Agricultural engineer

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.

• Institution of Agricultural Engineers – land-based engineering as a career

• Lantra Scotland – check out agricultural training opportunities