Agricultural engineer
Agricultural engineer
Also known as
Agricultural systems specialist, agricultural engineering technician, agricultural engineering technologist, farm engineer, farm equipment design engineer, horticultural engineer
AUT programmes
Work environment
- Usually work regular business hours
- Usually work in offices and outdoors and may travel locally
- May work in hazardous conditions
- Need to be logical, accurate and solve problems
Typical tasks
- Design farming equipment and systems
- Develop irrigation, drainage and water systems
- Create technical plans of equipment
- Discuss designs with clients
- Monitor environmental impact of projects
- Write technical documents
- Find and fix operational problems
- Test farming equipment and systems
- Give sustainability advice
- Provide technical information to suppliers and staff
Salary information
| Lower | Most common | Upper |
| $50K | $66K-$104K | $137K |
Tips from AUT graduates
Outlook
Agricultural engineering has a positive outlook in New Zealand, driven by growth in agritech, sustainability and farm automation. The industry is responding to climate change, labour shortages, and environmental regulations through smarter machinery, precision farming and data‑driven systems. Engineers play an important role in improving productivity while reducing environmental impact across dairy, horticulture and arable farming.
What employers and industry want in graduates
- Strong problem‑solving and analytical thinking
- Practical engineering and technical design skills
- Knowledge of farming systems and primary industries
- Confidence working with data, automation, and digital tools
- Clear communication with farmers, technicians, and stakeholders
- Commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility