Agricultural Engineers

• Prepare reports, sketches, working drawings, specifications, proposals, and budgets for proposed sites or systems.
• Provide advice on water quality and issues related to pollution management, river control, and ground and surface water resources.
• Design and supervise environmental and land reclamation projects in agriculture and related industries.
• Design agricultural machinery components and equipment, using computer-aided design (CAD) technology.
• Discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that they can be evaluated and necessary changes made.
• Design food processing plants and related mechanical systems.
• Plan and direct construction of rural electric-power distribution systems, and irrigation, drainage, and flood control systems for soil and water conservation.
• Test agricultural machinery and equipment to ensure adequate performance.
• Design structures for crop storage, animal shelter and loading, and animal and crop processing, and supervise their construction.
• Supervise food processing or manufacturing plant operations.
• Visit sites to observe environmental problems, to consult with contractors, or to monitor construction activities.
• Conduct educational programs that provide farmers or farm cooperative members with information that can help them improve agricultural productivity.
• Meet with clients, such as district or regional councils, farmers, and developers, to discuss their needs.
• Design sensing, measuring, and recording devices, and other instrumentation used to study plant or animal life.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Agricultural Engineers.

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Agricultural Engineers.