Director of Hardware Engineering & Manufacturing

Inner Plant is seeking a Director of Hardware Engineering & Manufacturing to lead the deployment of IoT hardware for agriculture. The role involves managing inventory, operations, and collaborating with engineering teams to enhance device performance. Candidates should have a strong engineering background, experience in hardware production, and a network of vendors. The position requires extensive travel during the crop growing season and is based in Des Moines, IA.

At Inner Plant, we are on a mission to transform farming by enabling crops to communicate directly with farmers. By tapping into plants' immune systems, Inner Plant engineers crops that emit optical signals detectable as far away as space when under attack by disease, pests, or other stressors.

We’re backed by leading industry and venture partners, including John Deere and an alliance of North American farmers. Inner Plant is a place for people that believe they can make a difference and want to improve how decisions are made on the farm.

• Leverage your experience and extensive network of third party engineering and manufacturing firms to ruggedize and deploy a fleet of high quality proprietary devices designed to capture fluorescence and RGB images of crops in the field.
• Oversee management of inventory, supply chain and operations for a scaled fleet buildout.
• Develop and own the roadmap and budget, hire and manage the required team.
• Advise and collaborate with the prototype hardware engineering team to deliver continuous improvements.
• Communicate effectively with software developers, biologists, and other stakeholders to ensure the devices run production quality code and deliver high quality data.
• Extensive travel during the crop growing season to ensure the setup, activation, and operation of devices across the Midwest.

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Engineering or hard sciences.
• 6+ years of commercial hardware engineering with experience in managing production and in-field maintenance.
• A strong network of outside vendors to build, repair and improve the devices as they evolve over time.
• Deep knowledge of electronics including lighting, cameras and power management systems suited for outdoor, remote environments.
• Knowledge of wireless product design and networks (Wifi, BLE, cellular, GPS modules) and RTOS experience.
• Clear communication, whether written, verbal, or in presentation.
• A proven track record of building and deploying IoT devices, especially ones designed to withstand the harsh field environment.
• Quick learning ability, resourcefulness, and a high tolerance for ambiguity.
• Demonstrate strategic thinking and good judgment when making decisions.
• Work effectively in a cross-functional team setting and maintain respectful relationships with teammates.
• Work independently and ask for guidance when needed.
• Are authorized to work in the United States.

• Background in agricultural sensors and/or robotics and autonomy.
• Knowledge of Python programming language and bash scripting and embedded Linux.
• Experience working with products incorporating resource-constrained computing environments including single-board computers (e.g., Raspberry Pi) as well as microcontrollers.
• Passionate about agriculture, particularly production agriculture in commodity row cropping systems. Previous experience working in agriculture is a plus.

The US annual range for this position is $150,000 to $200,000. Within the range, individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, location, and relevant education or training.

Inner Plant provides an amazing opportunity to work on some of the hardest problems facing humanity and help design the agricultural systems of the future. In addition to working with a fun team, we offer competitive compensation, benefits, and growth opportunities.

Inner Plant provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.