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Agricultural engineer
Hours
Variable
Starting salary
£20,000 + per year
Agricultural engineers develop and install agricultural, horticultural and forestry machinery and processes. They also advise farmers, companies and government departments on countryside issues. These could range from crop diversity through to sustainable land use.
This job requires excellent scientific and IT skills. You will need to be able to plan your work effectively. You will also need to be able to lead a team.
To be an agricultural engineer you would need a foundation degree, BTEC HND or degree.
WorkDesc
The work
Your work would involve:
- assessing the environmental impact of intensive production
- supervising agricultural construction projects, like land drainage, reclamation and irrigation
- solving engineering problems; for example, making it easier for machinery to move over uneven ground in different weather conditions (known as terramechanics)
- testing and installing new equipment, such as harvesters, crop sprayers, storage facilities and logging machinery
- analysing data and using computer modelling to advise farmers and businesses on land use; for instance, how to increase crop yields
- planning service and repair programmes for machinery.
Depending on the size of the company, you might also be involved in managing and coordinating sales, marketing and technical support.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would normally work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Your actual hours of work could vary depending on the contract.
You could be based in a laboratory, workshop or office for design and research duties. Site work would be in all weather conditions, on farms or construction projects. You may have to travel, possibly overseas, depending on your role.
IncomeDesc
Income
Starting salaries can be between £20,000 and £25,000 a year.
Experienced engineers can earn between £26,000 and £35,000.
Chartered engineers can earn over £40,000 a year.
Some overseas relief and development positions may be offered on a voluntary basis.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
To be an agricultural engineer you would need a foundation degree, BTEC HNC/HND or degree.
Relevant subjects include:
- agriculture
- agricultural engineering
- environmental engineering
- electrical or mechanical engineering.
To search for foundation degrees, HNC/HNDs and degrees, see the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) website.
If you have a BTEC National Certificate or Diploma in Land-based related subjects, or relevant experience, you may be able to start work as an agricultural engineering technician, then complete further study to qualify as an agricultural engineer.
Please see the job profile for agricultural engineering technician for more information.
You may be able to use your skills to work in overseas development and relief projects. For more information see the RedR UK website. The recruitment section of the Department for International Development (DFID) also contains links to a large number of organisations involved in development and relief work.
For more information about careers and courses, see the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE)website.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you start work, on-the-job training would be given by your employer. If you have a degree, this could be gained through a place on a graduate apprenticeship scheme.
You could improve your career prospects further by applying for membership of the IAgrE at a grade that suits your level of experience. The IAgrE operates a system of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for its members, which would help you to plan and record your career progression. With experience you could apply for professional registration and gain chartered status through the Engineering Council (UK). To find out more, visit the IAgrE website.
You may be able to apply for Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) status with the Society for the Environment if you have experience of environmental or sustainable development projects. See the Society for the Environment website for more details.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To be an agricultural engineer, you should have:
- the ability to analyse large amounts of information
- a creative approach to problem solving
- excellent technical, scientific, maths and IT skills
- the ability to prioritise and plan work effectively
- good budgeting skills
- the ability to take responsibility and lead a team
- the ability to meet deadlines
- excellent communication and presentation skills
- a willingness to work flexibly
- a commitment to keep up to date with new developments in technology and production methods
- an interest in environmental issues.
