Agricultural Engineer
Agriculture
Apply knowledge of engineering technology and biological science to agricultural problems concerned with power and machinery, electrification, structures, soil and water conservation, and processing of agricultural products.
What you'd do all day
The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.
- 1Prepare reports, sketches, working drawings, specifications, proposals, and budgets for proposed sites or systems.
- 2Visit sites to observe environmental problems, to consult with contractors, or to monitor construction activities.
- 3Meet with clients, such as district or regional councils, farmers, and developers, to discuss their needs.
- 4Discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that they can be evaluated and necessary changes made.
- 5Design food processing plants and related mechanical systems.
- 6Test agricultural machinery and equipment to ensure adequate performance.
- 7Plan and direct construction of rural electric-power distribution systems, and irrigation, drainage, and flood control systems for soil and water conservation.
- 8Provide advice on water quality and issues related to pollution management, river control, and ground and surface water resources.
- 9Design structures for crop storage, animal shelter and loading, and animal and crop processing, and supervise their construction.
- 10Conduct educational programs that provide farmers or farm cooperative members with information that can help them improve agricultural productivity.
- 11Design sensing, measuring, and recording devices, and other instrumentation used to study plant or animal life.
- 12Design agricultural machinery components and equipment, using computer-aided design (CAD) technology.
- 13Supervise food processing or manufacturing plant operations.
- 14Design and supervise environmental and land reclamation projects in agriculture and related industries.
Also known as
What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.
- SQE
- Engineer
- Test Engineer
- Field Engineer
- Product Engineer
- Project Engineer
- Regional Engineer
- Research Engineer
- Agriculture Engineer
- Agricultural Engineer
How far is this from you?
Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.
1
Entry straight after SPM
2
SPM + sijil / short TVET course
3
Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)
Typical entry
Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)
5
Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
What you'd need to know
The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.
- Engineering and Technology97%
PhysicsAdditional MathematicsDesign & Technology (RBT)
- Computers and Electronics90%
Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies
- Design87%
Visual Art (PSV)Technical Comm. GraphicsEngineering Drawing
- Physics85%
Physics
- Mathematics85%
Additional MathematicsMathematics
- Biology82%
BiologyAdditional Science
Tools you'd use
Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.
What the work feels like
Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.
- Face-to-face discussionsOften
- Contact with other peopleContact most of the time
- Leading or coordinating othersHigh
- Handling conflict situationsRarely
- Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
- Time spent sittingMost of the time
- Time spent standingA little
- Time walking or movingA little
Where this job is heading
Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.
- Communicate results in peer-reviewed research articles or at workshops or conferences.
- Use agricultural drones for crop monitoring, irrigation management, and pest control.
AI and demand for this job
A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.
Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)
This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.
Pay in Malaysia
We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.
Where to check:
- JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
- DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
- SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
How to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
Related careers
If this interests you, these are worth a look too.
About this information
This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.
O*NET occupation: Agricultural Engineers
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org