A research and development focused agricultural engineering company in Paso Robles, California is hiring an Agricultural Engineer to design and build innovative ag machinery. This hands-on role involves mechanical system design, SolidWorks 3D modeling, hydraulics, shop drawings, bills of materials, and real-world in-field testing across Central Coast farm environments. Benefits include group medical, employer-funded 401(k), and paid vacation. CA driver’s license required.
Engineering Scope — R&D Agricultural Machinery
Design: Complete mechanical system design and engineering analysis for agricultural machinery
3D Modeling: Create SolidWorks 3D models, shop drawings, and comprehensive bills of materials
Field Testing: Assist in manufacturing and in-field testing to prove design integrity across varied agricultural environments
Systems: Mechanical systems, hydraulics, and electrical systems knowledge required
Work Environments: Office, production shop, and on-site at customer farm locations across Central Coast California
Compensation & Benefits
Salary: DOE (Dependent on Experience) — both hourly and exempt positions available
Medical: Group medical plan fully available to all team members
Retirement: Employer-funded 401(k) — company contributes to your retirement from day one
Time Off: Paid vacation and company-recognised paid holidays
License: Valid California driver’s license required for field site visits and customer locations
Position Overview
This Agricultural Engineer role in Paso Robles, California places you at the heart of a dedicated R&D team that designs, builds, and field-tests innovative agricultural machinery for California’s world-renowned farming industry. You will take ownership of the full mechanical design cycle — from initial engineering analysis and SolidWorks 3D modeling through shop drawing creation, fabrication coordination, and hands-on field testing across real agricultural environments on California’s Central Coast. The role requires someone who is equally at home in the design office, the production shop, and out in the field — combining strong mechanical engineering fundamentals with a genuine love of agriculture and a practical, problem-solving mindset that thrives in varied and sometimes unpredictable farm environments.
Why This Role Matters: As an Agricultural Engineer in Paso Robles — the heart of California’s San Luis Obispo County wine and agriculture region — you will design machinery that directly supports one of the world’s most productive agricultural ecosystems, prove your designs in real field conditions across Central Coast farms, work with SolidWorks to bring innovative ag equipment concepts to life, and build a meaningful engineering career at the intersection of mechanical innovation and California agriculture in a company that values both technical excellence and practical, real-world results.
Key Responsibilities
Mechanical System Design & Engineering Analysis
- Design and develop agricultural machinery mechanical systems as a core member of the R&D team — taking designs from initial concept and engineering analysis through to completed, manufacturable specifications
- Complete thorough engineering analyses and design reviews to verify structural integrity, functional performance, and manufacturing feasibility of all agricultural machinery designs before fabrication begins
- Identify and resolve design issues proactively during the development cycle — applying strong critical thinking, analytical skills, and practical ag machinery knowledge to produce robust, field-ready engineering solutions
- Coordinate closely with fellow engineers, fabrication personnel, vendors, and clients throughout the design process to ensure projects are completed efficiently, on time, and to the required technical standard
SolidWorks 3D Modeling, Shop Drawings & BOMs
- Create detailed, accurate SolidWorks 3D solid models for all new and modified agricultural machinery designs — producing a complete digital representation of each assembly that supports efficient manufacturing
- Produce comprehensive shop drawings with complete dimensional, tolerance, and material specifications that fabrication personnel can work from directly with confidence and minimal interpretation
- Develop detailed, accurate bills of materials (BOMs) for all designed assemblies — coordinating with procurement and fabrication teams to ensure all components are sourced and available for production on schedule
- Maintain organised, version-controlled design documentation and drawing archives — ensuring that all SolidWorks files, drawings, and BOMs are accurately managed and accessible to the full engineering team
Manufacturing Support & Fabrication Coordination
- Assist the manufacturing and fabrication process by providing engineering support on the shop floor — answering technical questions, resolving interpretation issues, and ensuring designs are built to specification
- Apply working knowledge of industrial fabrication and manufacturing processes — including welding, machining, forming, and assembly — to design agricultural machinery that is practical to build and reliable in operation
- Interact and coordinate effectively with fabrication personnel, external vendors, and component suppliers to resolve manufacturing challenges and maintain project timelines without compromising engineering quality
- Contribute to continuous design improvement by incorporating fabrication feedback, field observations, and engineering lessons learned into future iterations of agricultural machinery designs
In-Field Testing & Design Validation
- Assist in real-world in-field testing of completed agricultural machinery designs — operating in varied California farm environments to prove design integrity and performance under actual working conditions
