Hardware Systems Engineer

• John Deere Contract Role
• 1331325 Cerebral Staffing, LLC
• 4.

5 Saint Paul, MN Job Details Full-time | Contract Up to $45 an hour 1 hour ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Paid time off Vision insurance Life insurance Referral program Qualifications Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) engineering projects Fabrication Bachelor of Science Firmware Bachelor's degree in engineering Embedded software Systems engineering Blueprint creation using CAD software Wiring harnesses Mechanical troubleshooting Wire harness assembly Full Job Description Are you a hands-on systems engineer with a passion for mechanical design, drone technology, and sensor integration? As Cerebral Staffing, we are looking for a dedicated and versatile Hardware Systems Engineer to join our team supporting our client, John Deere (Intelligent Solutions Group / Sentera), in St. Paul, MN. If you excel at integrating advanced sensor hardware onto unmanned aerial systems (UAS), conducting flight testing, and bridging the gap between engineering and production teams, we want to hear from you. Hardware Systems Engineer

• 1st Shift
• John Deere ISG / Sentera This is a vital, long-term 1+ year contract opportunity paying up to $45/hr, including 2 Weeks of PTO.

Located at Sentera's St. Paul facility, you will serve as a subject matter expert for sensor and hardware integrations on drone platforms, driving mechanical design, wire harness fabrication, flight testing, and cross-team documentation.

Position Details & Compensation Pay Rate:

Up to $45/hr (W2).

Location:

100% Onsite in St. Paul, MN (Sentera / John Deere ISG) from Day 1.

Duration:

1+ Years.

Shift:

1st Shift (8:00 AM

• 4:30 PM) with minimal overtime.

Travel:

Personal vehicle travel as necessary (up to weekly based on season) for flight testing and validation.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to spend ~25% of the day on your feet and lift up to 55 lbs.

Benefits:

2 Weeks PTO, Health, Dental, Vision, Life, 401k, and Referral Bonuses.

Visa Sponsorship:

Not available now or in the future.

Core Responsibilities Hardware & Sensor Integration:

Plan, execute, and maintain the mechanical design and integration of Sentera sensors and hardware onto new and existing UAS platforms.

Flight Testing & Validation:

Perform hands-on UAS flight testing along with hardware/software compatibility testing across sensors, drone platforms, and 3rd party processing software.

Design & Documentation:

Create CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOM), and wire harness designs while managing documentation change controls between engineering and production.

Engineering Support:

Serve as a Level 2 support technical resource, point of contact for external technology partners, and subject matter expert on sensor functions and applications.

Required Skills & Experience Education:

BS in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field.

CAD Proficiency:

Minimum 1 year of CAD experience (PTC Creo preferred).

Drone Knowledge:

Experience with Pixhawk autopilots (PX4 & Ardupilot flight stack firmware) and MAVlink-based systems.

Certifications:

FAA Part 107 certification (must be acquired within 3 months of employment).

Technical Skills:

Strong mechanical aptitude, wire harness design/fabrication experience, and excellent troubleshooting capabilities.

Interview Process:

1st Round Virtual (Teams) followed by a 2nd Round In-Person interview. What Makes You Stand Out Prior hands-on flight testing experience with commercial or enterprise UAS platforms. Deep familiarity with PX4, Ardupilot, and MAVlink integration architecture. Proven track record creating both internal production and user-facing technical documentation. If you are an innovative systems engineer ready to drive drone and sensor integration for an ag-tech leader at up to $45/hr, we encourage you to apply immediately.

APPLY NOW

to join the hardware engineering team at John Deere ISG / Sentera!

Pay:

Up to $45.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Referral program Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person