What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief Engineer - Harvesters position at TrueField Systems?
Chief Engineer – Harvester Systems
📍 Oxford, NC (On-site Field Work)
🚜 Ag Equipment | Early-Stage | Hardware Autonomy
💰 Competitive Salary Meaningful Equity
🧠 Not for everyone... but you WILL make a difference
Design the Machine This Industry Is Missing
TrueField System is building a new class of harvester for small farms and specialty crops—machines that deliver clean grain, real performance, and modern technology without locking farmers into closed systems. This is a clean-sheet machine combining mechanical performance, embedded sensing, and AI-driven optimization. A machine built to give operators control, serviceability, and the right to repair. We’re hiring a Chief Engineer to take it from prototype to production, and build the team behind it.
What You’ll Do
- Own the harvester from architecture through production
- Design systems that deliver clean grain and consistent performance across crops
- Build machines that are operator-friendly, field-adjustable, and serviceable without dealer dependence
- Lead design across threshing, separation, mechanical systems, and sensor integration
- Integrate embedded sensing to generate high-quality, usable field data (not locked away)
- Lead field testing across regions; define and hit loss, quality, and throughput targets
- Hire and lead the core engineering team
What You Bring
Required
- 10 years designing agricultural equipment
- 5 years specifically on harvesters / combines / threshing systems
- Deep understanding of threshing & separation system design
- Strong CAD hands-on build/test capability
- Proven ability to lead technical teams
- Willingness to work in real harvest conditions
Preferred
- ISOBUS / CAN systems
- Sensor or machine vision integration
- Grain loss / quality measurement experience
Why This Role
- Define a machine philosophy centered on performance, openness, and operator control
- Build the first product in a broader on-farm platform
- Work directly with founders blending aerospace discipline, ag expertise, and manufacturing skills
- Solve a real problem for farmers who are forgotten by today’s equipment model
- Bring a willingness to revisit and challenge the design decisions of legacy equipment manufacturers
Apply
Send a resume and cover letter (pdf only, please) to:
careers@truefield.ag
Subject: Chief Engineer
Note
Candidates without direct harvester or threshing system experience will not be considered.
Relocation assistance may be provided for well-qualified candidates.
TrueField Systems LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.