Weld Manufacturing Engineer
John Deere · Ottumwa, IA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $78k–$116k
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 18+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at John Deere (industrial) in Ottumwa, IA. Deere & Company reserves the right to suspend, amend, modify, or terminate the Plan(s) in any manner at any time, including the right to modify or eliminate any cost-sharing between the company and participants.
- They ask for
- 18+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Root cause, PLC, Robotics, Automation, Welding, Tooling
- Base pay
- $78k–$116k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Iowa: typical posted base $100k–$121k. This one lists $78k–$116k.
Median of the low and high ends of 6 live postings that list pay, out of 11 manufacturing engineer openings in Iowa, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Iowa plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 10 other live manufacturing postings in Iowa.
- Base pay
- About 12% below similar roles
Typical $100k–$121k, from 5 postings that list pay.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Lean 45%
- ✓ Tooling 36%
- Six Sigma 36%
- ✓ Automation 36%
- ✓ Root cause 36%
- New product launch 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for PLC, SAP, MES, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at John Deere
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from John DeereAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
As a Weld Manufacturing Engineer for John Deere Ottumwa Works located in Ottumwa, IA , you will:
- ◆Investigate, gather, and analyze data for identifying root cause for welding issues in the departments supported
- ◆Identify and implement safety, ergonomic, quality, cost reduction improvements for welding operation
- ◆Design cell layouts to improve material flow and material presentation
- ◆Provide support of welding and fabrication operations utilizing your technical experiences.
- ◆Drive continuous improvements working with a cross functional wage and salary team while supporting daily production.
- ◆Establishing sequence of events, proper operating method sheets, layouts, tool concepts, part and equipment costs, and quality plans.
- ◆Participate in team studies related to capacity, productivity, and efficiency and quality improvement.
VISA Sponsorship is NOT available for this position
Education
Ideally you will have a degree or equivalent related work experience in the following:
- ✓Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or equivalent manufacturing engineering experience
What You'll Get
At John Deere, you are empowered to create a career that will take you to where you want to go while working in an inclusive team environment. Here, you'll enjoy the freedom to explore new projects, the support to think outside the box and the advanced tools and technology that foster innovation and achievement. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive reward package to help you get started on your new career path, including:
- ✓Flexible work arrangements
- ✓Highly competitive base pay
- ✓Savings & Retirement benefits (401K and Defined Contribution)
- ✓Healthcare benefits with a generous company contribution in the Health Savings Account
- ✓Adoption assistance
- ✓Employee Assistance Programs
- ✓Tuition assistance
- ✓Fitness subsidies and on-site gyms at specific Deere locations
- ✓Charitable contribution match
- ✓Employee Purchase Plan & numerous discount programs for personal use
- ✓Vacation and Holiday Pay
$77,628.00 - $116,436.00 + Benefits
Follow this link to learn more about our Total Rewards Package https://bit.ly/3XCd8fL
Must be 18 years of age or older to apply
The information contained herein is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all
responsibilities
and
qualifications
detailed in this job description are not considered the minimum
requirements
necessary to perform the job, but rather as guidelines.
The terms of the applicable benefit plans, and all company actions administering or interpreting these plans, continue to control. Deere & Company reserves the right to suspend, amend, modify, or terminate the Plan(s) in any manner at any time, including the right to modify or eliminate any cost-sharing between the company and participants. Changes, which can be made at any time, are made by action of the company's board of directors, or to the extent authorized by resolution of its board of directors, or by the Deere & Company Compensation Committee. In the event of a conflict between the language of the official Plan Documents and this document, the language of the official Plan Documents will control.
ACA Section 1557 Nondiscrimination Notice
The John Deere Health Benefit Plans for Salaried Employees and The John Deere Benefit Plan for Wage Employees comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, status as a protected veteran, or
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There are over 7 billion people on this planet. And by 2050, there will be 2 billion more... many moving into urban centers at an unprecedented rate. Making sure there is enough food, fiber and infrastructure for our rapidly growing world is what we're all about at John Deere. And it's why we're investing in our people and our technology like never before! Here the world's brightest minds are tackling the world's biggest challenges. If you believe one person can make the world a better place, we'll put you to work. RIGHT NOW.
Primary Location: United States (US) - Iowa - Ottumwa
Function: Factory Engineering (CA)
Title: Weld Manufacturing Engineer - 124331
Onsite/Remote: Onsite Position
Your
What Skills You Need
- •Knowledge of manufacturing weld processes, quality, tooling, tool design, total preventative maintenance and facilities
- •Ability to work off-shift and weekends as needed.
- •Knowledge of engineering tools, systems and databases (SAP, MES, etc.)
- •Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
- •Ability to effectively interact and communicate with wage employees, supervisors, managers and other engineers
- •Self-motivator with the ability to execute a variety of tasks with little supervision
- •General understanding of computer aided design and/or engineering tools (ie: ProE, AutoCAD, VisMockup, WeldPRO, etc.)
What Makes You Stand Out
- •Experience programming and troubleshooting robotic welding applications in a manufacturing environment. (ie: Fanuc systems)
- •Experience with shop floor manufacturing and incentive pay systems such as Continuous Improvement Pay Plan (CIPP)
- •Experience with the installation and start-up of new automation systems and tooling.
- •Understanding of safety critical welded structures and critical asset management.
- •Demonstrated experience effectively interacting and communicating with production employees, supervisors, managers, and other engineers.
- •Experience using SAP and computer aided design and/or engineering tools (ie: Creo, AutoCAD, etc.).
- •Experience leading large strategic projects or large tactical projects.
- •Experience with line design, material presentation, cycles of imbalance and visual management tools such as simulations and 3D factory.
- •Experience in PLC logic and trouble shooting.