Mechanical engineers
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Mechanical engineers:
- Research, design and develop machinery and systems for heating, ventilating and air conditioning, power generation, transportation, processing and manufacturing
- Perform duties related to the evaluation, installation, operation and maintenance of mechanical systems
- Work for consulting firms, power-generating utilities and in a wide range of manufacturing, processing and transportation industries, or they may be self-employed
Job Titles
Duties
Mechanical engineers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Carry out research into the feasibility, design, operation and performance of mechanisms, components and systems
- Plan and manage projects
- Prepare material, cost and timing estimates, reports and design specifications for machinery and systems
- Design power plants, machines, components, tools, fixtures and equipment
- Analyze movements and vibrations of mechanical systems and structures
- Supervise and inspect the installation, modification and commissioning of mechanical systems at construction sites or in industrial facilities
- Develop maintenance standards, schedules and programs
- Provide guidance to industrial maintenance crews
- Investigate mechanical failures or unexpected maintenance problems
- Prepare contract documents and evaluate tenders for industrial construction or maintenance
- Supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers
- Review and approve designs, calculations and cost estimates
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
5,845% Employed Full Time
74%Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office, or an inside work environment where the temperature or humidity may be considerably different than normal room conditions.
Career Pathways
There is considerable mobility between mechanical engineering specializations at the less senior levels. Also, mechanical engineers work closely with civil, electrical, aerospace, chemical, industrial and other engineers, and mobility is possible between some fields of specialization in these disciplines. Finally, engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practice in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing or management.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- A bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required
- A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.)
- Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination
Mechanical engineers who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
Contact the Engineers and Geoscientists B.C. for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, while meeting the goals of the system.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
5,845Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 90 | 1.5% |
| Kootenay | 165 | 2.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 4,525 | 77.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 0.3% |
| Northeast | 30 | 0.5% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 350 | 6.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 665 | 11.4% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
2,520Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | 0.5% |
| Kootenay | 60 | 0.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 2,030 | 1.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | 0 | -0.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 180 | 2.2% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 230 | 1.2% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 1,510 |
| Manufacturing | 510 |
| Construction | 100 |
| Utilities | 80 |
| Wholesale Trade | 70 |
Resources
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Association of Consulting Engineering Companies of British Columbia (ACEC-BC)www.acec-bc.ca
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Canadian Technology Immigration Network (CTIN)www.ctin.ca
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Engineering Careerswww.engineeringcareers.ca
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Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC)www.eic-ici.ca
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Engineers & Geoscientists BCwww.egbc.ca
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Engineers Canadawww.engineerscanada.ca
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Iranian Engineers of British Columbia Association (IEBCA)www.iebca.ca/
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Society of Punjabi Engineers and Technologists of British Columbia (SPEATBC)www.speatbc.org
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Technology Registrations Canada (TRC)www.technologyregistrationscanada.ca
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The Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME)www.csme-scgm.ca/
Career Videos
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Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a robotics engineer is like.
