Job of a Software Engineer in Agritech

Engineering in Agriculture  deals with improving the farming processes and its associated tools and technologies. The focus is on making the process sustainable and eco-friendly.

Consequently, software engineers in Agritech have many job opportunities, good prospects, and good salaries. So who exactly are agritech software engineers and what do they do?

This is a profession for people with analytical thinking capabilities who can use technology to build products and services that touch the lives of billions of people. Technology is changing lives, and being a software engineer means that you have the opportunity to use technology and innovation to impact the lives of people and make things easier by building apps and software programs.

What does a software engineer in agritech do?

Software engineers do a lot more than just coding. Apart from coding, they also plot out the requirements and architecture of a system, for instance, how pages and data are organized. You are also required to monitor your code and ensure that it works well. Software engineers are also expected to attend meetings on product development and new features that need to be built. 

The job is very collaborative; it involves a lot of planning, teamwork and communication. Mainly, they design, develop, modify and maintain software systems using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure the outcomes of those designs. Software engineers also develop and direct software system testing, validation, programming and documentation.

Software engineers are also required to supervise teams of programmers, technologists, technicians, and other engineering and scientific personnel.

Steps to become a software engineer in agritech

1. Education: A potential employer will look at your work experience and technical skills; but apart from that a solid academic background is essential for a software engineer. Ideally you should have a four-year degree in agricultural engineering or software engineering or possess the relevant set of skills.
2. Gain skills: Be good with research, communication skills, solving problems,multi-tasking and meeting deadlines. A good skill to equip oneself with would be learning how to engage with customers and manage their experiences. Knowledge of programming languages  such as Python, Ruby, JavaScript, C#, Java or C++, troubleshooting and debugging are vital skills to have for being a software engineer in agriculture.
3. Consider an internship: Many internships are available for students studying in colleges which give you hands-on knowledge and experience. This will be advantageous for students in agricultural engineering, who need more field experience. 
4. Look for entry-level positions: Entry-level positions offer the scope of working with senior engineers on the latest technology. By working on a variety of applications, one would get to develop better programming skills. 
5. Find a mentor: Seeking mentorship from industry experts is the best thing for your career. Apart from career guidance, mentors can also offer tremendous learning, give feedback on projects and help them prepare for interviews. They can provide insight into the recruitment process and also help go over practice questions for an interview. They help you with expanding your network and passing on word-of-mouth opportunities and knowledge.

Types of Expertise for Agritech Software Development 

• IoT-enabled solutions

• Big data

• AI and machine learning 

• BI

Conclusion

It is important to network with people during a job search. Many jobs are shared by word-of-mouth and these normally are shared in the network of alumni of institutions through mentors and industry references. It would also be helpful to attend industry conferences and interact through online groups and communities. Connections that you build will pay off during your career as a software engineer. A majority of people find their next job through a reference or through their network. Rather than apply formally and be a part of a bunch of resumes, a word from a known person goes a long way in securing a job.

Creating a portfolio that you can show a hiring manager also helps in your job prospects. Tailor the portfolio according to the role you want to apply for. Showcase your skills by including a variety of projects, project descriptions and highlight problem-solving methodologies that you have used in your projects. Software engineers are required in agritech and hence the job prospects for a software engineer are indeed rosy.

Visit Xpheno, our website, to find job opportunities in Agritech. We are a staffing firm that aims to organize opportunities for skilled and unskilled Indian talent. We have been aiding the scaling journey of high-growth sectors like Fintech, Agritech, Edtech, Logistics, Pharma and D2C in India.