NSIM

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• Manufacturing Engineers

• Materials Engineers

• Control and Instrumentation engineers

• Mining Engineer

• Land-based Engineers

Land-based engineers generate solutions to engineering problems within the fields of forestry, horticulture, agriculture, food processing and the environment.

Land-based engineers combine their technical ability with scientific knowledge to solve problems.

Typical responsibilities of the job include:

• designing and testing agricultural equipment including sprayers and ploughs

• designing and producing agricultural vehicles such as harvesters, tractors and loaders

• providing advice about soil conservation methods

• undertaking environmental impact assessments to determine the effect developments would have on the environment

• producing designs for and managing the construction of farm buildings

• working in emergency situations to restore water or electricity supplies following natural or human disasters

• designing, planning and overseeing the construction of irrigation and drainage systems

• writing and presenting reports

• carrying out relevant research

• giving technical support to customers and dealers

• providing consultancy services

Qualifications and training required

There are routes into this profession for both graduates and school leavers. Graduates will need a degree in a relevant subject such as environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or electronic engineering.

Key skills for land-based engineers

• Initiative

• Flexibility

• Ingenuity

• Good communication skills

• Technical skills

• Analytical skills

• Problem-solving skills

• IT skills

• Ability to work well within a team

Typical employers of land-based engineers

• Machinery dealerships

• Machinery manufacturers

• Government departments

• Universities

• Agricultural or environmental consultancies.