Environmental Engineers
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Job description
These individuals design and carry out projects focused on environmental protection, preservation, and sustainable development. They may also collaborate on various projects, overseeing their environmental aspects. They work in:
- Industries
- Environmental consulting firms
- Natural and forest environments
- Maritime environments
- Regional county municipalities (RCMs) and local municipalities
- The government
- Universities
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Climatic conditions
- Equipment, machinery, tools
Main tasks
- Conduct environmental studies.
- Implement energy-efficient processes.
- Manage projects to decontaminate sites contaminated by industrial waste.
- Calculate greenhouse gas emissions.
- Design alternatives to harmful chemicals.
- Preserve forest ecosystems through sustainable development projects.
- Preserve air and environmental quality in urban areas.
- Work in collaboration with Agronomists, Biologists, and Physical Scientists.
- Supervise the work of Technicians, Technologists, and other Engineers.
- Assess the acceptability of a project (industrial, municipal, mining, water, natural) that has an environmental impact.
- Analyze processes, plans, and specifications in order to evaluate major projects subject to an environmental impact assessment and review procedure.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience leads to senior or supervisory positions.
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
University
Agricultural and forest engineering
Agricultural or rural engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 59.3%
40.7% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 74.1%
18.5% of graduates pursue further studies
Chemical engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 82.4%
14.7% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 72%
24% of graduates pursue further studies
Civil, building or transportation engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 87.5%
8.5% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 81.3%
9% of graduates pursue further studies
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
Also required
- Membership in the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ [Quebec Order of Engineers]) to work as an Engineer and carry out reserved activities.
Sometimes required
- A Doctoral or Master’s degree in a discipline related to engineering may be required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Information processing
- Reading comprehension
- Critical thought
- Active learning
- Active listening
- Solving complex problems
- Result evaluation
- Written expression
- Oral expression
- Judgment and decision-making
- Time management
- Coordination
- Mathematics
- Teaching
- Social perception
- Persuasion
- Science
- Negotiation
- System analysis
- Learning strategies
- Service oriented
- Human resource management
Abilities
- Written comprehension
- Awareness of issues
- Oral comprehension
- Deductive reasoning
- Written expression
- Verbal skills
- Inductive reasoning
- Near vision
- Speech clarity
- Speech recognition
- Basic numeracy
- Idea generation
- Information organization
- Mathematical reasoning
- Originality
- Classification
- Processing flexibility
- Visualization
- Selective attention
- Distance vision
- Memorization
- Perception speed
- Information processing speed
Knowledge and attributes
- Critical thinking
- Focussed on results
- Capacity to adapt
- Capacity to work in a team
- Sense of initiative
- Respect standards and regulations
- Knowledge of engineering and technology
- Knowledge of biology
- Knowledge of design
- Open-mindedness
Interests
- Direct, organize, and manage
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Work with numbers
- Create, design
- Carry out research
- Work outdoors
- 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.
Appellation d’emploi liée (à traduire)
Other professional engineers (CNP 21399)
Skill type
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
Related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026