Agricultural engineer
Design, build and look after the machines and equipment used in farms, forests and more. You'll make practices safe, more productive and reduce their impact on the environment.
Also known as: land-based engineer
About the job
Day in the life – Agricultural engineer
What it's like
Engineers are problem solvers. In this career, you'll mainly focus on helping solve problems in farming.
For example, you could install and test equipment such as crop sprayers. Or design vehicles which can move over uneven ground in different weather conditions. You might even develop computer systems that help them monitor their crops or the weather.
But if farms aren't your scene, you can use your skills and knowledge in a wide variety of areas. You could work in forestry, horticulture or in environmental roles.
What you do exactly will depend on what you specialise in. It's a varied career that gives you room to focus on areas that match your skills and interests. Being flexible is important though. You might have to help in areas such as sales, marketing and technical support.
Your tasks might include:
designing and improving machinery
finding ways to reduce the environmental impact of production
using computer modelling to improve land use
supervising construction projects such as land drainage, reclamation and irrigation
making improvements to systems, for excample making waste management greener
sharing knowledge on issues such as crop diversity, sustainable land use and climate change
Green job
In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Institution of Agricultural Engineers – land-based engineering as a career
Lantra Scotland – check out agricultural training opportunities
Like the sound of this career?
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Agricultural engineer'
Select qualification level(s)
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
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Food and drink -
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- analysing
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- researching
- working with numbers
- problem solving
- evaluating
- working with technology
- verbal communication
- adaptability
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Biology
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Design and Manufacture
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Engineering Science
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Environmental Science
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Maths (Mathematics)
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Physics
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Skills for Work: Engineering Skills
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Skills for Work: Rural Skills
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Automotive
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
There are a few routes you can take to become an agricultural engineer.
University
A degree may be helpful for getting into this job. You could study subjects, such as:
Agriculture
Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electronic Engineering
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you secure a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Agriculture
Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Systems
Electrical Engineering
Electronic Engineering
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in areas such as:
Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) are designed for industry and you'll spend most of your time learning on the job but you'll also go to uni. You'll get a job, get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time.
You might want to consider a GA in areas such as:
Work
You could start in a technician role or other entry-level job and work your way up. You can use the My World of Work job search to look for vacancies.
Once in work or qualified, membership of Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) can be helpful.
You can also register with the Engineering Council as a professional engineer – either Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng).
For some roles, you'll need a driving licence.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Agricultural engineer'
