Agricultural Engineers

design equipment agriculture contractor client plan technology information investigative water conservation

Agricultural Engineer, Engineer, Project Engineer, Research Agricultural Engineer

What they do:
Apply knowledge of engineering technology and biological science to agricultural problems concerned with power and machinery, electrification, structures, soil and water conservation, and processing of agricultural products.
On the job, you would:
  • Prepare reports, sketches, working drawings, specifications, proposals, and budgets for proposed sites or systems.
  • Discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that they can be evaluated and necessary changes made.
  • Meet with clients, such as district or regional councils, farmers, and developers, to discuss their needs.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology

  • product and service development
  • design

Math and Science

  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
  • physics

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

  • food production

Skills

Basic Skills

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Abilities

Verbal

  • listen and understand what people say
  • read and understand what is written

Ideas and Logic

  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • notice when problems happen

Math

  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Initiative
  • Cooperation

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Computer aided design CAD software

  • Autodesk AutoCAD Hot Technology
  • Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Hot Technology

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology

Data base user interface and query software

  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology
  • Oracle Database Hot Technology

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
certificate after college
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about agricultural engineers.