Land-based Engineering Technician

Mending the equipment used by outdoor workers, from combine harvesters to diggers

How this role makes a difference

Outdoor sectors including agriculture, horticulture, forestry and outdoor power use a diverse range of tools and machinery – everything from saws to combine harvesters, rakes to generators. These all need to be serviced and maintained.

Equipment is often specialised to an industry and fixing it requires in depth understanding of how it will be used and in which conditions, to make sure it is capable of doing the work it needs to do. You could be a technician who supports an outdoor sector, by making sure outdoor workers have the tools they need to succeed.

The kind of work you’ll do

Carrying out inspections of machines and preparing machinery condition reports
Diagnosing and repairing complex faults in machinery and equipment
Repairing machinery in a forest, roadside, field or workshop
Producing proposals and estimates for repairs
Guiding customers on the repairs required and costs involved

Useful skills

Technologically minded

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Problem solving

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Attention to detail

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Instructing others

Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the role

An interest in nature and preference for working outside.

The ability to look at a problem from all angles and make a choice about the best way forward.

Confidence to try new tools and machinery.

An ease completing tasks and creating things on a computer.

The ability to read and understand complex diagrams.

Attention to detail when completing tasks and recording information.

The ability to listen closely to customer needs and provide instructions on the machinery they use.

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- building, making and fixing things

- sports, adventures and outdoors

- animals and nature

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Average salary per year *

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Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities

You will probably specialise in one outdoor sector and could become an expert in one area of machinery, for example milking machines or tractors.

The increased focus on agricultural technology – or Agri-Tech – as well as sustainability and net carbon neutral targets, could mean you get involved in product innovation. You could help to create modern agriculture that minimises negative impacts on the environment.

How to get into this role

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

A T-level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production after you finish your GCSEs
An apprenticeship as a Land-Based Service Engineering Technician after finishing school or college

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

You will need to understand how machines interface with biological systems and what’s involved in an environment, including climate, soil, plants and animals. Each outdoor sector presents different challenges and machinery is becoming more technologically advanced to achieve different goals.