How to hire agricultural engineers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Design structures for crop storage, animal shelter and loading, and animal and crop processing, and supervise their construction. • Discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that they can be evaluated and necessary changes made. • Meet with clients, such as district or regional councils, farmers, and developers, to discuss their needs. • Plan and direct construction of rural electric-power distribution systems, and irrigation, drainage, and flood control systems for soil and water conservation. • 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. • Test agricultural machinery and equipment to ensure adequate performance. • Visit sites to observe environmental problems, to consult with contractors, or to monitor construction activities. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Bachelor's degree] • Strong active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, writing, critical thinking and mathematics skills • Working knowledge of engineering and technology, computers and electronics, design and mathematics • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $47.40 an hour ($98,590 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for agricultural engineers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to design structures for crop storage, animal shelter and loading, and animal and crop processing, and supervise their construction. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that they can be evaluated and necessary changes made. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to meet with clients, such as district or regional councils, farmers, and developers, to discuss their needs. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to plan and direct construction of rural electric-power distribution systems, and irrigation, drainage, and flood control systems for soil and water conservation. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What agricultural engineers do
- Design structures for crop storage, animal shelter and loading, and animal and crop processing, and supervise their construction.
- Discuss plans with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers so that they can be evaluated and necessary changes made.
- Meet with clients, such as district or regional councils, farmers, and developers, to discuss their needs.
- Plan and direct construction of rural electric-power distribution systems, and irrigation, drainage, and flood control systems for soil and water conservation.
- 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.
- Test agricultural machinery and equipment to ensure adequate performance.
- Visit sites to observe environmental problems, to consult with contractors, or to monitor construction activities.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for agricultural engineers
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Job outlook: +6.9% over ten years, faster than average · about 100 openings a year (BLS)
Related hiring guides
- Aerospace Engineers
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Civil Engineers
- Computer Hardware Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Environmental Engineers
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
- Industrial Engineers
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Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.