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Day in the Life
Agricultural Engineers combine engineering
principles with biological and agricultural sciences. They work to develop
equipment, systems, and processes that help improve how the world's food
supply is produced and distributed. They are involved in problem solving,
and must have the ability to analyze a current system with an eye toward
improving the current process. They often have to look beyond a
specific challenge, such as a machine, or storage solution, and consider a
larger system, and how improvements or changes would affect the whole.
Agricultural engineers typically work full time. Schedules may vary because of weather conditions or other complications. When working on outdoor projects, agricultural engineers may work more hours to take advantage of good weather or fewer hours in case of bad weather. In addition, agricultural engineers may need to be available outside of normal work hours to address unexpected problems that come up in manufacturing operations or rural construction projects.
 Job Duties
Agricultural engineers often work in teams, and their duties involve analysis
of current methods and equipment applied to the production, packing, and
delivery of food products. They might work in a group with other
engineers, or those outside of engineering, to solve problems related to
systems, processes, and machines. They may be involved in designing a
water irrigation system, or in determining alternative uses for
agricultural byproducts. They may participate in legal or financial
consulting regarding agricultural processes, equipment, or issues.
Some agricultural engineers focus on machinery, and may
design equipment used in agriculture and construction. These
engineers might have a special interest in crop handling, hydraulic power,
or the growth of specific crops. They may be employed
by machine manufacturing firms. Other agricultural engineers may find
themselves designing buildings or other structures used for livestock,
storage of grains, or experimental growing facilities. Still other
agricultural engineers might focus on developing systems for food
processing, such as drying processes, distillation, or long term storage.
The Workplace
The type of job agricultural engineers
have often determines whether they work inside or outside.
However, most work inside a majority of the time. Agricultural engineers typically work in offices, but may spend time at a variety of worksites, both indoors and outdoors. They may travel to agricultural settings to see that equipment and machinery are functioning according to both the manufacturers' specifications and federal and state regulations. Some agricultural engineers occasionally work in laboratories to test the quality of processing equipment. They may work onsite when they supervise livestock facility upgrades or water resource management projects.
Teams and Coworkers
Agricultural engineers work with others in designing solutions to problems or applying technological advances. They work with people from a variety of backgrounds, such as business, agronomy, animal sciences, and public policy. Almost all jobs in engineering require some sort of interaction with
coworkers. Whether they are working in a team situation, or just asking for
advice, most engineers have to have the ability to communicate and work
with other people. Engineers should be creative, inquisitive, analytical,
and detail-oriented. They should be able to work as part of a team and to
communicate well, both orally and in writing. Communication abilities are
important because engineers often interact with specialists in a wide range
of fields outside engineering.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
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