- Observe, document, and analyse field testing results systematically — identifying design weaknesses, performance gaps, and areas for improvement based on real agricultural operational data and direct observation
- Determine necessary design improvements based on field testing outcomes and engineering analysis — translating field observations into actionable design changes that enhance machinery reliability and performance
- Travel to customer farm locations across California as required to conduct field testing, provide technical support during machine deployment, and gather customer feedback to inform ongoing design development
Qualifications & Requirements
Education & Technical Knowledge
- Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline from an accredited university — BS Engineering is a minimum requirement
- Knowledge and hands-on experience with mechanical systems, hydraulics, and electrical systems as applied in an industrial machinery or agricultural equipment context
- Knowledge and practical experience with drafting and 3D solid modeling using SolidWorks — proficiency in SolidWorks is essential for creating the models, shop drawings, and BOMs this role demands
- Knowledge and experience with industrial fabrication and manufacturing processes — the ability to design for manufacturability and work confidently in a production shop environment alongside fabrication personnel
Experience & Background
- Background in agriculture or agricultural machinery is strongly desired — an understanding of how farm equipment operates in real field conditions is a significant advantage for this role
- Ability to work effectively in varied environments — office-based design work, production shop environments, and on-site visits to customer farm locations across California’s Central Coast and beyond
- Valid California driver’s license is required — the role involves regular travel to customer locations and agricultural field sites for testing and support activities
- Willingness to travel and work overtime as project demands require — ag machinery R&D timelines are sometimes driven by seasonal agricultural requirements
Personal Competencies
- Detail-oriented individual with excellent critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills — essential for designing machinery that must perform reliably in demanding agricultural field conditions
- Effective written and oral communication skills with strong organisation and time management capabilities for coordinating with engineers, fabricators, vendors, and clients simultaneously
- Ability to efficiently prioritise and manage multiple engineering projects simultaneously without compromising accuracy, quality, or design integrity under time pressure
- Works well in both team and independent environments — collaborative when coordinating across the R&D team, and self-directed when managing individual design tasks and field testing responsibilities
- Displays professional ethics and personal integrity at all times — in client interactions, vendor relationships, and internal team collaboration
About This Agricultural Engineering Role in Paso Robles, CA
Paso Robles sits at the heart of San Luis Obispo County — one of California’s most agriculturally rich and economically productive regions, home to world-class wine vineyards, diverse row crop operations, and a wide range of specialty agricultural businesses that depend on reliable, well-engineered farm equipment to drive their productivity and profitability. For Agricultural Engineers who are passionate about designing machinery that makes a real difference to how food and wine are grown and harvested, this Central Coast location offers an exceptional combination of meaningful engineering work and direct engagement with California’s living agricultural landscape.
This R&D-focused engineering position offers more than just a desk job — it puts you in the field, in the shop, and in front of clients, testing real designs in real conditions and continuously improving machinery that California farmers depend on every season. With competitive DOE compensation, employer-funded 401(k), group medical coverage, and a collaborative team culture that values both technical excellence and practical agricultural knowledge, this is an outstanding opportunity for an engineer who wants to see their work make a tangible, visible difference in the real world.
Career Excellence: Build your agricultural engineering career in Paso Robles, California — where your SolidWorks design skills, hydraulics knowledge, and agricultural machinery passion will directly shape innovative equipment that supports some of California’s most important and productive farming operations on the Central Coast.
Who Should Apply?
- Agricultural Engineers: Holding a BS in Agricultural or Mechanical Engineering with SolidWorks proficiency and a background in ag machinery design or farm equipment development
- Mechanical Engineers with Agriculture Background: Ready to apply their mechanical design skills to innovative agricultural machinery R&D in California’s Central Coast farming region
- SolidWorks Design Engineers: With hands-on 3D modeling, shop drawing, and BOM experience looking for an applied engineering role in agricultural equipment design and field testing
- Hydraulics & Mechanical Systems Engineers: With fabrication and manufacturing process knowledge seeking a practical, hands-on R&D engineering role in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County
- Central Coast California Engineers: Based in or willing to relocate to the Paso Robles area — holding a valid CA driver’s license and ready to work across office, shop, and farm field environments
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