Engineering managers
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Engineering managers:
- Plan, organize and direct the activities of an engineering department, service or firm
- Work for a wide range of private sector and government establishments and for consulting engineering and scientific research companies
Job Titles
Duties
Engineering managers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Plan, organize and direct the activities and operations of an engineering department, service or firm
- Develop and carry out policies, standards and procedures for the engineering and technical work performed
- Consult and negotiate with clients to prepare specifications, explain proposals and present engineering reports and findings
- Assign, co-ordinate and review the technical work of the department or project teams
- Recruit employees and oversee development and maintenance of staff ability in required areas
- May participate directly in the design, development and inspection of technical projects or in the engineering work of the department
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
4,065% Employed Full Time
85%Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office.
Career Pathways
Mobility to other technical managerial positions or to research or senior management positions is possible with experience.
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 engineering is usually required
- Extensive experience in an engineering discipline, including supervisory experience, is required
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is usually required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Civil Engineering Technology Related
- Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering
- Engineering Science
- Mechanical Engineering
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!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
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.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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
4,065Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 50 | 1.2% |
| Kootenay | 105 | 2.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 3,045 | 74.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 50 | 1.2% |
| Northeast | 35 | 0.9% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 300 | 7.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 480 | 11.8% |
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)
2,680Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | -2.0% |
| Kootenay | 70 | 0.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 2,090 | 2.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 0.9% |
| Northeast | 10 | -0.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 220 | 2.2% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 280 | 1.4% |
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 | 1,590 |
| Manufacturing | 320 |
| Public Administration | 160 |
| Construction | 100 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 90 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of an engineering manager is like.
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of an engineering manager is like.
