Manufacturing Engineer
John Deere · Waterloo, IA
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $78k–$116k
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 18+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Yesterday
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at John Deere (industrial) in Waterloo, 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
- Assembly lines, Time studies, 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 $99k–$117k. This one lists $78k–$116k.
Median of the low and high ends of 7 live postings that list pay, out of 13 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 12 other live manufacturing postings in Iowa.
- Base pay
- About 12% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (18+ vs 10+)
Typical $100k–$121k, from 6 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 10+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Tooling 38%
- Lean 38%
- Six Sigma 31%
- EHS / safety 31%
- Automation 31%
- Root cause 31%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Assembly lines, Time studies, Python, Union environment, 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 Manufacturing Engineer for Tractor Cab Assembly Operations located in Waterloo, Iowa , you will:
- ◆Execute Line Balance as a Process to develop and deploy new line designs and understand current risk
- ◆Lead improvements to support our Distinctive Product Quality initiatives, drive continuous improvements in delivery, uptime, cost and efficiency
- ◆Lead implementation of new products and current product Continuous Improvement running design changes
- ◆Lead the analysis, development and implementation of new manufacturing processes and technology aligned to the Smart Connect Factory strategy
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 an Engineering/Technology or equivalent 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 status as a qualified individual with disability.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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 - Waterloo
Function: Factory Engineering (CA)
Title: Manufacturing Engineer - 125357
Onsite/Remote: Onsite Position
Your
What Skills You Need
- •Effective communication skills
- •Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment and ability to influence without authority
- •Experience in a Manufacturing position supporting a union workforce
- •Experience with process development / deployment, tooling design, fixturing and workstation layout in a production environment through negotiation and conflict resolution
- •Experience with Bill of Materials structure
What Makes You Stand Out
- •Experience with John Deere Specific manufacturing software JDAAT (John Deere Assembly Assist Tool), MPP (Manufacturing Process Planner) and SMART Test
- •Project management experience including budgeting and equipment acquisition
- •Experience working with Dynamic Line Balancing Software (DLBT) balancing assembly lines
- •Experience with shop floor manufacturing, incentive pay systems and work measurement
- •Experience with Data Analytics tools (PowerBI, Tableau, SQL, Python, etc.)
- •Experience with capital equipment acquisition and asset management
