This review examines the interactions between plant, animal, and microbial components of soil biota, focusing on the pivotal role of large, abundant invertebrates that ingest or manipulate organic and mineral materials, forming long-lasting microstructures. These invertebrates, known as soil ecosystem engineers, are particularly important in terrestrial ecosystems, with earthworms and termites identified as the most significant. The review discusses how these engineers influence soil processes through nutrient release, excretion, microplanktonic activities, and foraging, which mediate fundamental nutrient transformations. It also explores the links between the activity and diversity of engineers and soil properties, including structure, heterogeneity, stability, organic matter distribution, infiltration, and retention. The review further considers the potential impacts of global changes on these engineers, hypothesizing that living plants affect both the abundance and diversity of engineers through litter quantity and quality. Changes in temperature are expected to expand the latitudinal distribution of termites and favor humivorous termites and endogeic earthworm species. However, these changes may not occur in regions where local fauna lacks representatives of these groups. Land use intensification, particularly physical disturbance of forests, is also a concern due to its immediate impact on the functional group balance within engineer communities. Additionally, exotic earthworm species may colonize disturbed lands, potentially adverse effects on soil structure. Termites are affected by reduced diversity, especially of soil-feeding forms, and some species may become crop pests due to changes in organic matter availability. Overall, a decrease in engineer abundance is likely to reduce soil carbon stocks and can lead to physical degradation of soil. The review discusses the potential of using earthworm inoculation to remediate degraded soils, highlighting both ecological and economic benefits. The paper emphasizes the need to assess the influence of soil functions and engineer activities at various temporal and spatial scales, given the dynamic nature of soils.This review examines the interactions between plant, animal, and microbial components of soil biota, focusing on the pivotal role of large, abundant invertebrates that ingest or manipulate organic and mineral materials, forming long-lasting microstructures. These invertebrates, known as soil ecosystem engineers, are particularly important in terrestrial ecosystems, with earthworms and termites identified as the most significant. The review discusses how these engineers influence soil processes through nutrient release, excretion, microplanktonic activities, and foraging, which mediate fundamental nutrient transformations. It also explores the links between the activity and diversity of engineers and soil properties, including structure, heterogeneity, stability, organic matter distribution, infiltration, and retention. The review further considers the potential impacts of global changes on these engineers, hypothesizing that living plants affect both the abundance and diversity of engineers through litter quantity and quality. Changes in temperature are expected to expand the latitudinal distribution of termites and favor humivorous termites and endogeic earthworm species. However, these changes may not occur in regions where local fauna lacks representatives of these groups. Land use intensification, particularly physical disturbance of forests, is also a concern due to its immediate impact on the functional group balance within engineer communities. Additionally, exotic earthworm species may colonize disturbed lands, potentially adverse effects on soil structure. Termites are affected by reduced diversity, especially of soil-feeding forms, and some species may become crop pests due to changes in organic matter availability. Overall, a decrease in engineer abundance is likely to reduce soil carbon stocks and can lead to physical degradation of soil. The review discusses the potential of using earthworm inoculation to remediate degraded soils, highlighting both ecological and economic benefits. The paper emphasizes the need to assess the influence of soil functions and engineer activities at various temporal and spatial scales, given the dynamic nature of soils.