About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Engineering services focused on off‑highway equipment and machinery (agriculture, construction, mining).

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

---

Role overview

Confidential Client is seeking a Mechanical Controls Engineer to join a cross‑functional engineering team supporting machine development from concept through production. This onsite role in Dubuque, IA focuses on electro‑hydraulic and powertrain control strategy development, modeling and simulation (MATLAB/Simulink), laboratory and field testing, and performance tuning for off‑highway equipment. This is a full‑time position with a comprehensive benefits package.

---

What you’ll do

• Develop and validate control strategies for electro‑hydraulic, powertrain, and drivetrain systems and machine implements.
• Build and maintain mechanical and controls models using MATLAB, Simulink, Simscape, Amesim, or similar tools.
• Plan and execute machine testing, troubleshooting, calibration, and performance tuning on prototype and production equipment.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret test and field data to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reliability, and durability.
• Support system architecture, requirements definition, and performance specification activities.
• Work closely with mechanical design, software, and test engineering to integrate and validate systems.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement engineering solutions for machine performance issues.
• Translate operator and customer feedback into measurable product improvements.
• Create and maintain engineering documentation, validation plans, and test reports.
• Support product development through prototyping, validation, and production launch activities.

---

What we’re looking for (requirements)

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Robotics, or a related engineering field.
• Understanding of machine systems including hydraulics, powertrains, drivetrains, thermodynamics, or vehicle dynamics.
• Experience via internships, co‑ops, academic projects, or professional roles in mechanical systems, testing, or product development.
• Familiarity with engineering analysis and simulation tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, ANSYS, Amesim, or equivalents.
• Experience collecting, processing, and interpreting engineering test data.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and mechanical problem‑solving skills.
• Effective verbal and written technical communication and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.

---

Preferred / desired attributes

• Experience with mobile equipment, agricultural, construction, mining, automotive, or other off‑highway machinery.
• Knowledge of hydraulic system design, performance analysis, and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with transmission systems, vehicle dynamics, and machine implement controls.
• Hands‑on experience conducting lab, field, or vehicle testing.
• Proficiency with data acquisition, instrumentation, sensors, and diagnostic tools (e.g., CANalyzer, CANape).
• Exposure to control systems development, machine automation, or robotics.
• Practical experience operating or testing heavy equipment is a plus.

---

Compensation & benefits

• Pay Range: $70,000 - $100,000 annually — commensurate with experience.
• Competitive benefits package including:
  • Health, dental, and vision options
  • Company‑paid life and long‑term disability insurance
  • Short‑term disability
  • Telehealth (TelaDoc / Healthiest You)
  • Retirement savings (Traditional & Roth 401k)
  • Flexible spending / HSA options
  • Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays
  • Bonus plan (for exempt employees), education assistance, EAP, and more

---

Location & additional details

• Work location: Onsite at our client’s engineering and manufacturing facility in Dubuque, IA.
• Employment: Full‑time. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client.
• Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position.
• Confidential Client and Careertakes are committed to reasonable accommodation for candidates with disabilities during the application and interview process.

---

Key skills / keywords

• Mechanical Controls Engineer
• MATLAB / Simulink
• Hydraulic systems
• Powertrain controls
• Data acquisition & testing
• Off‑highway equipment engineering

---

Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.