, refineries, nuclear and chemical plants, paper, and steel mills
- For Field-based roles: Ability to be clean-shaven to accommodate required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) usage (e.g., respirator) as needed at customer
- Ability to travel to customer sites up to 65% of the time
Field Service Engineer Pay:
- Base Salary Range: $82,000 - $92,000
- Potential Bonus: 5%
- Overtime Eligible
The final offer will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to the candidate's depth of experience, skill set, qualifications, and internal pay equity. Hiring at the top end of the range would not be typical, to allow for future meaningful salary growth in the position.
Field Service Engineer Benefits:
Recognized with a Top Employee Benefit Plan Award, below you will find our outstanding total rewards package when you join our team including:
- Generous paid time off; starting at 15 vacation days, 10 holidays, and 10 days of Paid Sick & Safety Time (PSST)
- 401K with 4% company match
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
- Excellent health & wellness benefits
- Student debt & tuition reimbursement
- Referral bonus
- Novaspect is a 2025 Great Place to Work® Certified company
Who We Are:
Novaspect, Inc., is an employee-owned company that engineers, sells, and services industrial process controls. Our Core Purpose is to improve our customer’s performance through the innovative application of technology. We are passionate about creating effective processes and building customer relationships. We position ourselves to attract the best talent and ensure we are delivering local services with proven technologies.
Novaspect, Inc., an Emerson Impact Partner, the global leader of automation systems and solutions, is currently offering an opportunity for a Field Service Control Systems Engineer to join our fast paced, customer-oriented Field Service engineering team. The successful candidate will assist our Engineering and Sales teams in the development and delivery of process control solutions for our industrial customers.
Field Services Engineer Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Work with our customers to become a Trusted Advisor by:
- Actively listening and communicating to accomplish customer’s objectives
-
Providing ongoing site support, which may include:
- Distributed Control System configuration, commissioning, startup, and tuning
- Distributed Control System, field instrumentation, and system-related troubleshooting and problem resolution
- Performing basic to complex Loop tuning
- Creating and managing interfaces to PLCs, drives, and various control bus networks
- Performing basic to complex cybersecurity maintenance
- Setting up and configuring Microsoft Windows administrator functions
- Creating and managing Ethernet IP networks
- Leading preventive maintenance visits
- Auditing control system power and grounding
- Recommending and implementing plant floor digital transformation technologies, including setting up and configuration of Operational Analytics, Product Data Management, and Operations Management Systems.
- Travelling to customer facilities
- Developing solutions with customer-provided information, system design, remote access, backup system files, virtual systems, designing and testing solutions
- Developing and delivering operator training.
Provide clear and frequent communications by:
- Performing basic to complex diagnostic and troubleshooting over the phone or video and in person
- Creating and delivering detailed and professional engineering reports offering clear recommendations and guidance to customers
- Independent customer interface, technical review of opportunities, system-generated reports, actionable recommendations
- Capturing leads for additional product or service opportunities
Work as a team by:
- Working cooperatively with others, sharing knowledge, lessons learned, and participating in or leading team meetings and projects where solutions are developed, ideas are exchanged, and processes are improved
- Helping colleagues as they encounter situations
- Participating in and supporting the Novaspect’s technical access line (NTA)
- Mentoring other Control System Engineers
- Working closely with sales to bring in any opportunities
Work to grow Novaspect as an employee-owner by:
- Representing Novaspect’s core behaviors, quality, customer service, and brand
- Developing advanced skills and knowledge in general control systems, infrastructure, and operational technology
- Complying with internal and customer safety programs
- Emphasizing Novaspect Core Behaviors and Lenses in daily activities and interactions
Field Service Engineer Education and/or Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technology field or technical work experience
- 2-6 years of experience in the control system engineering field
- Experience working with DeltaV, preferred
- Demonstrate excellence in core job responsibilities and competencies
- Seeks additional responsibilities, engages in opportunities to grow and develop skills and competencies
- Ability to perform as an embedded engineer at a customer location
- Ability to work independently as the primary technical interface for customer or sales team
Field Service Engineer Physical Requirements:
- Ability to lift up to 30lbs (i.e., Workstation Monitors and Laptop Computers)
- Ability to work extended hours on a computer
- Ability to work in a loud industrial environment
- For Field-based roles: Must be willing to work at customer sites which include, but are not limited to, oil & gas sites, refineries, nuclear and chemical plants, paper, and steel mills
- For Field-based roles: Ability to be clean-shaven to accommodate required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) usage (e.g., respirator) as needed at customer
- Ability to travel to customer sites up to 65% of the time
Field Service Engineer Pay:
- Base Salary Range: $82,000 - $92,000
- Potential Bonus: 5%
- Overtime Eligible
The final offer will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to the candidate's depth of experience, skill set, qualifications, and internal pay equity. Hiring at the top end of the range would not be typical, to allow for future meaningful salary growth in the position.
