The process of formation and development of agroengineering scientific schools of the Southern Urals should be considered as part of the development process both in the country and in its various regions of its own agricultural engineering. (Research purpose) The research purpose is analyzing the directions of the scientific school of Yefim Mironovich Kharitonchik, and to identify its role in the development of the process of mechanization of agriculture in the region. (Materials and methods) Analyzed the work activity of E.M. Kharitonchik related to the production of agricultural machinery at factories in Moscow and the Moscow region. It was shown that the first scientific developments were works on the creation and improvement of instruments and testing machines, as well as designs of tractor units and systems. (Results and discussion) It was revealed that the following areas of the scientific school of Kharitonchik have gained great fame: modification of tractor engines; development of the theory of specific parameters of tractors; evaluation and optimization of parameters of tractors and their aggregates; study of vibrations of tractor engines; creation of hydrostatic drives of active trailers for heavy-duty road trains. (Conclusions) The information given in this article allows us to build a chronological chain of work of the scientific and engineering thought of the scientific school of the Southern Urals in the field of design and operation of agricultural machinery.