Department Lead, Engineering, Field Validation

AGCO; Jackson (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Dental & vision

401(k) match

Stock purchase plan

Paid holidays

PTO

Education reimbursement

Life insurance

Job summary

AGCO in Jackson, MN seeks a Department Lead, Engineering, Field Validation to coordinate North America field validation for sprayers, planters, and tractors. You will supervise field validation staff in Jackson and Beloit, collaborate with Design Engineering, and manage budgets while driving validation excellence.

Travel to dealers and customers, build field test partnerships, resolve design issues, and contribute to global validation processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Agricultural, or Mechatronic Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• At least 5 years in product development or validation.
• Desirable knowledge of tractors, seeding & tillage, and spraying equipment.
• Valid driver’s license with clean record.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate field validation activities in North America for tractors and crop care products.
• Directly supervise field validation staff in Jackson, MN and Beloit, KS.
• Coordinate field validation with South America and Europe teams as needed.
• Provide estimates for project expenses and capital items for field validation.
• Support problem resolution by interfacing with design and validation staff at other sites.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Field testing

Root cause analysis

Education

Mechanical/Ag/Mechatronic Engineering Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Department Lead, Engineering, Field Validation

Date: Jul 4, 2026

Location: Jackson, MN, US

Workplace Type: Onsite

Not everyone can claim to feed the world, but it is part of our everyday. 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.

The Department Lead, Engineering, Field Validation will be responsible for coordinating field validation activities in 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 farmer 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 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.

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.

Equal Opportunity

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