Mechanical Engineers
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Job description
These individuals design and develop machinery and various systems (heating, ventilation, power generation, manufacturing, etc.). They set up, operate, and maintain mechanical installations. They are self-employed or work in:
- Consulting firms
- Power generation services
- Various industries
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Uncontrolled ambient temperature
Main tasks
- Prepare materials required for the design of machinery and systems, estimate the costs and time required, and prepare consistent specifications.
- Design plants, machinery, components, tools, devices, and equipment.
- Analyze the dynamics and vibrations of mechanical systems and structures.
- Monitor and inspect the installation, modification, and activation of mechanical systems.
- Develop maintenance standards and schedules and supervise crews responsible for them.
- Investigate the cause of mechanical failures or maintenance problems.
- Prepare contract documents and evaluate bids for industrial construction or maintenance work.
- Supervise the work of Technicians, Technologists, and other Engineers.
- Review and approve plans, calculations, and estimates.
Advancement and mobility
- There is a high degree of mobility between mechanical engineering specializations and lower-level positions.
- There is a very high mobility between mechanical engineering specializations and other engineering disciplines (civil, electrical, chemical, etc.).
- Experience leads to senior or supervisory positions.
- These individuals may work in related fields (science, engineering, sales, marketing, management, etc.).
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $30.29
- Median
- $45.64
- Maximum
- $67.31
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 10.4% Female
- 89.6% Male
- 10.4% Female
- 89.6% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 5413, 541429% of jobs
-
NAICS 33310% of jobs
-
NAICS 33648% of jobs
-
NAICS 336 [excluding 3364]6% of jobs
-
NAICS 235% of jobs
-
Others42% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 5413, 541429% of jobs
-
NAICS 33310% of jobs
-
NAICS 33648% of jobs
-
NAICS 336 [excluding 3364]6% of jobs
-
NAICS 235% of jobs
-
Others42% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
University
Mechanical engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 80.8%
14.3% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 78.4%
18.2% of graduates pursue further studies
Nuclear engineering
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 100%
Project engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 75%
25% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 79.2%
11.1% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
- Membership in the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ [Quebec Order of Engineers]) to practise as an Engineer and carry out their reserved activities.
Sometimes required
- A Doctoral or Master’s degree in a related engineering discipline may be required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Information processing
- Active listening
- Reading comprehension
- Critical thought
- Mathematics
- Science
- Operation analysis
- Judgment and decision-making
- Solving complex problems
- Active learning
- Systems evaluation
- System analysis
- Quality control analysis
- Technological design
- Written expression
- Operations and control
- Result evaluation
- Oral expression
- Time management
- Coordination
- Troubleshooting
- Monitoring operations
- Service oriented
- Persuasion
Abilities
- Written comprehension
- Oral comprehension
- Information organization
- Awareness of issues
- Deductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Mathematical reasoning
- Near vision
- Basic numeracy
- Verbal skills
- Visualization
- Classification
- Idea generation
- Speech clarity
- Written expression
- Originality
- Speech recognition
- Processing flexibility
- Perception speed
Knowledge and attributes
- Critical thinking
- Spoken and written bilingualism (French and English)
- Capacity to delegate
- Knowledge of mathematics
- Rigour
- Respect standards and regulations
- Creativity
- Desire to upgrade one’s competencies
- Knowledge of engineering and technology
- Knowledge of mechanics
Interests
- Direct, organize, and manage
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Work with numbers
- Create, design
- Carry out research
- Make technical plans and drawings
- Conduct tests and trials, control processes
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
Official name of the NOC 21301
Mechanical engineers
Job titles
- Tool engineer
- Robotics Engineers
- Design engineer - mechanical
- Automotive engineer
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (hvac) engineer
- Mechanical engineering project manager
- Building systems engineering project manager
- Heating specialist engineer
- Maintenance engineering lead – mechanical
- Mechanical engineering lead
- Acoustical engineer
- Nuclear engineer
- Oil well equipment design engineer
- Mould design engineer
- Thermal design engineer
- Nuclear design engineer
- Refrigeration engineer
- Mechanical hydraulic engineer
- Consulting mechanical engineer
- Mechanical engineer
- Mechanical maintenance engineer
- Marine mechanical engineer
- Project mechanical engineer
- Chief mechanical engineer
- Mechanical power engineer
- Gas utilization mechanical engineer
- Diesel engineer - design and research
- Acoustics and vibration engineer
- Power plant engineer
- Micro-electro-mechanical systems (mems) research engineer
- Pattern engineer
- Internal combustion engineer
- Project engineer - building systems
- Cryogenics engineer
- Energy conservation engineer
- Nuclear operations engineer
- Thermal power engineer
- Lubrication engineer
- Fluid mechanics engineer
- Building systems engineer
- Mechatronic engineer
- Power generation engineer
- Tribologist
- Piping engineer
Skill type
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026