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Agricultural Engineer
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Agricultural engineers design and develop new equipment and technology for use in land-based industries, such as agriculture and horticulture. Their work also involves field testing and evaluation, technical support, and the education of customers and operators.

They work in a wide range of areas - all focused on using technology to make agriculture and horticulture more efficient and productive. Land-based engineering also includes environmental and conservation work, irrigation, forestry and the leisure and recreation industry.

The best known area of work for agricultural engineers is manufacturing, where they create new products such as tractors, ploughs, combine harvesters, sprayers, and forestry, horticultural and ground care equipment. They also maintain and repair agricultural machinery. Slightly less well known are areas such as field engineering - developing new equipment to deal with problems such as soil erosion, irrigation and drainage, and to protect and process crops, and environmental control - designing electronic systems to control the conditions inside buildings used to house livestock or to dry and store crops.

Agricultural engineers also work with specialists such as agronomists, geneticists and microbiologists to develop and support solutions to specific land-based issues.

Entry level

You could enter agricultural engineering at craft or technician level, by following an Apprenticeship or studying towards a relevant qualification such as the National Diploma in Agricultural Engineering. You may then be offered the opportunity to train at a higher level.

A more direct route to professional engineer level would be to study for a degree or Higher ational Award (HNC/HND) in Agricultural Engineering or a related subject such as environmental, mechanical or automotive engineering. Entry to a relevant degree course is with a minimum of two A levels/four H grades or the equivalent, including maths and/or engineering science/physics, plus five GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3). Entry to the HNC/HND requires one A level/two H grades, or the equivalent, plus four GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3).

Making the grade

As a new agricultural engineer, you would complete a period of initial professional development (IPD) when you start work. Larger employers may offer a structured training scheme, allowing you to gain experience in different departments.

At this stage, you can register with the Engineering Council UK at engineering technician, incorporated engineer and chartered engineer levels. The qualifications leading to these levels are widely available, and employers will often pay for the courses. All require at least two to three years' supervised experience.

For graduates working for smaller organisations, the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IagrE) supervises a scheme that enables you to gain incorporated or chartered engineer status. A new Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) award is now available from the Society for the Environment, and is open to members of the IAgrE involved in environmental work.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is also an important element of all engineering disciplines. The British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association offers a wide range of CPD training opportunities, ranging from professional qualifications in the installation of machinery to management training. You would also attend courses run by manufacturers covering new equipment, new technology and products.

Personal qualities

As an agricultural engineer, you would need a keen interest in and understanding of agriculture, horticulture or forestry and the ways that these industries work. You should have a very practical and logical approach to problem solving and a strong mechanical interest. You would need to be able to analyse problems clearly and then produce workable solutions. In addition to your technical and engineering skills, you would need good communication skills to explain technical issues to others who do not have your expert knowledge.