Field Service Engineer Benefits:
Recognized with a Top Employee Benefit Plan Award, below you will find our outstanding total rewards package when you join our team including:
- Generous paid time off; starting at 15 vacation days, 10 holidays, and 10 days of Paid Sick & Safety Time (PSST)
- 401K with 4% company match
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
- Excellent health & wellness benefits
- Student debt & tuition reimbursement
- Referral bonus
- Novaspect is a 2025 Great Place to Work® Certified company
Who We Are:
Novaspect, Inc., is an employee-owned company that engineers, sells, and services industrial process controls. Our Core Purpose is to improve our customer’s performance through the innovative application of technology. We are passionate about creating effective processes and building customer relationships. We position ourselves to attract the best talent and ensure we are delivering local services with proven technologies.
See All 105+ Systems Engineer Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Systems Engineer JobsSystems Engineer Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Systems Engineer Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Collins Aerospace40
- BAE Systems USA13
- Quest Defense7
- Relative Dynamics4
- Eaton3
Top Industries Hiring
- Accounting & Auditing
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in systems engineer jobs across Iowa.
- Bachelor's degree in systems engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science required
- Experience designing and integrating hardware-software systems in manufacturing or defense environments
- Proficiency with systems modeling tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, or SysML
- Familiarity with requirements management frameworks including DOORS or equivalent platforms
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance for defense-sector roles
- Strong documentation skills for technical specifications, test plans, and system architecture reviews
Systems Engineer Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a systems engineer in Iowa?
Most systems engineer roles in Iowa require a bachelor's degree in systems engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or a closely related field. Iowa does not mandate a state-issued license specifically for systems engineers, but professionals pursuing project leadership or consulting work often obtain a Professional Engineer license through the Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board. Certifications such as INCOSE CSEP are common differentiators for defense and aerospace employers in the state.
Which companies hire systems engineers in Iowa?
Employers hiring systems engineers in Iowa right now include Collins Aerospace, BAE Systems USA, and Quest Defense, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Iowa's defense manufacturing sector, led by companies like Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, drives a significant share of ongoing systems engineering demand across the state.
Which Iowa cities have the most systems engineer jobs?
Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Davenport have the most systems engineer openings in Iowa. Des Moines dominates through its concentration of financial technology, insurance, and enterprise IT employers, while Cedar Rapids draws heavily on aerospace and defense manufacturing anchored by Collins Aerospace, and the Quad Cities metro benefits from John Deere's large engineering footprint and regional industrial manufacturers.
Are there remote systems engineer jobs in Iowa?
Yes, though they are less common than in purely software-focused fields, since systems engineering frequently involves hardware integration, lab work, or on-site testing. About 32% of systems engineer openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the role's mixed nature. The most remote-friendly subspecialties are enterprise IT architecture and systems requirements analysis, where day-to-day work can be performed off-site.
How can I get hired as a systems engineer in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a systems or associate engineer role at one of Iowa's large defense or manufacturing employers, which regularly hire new graduates from Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids and John Deere in the Quad Cities both run structured rotational engineering programs that place early-career candidates directly into systems teams. Building familiarity with requirements management tools and completing an INCOSE student membership while still in school gives candidates a measurable edge.
Where can I find and apply to systems engineer jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to systems engineer jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings across industries and experience levels. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and preferences, and apply directly to each position through the listing.
See All 105+ Systems Engineer Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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