About

Ask yourself...

  • Have you or could you complete an engineering program at a university or technical school?
  • Are you interested in designing, planning, scheduling and/or managing major construction projects?
  • Do you have an aptitude or interest for moving into project management roles?
  • Do you have good time management skills?

If the answer to these questions is yes, then a career as a Field/Project Engineer could be right for you.

Field and project engineers plan, design, develop and manage projects for the construction or repair of buildings and a wide variety of other construction projects. They may also specialize in foundation analysis, building and structural inspection, surveying, geomatics and municipal planning. They work closely with site superintendents and provide assistance as required.

They are employed by engineering consulting companies, in all levels of government, by construction firms and in many other industries; or they may be self-employed.

Duties

Field and project engineers perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Confer with clients and other members of the engineering team and conduct research to determine project requirements
  • Plan and design major civil projects such as buildings, roads, bridges, dams, water and waste management systems and structural steel fabrications
  • Develop construction specifications and procedures
  • Evaluate and recommend appropriate building and construction materials
  • Interpret, review and approve survey and civil design work
  • Ensure construction plans meet guidelines and specifications of building codes and other regulations
  • Establish, monitor, maintain and update construction work schedules
  • Conduct feasibility studies, economic analyses, municipal and regional traffic studies, environmental impact studies or other investigations
  • Monitor air, water and soil quality and develop procedures to clean up contaminated sites
  • Prepare contract documents and review and evaluate tenders for construction projects
  • Supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers and review and approve designs, calculations and cost estimates

Work Conditions

Field and project engineers typically spend a lot of time on job sites and/or in the field.

As with all careers in the construction industry, safety is the top priority. While on construction or other job sites, field and project engineers must be aware of and comply with all relevant safety policy and procedures.

Training and Certification

The Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE) is a good source of information on courses and training providers for this occupation. Provincial affiliates of CCPE also award the Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation to field/project engineers who meet their certification requirements. For more information, visit www.engineerscanada.ca.

A good source of information on technician and/or technologist training and certification is the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT). For more information, visit www.cctt.ca.

  • A bachelor's degree in civil engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.
  • In some cases, a master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
  • In some cases, a Technologist and Technician certificate or diploma may meet job requirements.

In order to practice as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) and approve engineering drawings and reports, it is necessary to be licensed by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers. For more information, visit www.engineerscanada.ca.

Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after several years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.

Courses

Construction Industry Ethics
Construction Project Management
Pipeline Construction Safety Training
Working in a Respectful and Inclusive Workplace

Wage

Salary Gradient
Mid range
$85,340
Salary Range ArrowHigh range
$131,000
The wage range listed here is based on hourly rates multiplied by a 40-hour work week. Wages can vary depending on the contract, company, location and collective agreements (if applicable), as well as local and national economic conditions. Overtime is not included.

The “mid range” wage is based on the national “median” wage reported in the Job Bank career profile for this National Occupational Category (NOC): 2131

Note: Some career profiles may have more than one NOC code associated with them.

Wage data obtained from the Government of Canada’s Job Bank.