Foreign language skills would be useful for work with overseas clients or travel abroad.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Society for the Environment 
Denham House
Long Street
Atherstone
Warwickshire
CV9 1AH
Tel: 0845 337 2951
www.socenv.org.uk
LANTRA (Sector Skills Council for Land based Industries)
Lantra House
Stoneleigh Park
Coventry
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 02476 696996
www.lantra.co.uk
SEMTA (Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies in the UK)
14 Upton Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0JT
Tel: 0845 643 9001
www.semta.org.uk
Women into Science, Engineering and Construction
Athlone Wing
Old Building
Great Horton Road
Bradford
BD7 1AY
Tel: 01274 436485
www.theukrc.org/wise
Engineering Training Council (Northern Ireland)
Interpoint
20-24 York Street
Belfast
BT15 1AQ
Tel: 028 9032 9878
www.etcni.org.uk
Department for International Development (DFID)
1 Palace Street
London
SW1E 5HE
www.dfid.gov.uk
Tomorrow's Engineers
EngineeringUK
Weston House
246 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7EX
Email: careers@engineeringuk.com
Tel: 020 3206 0400
www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk
RedR UK
250a Kennington Lane
London
SE11 5RD
Tel: 020 7840 6000
www.redr.org.uk
Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE)
The Bullock Building
University Way
Cranfield
Bedford
MK43 0GH
Tel: 01234 750876
www.iagre.org
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
Typical employers include equipment manufacturers, agrochemical companies, government departments, forestry companies, overseas development agencies and educational institutions.
With experience you could move into project management, specialist technical research and development, technical sales, business development, teaching or consultancy work.
You could also move into related areas such as manufacturing and electrical or mechanical engineering. Other options include overseas agricultural development and disaster relief.
You may find the following useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The land‐based engineering industry is part of the environmental and land‐based industries, represented by Lantra Sector Skills Council, which also includes the following industries: agricultural crops; agricultural livestock; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; equine; environmental conservation; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; horticulture, landscape and sports turf; production horticulture; trees and timber; and veterinary nursing. The sector as a whole currently employs 1,126,000 people (approximately 4% of the UK workforce) in around 230,000 businesses. In addition, there are an estimated 500,000 volunteers working in the sector on a regular basis. Approximately 42% of the workforce is self‐employed.
The land‐based engineering industry includes:
- Agricultural machinery (i.e. tractors, combine harvesters, cultivation and crop protection machinery)
- Ground care machinery (i.e. garden, sports turf and local grounds maintenance machinery)
- Forestry machinery (i.e. chainsaws, chippers and harvesters)
- Fixed machinery (i.e. grain/crop processing and milking equipment)
- Construction machinery (i.e. lift trucks and mini diggers)
The industry also includes manufacturers, dealerships, machinery hire companies and independent mechanics.
Key facts:
- There are approximately 22,833 people working in the industry in the UK, in around 3,350 businesses.
- The industry employs around 2% of the environmental and land‐based sector’s total workforce.
- 80% of businesses employ less than 10 staff, 18 employ between 10‐49 staff and only 1.6% employ 50 or more staff.
- 80% of the workforce is full‐time.
Jobs in the industry include: apprentice trainee technician, manager manufacturing, demonstrator, manufacturing service engineer, diagnostic technician, farm‐based or independent/non‐franchised engineer, sales person, workshop supervisor, crane operator, yardman.
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are an estimated 4,266 employees in the regional workforce, in 350 around businesses.
East of England – There are an estimated 1,238 employees in the regional workforce, in around 415 businesses.
London – There are an estimated 462 employees in the regional workforce, in around 95 businesses.
North East – There are an estimated 514 employees in the regional workforce, in around 75 businesses.
North West – There are an estimated 1,490 employees in the regional workforce, in around 260 businesses.
South East – There are an estimated 2,353 employees in the regional workforce, in around 335 businesses.
South West – There are an estimated 3,264 employees in the regional workforce, in around 390 businesses.
West Midlands – There are an estimated 1,980 employees in the regional workforce, in around 300 businesses.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are an estimated 898 employees in the regional workforce, in around 295 businesses.
Northern Ireland – There are an estimated 1,957 employees in the regional workforce, in around 295 businesses.
Scotland – There are an estimated 2,529 employees in the regional workforce, in around 355 businesses.
Wales – There are an estimated 1,881 employees in the regional workforce, in around 185 businesses.
[N.B. Date derived from Experian National Surveys Database, 2008.]
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