Occupation · SOC 17-2021
Agricultural Engineers
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.
Median wage
—
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
—
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
45 mapped
Core skills
WritingSpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningSystems EvaluationJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingSystems AnalysisMathematicsScienceMonitoringActive LearningSocial PerceptivenessOperations MonitoringCoordinationTime ManagementOperations AnalysisManagement of Personnel ResourcesInstructingPersuasionLearning StrategiesTechnology DesignService OrientationNegotiationOperation and ControlQuality Control AnalysisManagement of Financial ResourcesTroubleshootingProgrammingManagement of Material ResourcesRepairingEquipment SelectionEquipment MaintenanceInstallation
Knowledge areas
Engineering and TechnologyComputers and ElectronicsDesignPhysicsMathematicsBiologyMechanicalEnglish LanguageFood ProductionChemistryProduction and ProcessingBuilding and ConstructionGeographyAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServicePublic Safety and SecurityEducation and TrainingLaw and GovernmentTelecommunicationsCommunications and MediaAdministrativeEconomics and AccountingPersonnel and Human ResourcesTransportationSales and MarketingForeign LanguageSociology and AnthropologyPsychologyHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyMedicine and DentistryTherapy and CounselingFine Arts
Technology & tools
Adobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopAutodesk AutoCADDassault Systemes SolidWorksESRI ArcViewEagle Point LANDCADDEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft WordOracle DatabaseOracle JavaPTC Creo ParametricPTC Pro/PipeSAP softwareSASSupervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareWeb browser softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Working with ComputersAnalyzing Data or InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeGetting InformationProcessing InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationThinking CreativelyEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsScheduling Work and ActivitiesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping and Building TeamsProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesTraining and Teaching OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesControlling Machines and ProcessesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentCoaching and Developing OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming General Physical ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsHandling and Moving ObjectsSelling or Influencing Others
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Technical drawings and preliminary sketches — produce under direct supervision using CAD software for proposed agricultural sites or drainage systems.Engineering specifications and budget templates — compile from provided data under guidance for rural infrastructure proposals.Agricultural machinery and equipment — assist in performance testing following established protocols on farm or laboratory sites.Client meeting notes and action items — document accurately during consultations with farmers or district council representatives.Soil and water conservation principles — apply foundational knowledge to identify basic environmental problems during supervised field visits.Geographic information system tools — use under direction to map agricultural land features and surface water resources.Engineering and technology concepts — apply entry-level understanding to review contractor drawings and flag discrepancies to senior staff.Spreadsheet and office suite software — use to organize project data, schedules, and budget figures for agricultural engineering projects.Scientific and mathematical fundamentals — apply to support calculations for irrigation flow rates or structural load estimates under supervision.Written technical reports — draft initial sections under guidance to summarize field observations from construction or environmental monitoring visits.
developing
Project reports, working drawings, and specifications — prepare independently using CAD and desktop publishing tools for mid-scale irrigation or drainage proposals.Field site assessments — conduct with reduced oversight to observe environmental problems and document findings for contractor or client review.Client consultations — facilitate routine meetings with farmers and developers to clarify project requirements and communicate engineering options.Agricultural machinery performance — coordinate and execute standardized testing procedures and summarize results in technical reports.Rural electric-power distribution layouts — contribute to planning by developing single-discipline design components under senior engineer review.Water quality data — analyze using database and GIS tools to support advice on pollution management and ground water resource assessments.Animal shelter and crop storage structures — develop preliminary structural designs and specifications based on established design standards.Interdisciplinary project discussions — participate constructively with contractors, consultants, and other engineers to evaluate plans and recommend adjustments.Systems evaluation methods — apply to monitor construction activities and verify that work conforms to approved agricultural engineering designs.Active learning and science literature — engage routinely to update technical knowledge and incorporate current best practices into routine project work.
proficient
Comprehensive engineering proposals and budgets — develop autonomously for complex rural infrastructure systems including flood control and irrigation networks.Multi-stakeholder site visits — lead independently to assess environmental conditions, guide contractors, and resolve non-routine construction issues on agricultural projects.Complex client negotiations — conduct with district councils, farmers, and developers to align engineering solutions with regulatory, economic, and operational needs.Cross-discipline plan reviews — evaluate full design packages with contractors and consultants, identifying conflicts and directing necessary modifications across all engineering components.Agricultural machinery and mechanized systems — design and oversee performance evaluation programs, interpreting results to recommend design or operational improvements.Rural electric-power, irrigation, drainage, and flood control systems — plan and direct end-to-end construction, ensuring compliance with soil and water conservation standards.Water resource management advisories — provide authoritative guidance on water quality, river control, and surface and groundwater issues to government and industry clients.Agricultural processing and animal-handling structures — design full structural and functional systems, specifying materials and supervising construction to completion.ERP and GIS platforms — integrate across project lifecycle to monitor resource allocation, track construction milestones, and report outcomes for large agricultural engineering programs.Critical problem-solving in non-routine scenarios — apply inductive and deductive reasoning to diagnose failures in agricultural systems and implement effective corrective solutions.
advanced
Organizational engineering strategy — set technical direction and resource priorities for a portfolio of agricultural infrastructure programs spanning irrigation, drainage, and rural power distribution.Firm-wide quality and innovation standards — establish and enforce engineering design protocols, integrating emerging science and technology to advance agricultural engineering practice.Senior client and government relationships — lead strategic engagement with regulatory bodies, district councils, and large-scale developers to shape policy and secure major project mandates.Multidisciplinary project teams — direct and mentor engineers, agronomists, and contractors across complex programs, developing organizational capability and succession pipelines.Water and environmental policy advisories — serve as principal technical expert providing high-level guidance to legislators and agencies on water quality, flood control, and sustainable land use.Large-scale rural infrastructure investment — champion and authorize capital programs for electric-power systems, watershed management, and regional irrigation networks at organizational scale.Technical knowledge management — design and lead professional development curricula, publishing best-practice guidance to advance industry competency in agricultural engineering.Cross-sector partnerships — negotiate and govern collaborative arrangements with universities, government agencies, and industry bodies to fund and conduct applied agricultural engineering research.Risk governance frameworks — develop and institutionalize risk assessment and systems-evaluation methodologies to safeguard public safety and environmental integrity across all engineering outputs.Organizational innovation culture — model intellectual curiosity, integrity, and cautiousness in technical decision-making, setting behavioral standards that shape engineering excellence enterprise-wide.
Also known as
24 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Agricultural EngineerAgricultural Equipment Design EngineerAgricultural Equipment Test EngineerAgricultural Production EngineerAgricultural Research EngineerAgricultural Systems SpecialistAgriculture ConsultantAgriculture EngineerAgriculture ScientistConservation EngineerEngineerFarm Equipment EngineerField EngineerField Research AssociateLandscape Irrigation SpecialistPermaculture DesignerProduct EngineerProduct Technology ScientistProject EngineerRegional EngineerResearch Agricultural EngineerResearch EngineerSupplier Quality Engineer (SQE)Test Engineer