Department Lead

Not everyone can claim to feed the world, but it is part of our every day. Behind everything we do for our farmers, there is one AGCO team making it happen. We are proud to put our curiosity into work, building a better and more sustainable world. Join our extraordinary team today! 

Department Lead, Engineering, Field Validation will be responsible for coordinating field validation activities North America for sprayers & applicators, planters, and wheeled & tracked tractors, ranging in maturity from early prototypes to series production machines.  Having the Farmer First mindset, and focusing on exceeding farmers expectations, the Department Lead will manage a team of professionals responsible for supporting new product testing and validation while working together with a cross functional team from Design Engineering and Validation departments from other sites. In this role, the Department Lead will also build and maintain relationships with current and new field test partners to put hours and acres on our products in real field conditions while providing important feedback on features, likes, and dislikes.  Travel to domestic sites, dealers, and customers to solve design problems and to evaluate product improvement will be required.  Participation in global teams focused on validation processes, tools, and improvements may be required.  The Department Lead will use technical expertise and product knowledge to play a leadership role in the problem resolution process when interfacing with engineering, design, and validation of staff.  The position reports to the Director, Engineering, Jackson and is part of a strong and collaborative team, focused on delivering the best products for the farmers.   

Your Impact 

• Lead and coordinate field validation activities in North America for the tractor and crop care product portfolio.  

• Directly supervise field validation professionals based in Jackson, MN and Beloit, KS.  

• Coordinate field validation activities for responsible products and projects, as required, in South America and Europe with local validation colleagues  

• Provide estimates for project expenses and capital budget items for the field validation function  

• Use technical expertise and product knowledge to support the problem resolution process when interfacing with design and validation of staff from other engineering sites.                 

Your Experience and Qualifications 

• Mechanical, Ag, or Mechatronic Engineering Bachelor's Degree, or a technical degree in a related field, or equivalent relevant experience  

• 5+ years engineering experience in product development / validation environment   

• Desirable knowledge in agricultural products, in particular tractors, seeding & tillage equipment, and spraying & application equipment.  

• Desirable knowledge in effective problem-solving techniques and root-cause identification  

• Valid driver’s license with clean record and ability to be approved to drive company vehicles. 

Your Benefits 

• Health care and wellness plans    

• Dental and vision plans    

• Flexible and virtual work options (where available)    

• 401(k) Savings Plan with company match    

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan offering eligible employees the ability to purchase AGCO stock at a discounted price    

• Paid holidays and paid time off    

• Health savings and flexible spending accounts    

• Reimbursement for continuing education    

• Life insurance and other supplemental insurance plans 

Your Workplace  

This role follows AGCO’s on‑site work model, with employees primarily working from an AGCO location (USA Jackson) with a minimum of 5 days per week to support collaboration and teamwork. 

We value inclusion and recognize the innovation a diverse workforce delivers to our farmers. Through our recruitment efforts, we are committed to building a team that includes a variety of experiences, backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.  

Join us as we bring agriculture into the future and apply now! 

AGCO is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.