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Civil Engineers (2131)

Among the occupations currently in highest demand in All of Québec

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Qualification and skills most often required

Un baccalauréat en génie civil est demandé. L’adhésion à l’Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec est obligatoire. Il est important de vérifier auprès de cet ordre professionnel quelles sont les conditions d’admission ainsi que les modalités particulières qui s’appliquent aux personnes diplômées à l’extérieur du Québec. Des compétences en gestion de chantiers et en gestion de projets, la capacité d’administrer des contrats, de même que des compétences en matière d’inspection, de construction et de réparation de structures, sont recherchées. La connaissance du domaine des infrastructures municipales (ex. : canalisations, routes) est également un atout. La connaissance de certains logiciels spécialisés (ex. : AutoCAD, Civil Design, InRoads, MS Project, ArcG1S 9, ArcView 3) et de la suite Office est requise. La certification LEED (système d’évaluation Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) peut constituer un atout. La connaissance des normes, critères et procédures du ministère des Transports du Québec est utile. Des aptitudes en communication et la capacité de travailler en équipe sont demandées. Le bilinguisme peut être nécessaire.

Reason for labor demand

La demande d’ingénieurs et ingénieures en génie civil est forte actuellement grâce aux chantiers liés aux infrastructures (ex. : réfection du réseau routier, des viaducs et des canalisations municipales) et aux projets hydroélectriques. La demande vient des firmes de génie-conseil, des administrations municipales ainsi que de certaines entreprises dont les activités sont liées aux secteurs de l’environnement, du traitement des eaux et de la fabrication de structures. Il existe aussi des besoins de main-d’œuvre attribuables au remplacement des ingénieurs civils qui prennent leur retraite.

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Job titles

Nature of work

Civil engineers plan, design, develop and manage projects for the construction or repair of buildings, earth structures, powerhouses, roads, airports, railways, rapid transit facilities, bridges, tunnels, canals, dams, ports and coastal installations and systems related to highway and transportation services, water distribution and sanitation. Civil engineers may also specialize in foundation analysis, building and structural inspection, surveying, geomatics and municipal planning. Civil engineers 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.

Fields of interest

  • Conducting research
  • Crunching numbers
  • Managing, organizing, administrating
  • Writing, working in communications and information

Main duties

  • Civil 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
  • - Conduct field services for civil works
  • - Ensure construction plans meet guidelines and specifications of building codes and other regulations
  • - Establish and monitor 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
  • - Conduct technical analyses of survey and field data for development of topographic, soil, hydrological or other information and prepare reports
  • - Act as project or site supervisor for land survey or construction work
  • - 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.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Civil Engineers (2131)

Employment requirements

  • * A bachelor's degree in civil 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.

Skill type

  • Natural and applied sciences and related fields

Skill level

  • Professional

More information

  • * There is considerable mobility between civil engineering specializations at the less senior levels.
  • * Engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practise in associated areas of science, engineering, urban planning, sales, marketing or management.
  • * Supervisory and senior positions in this unit group require experience

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