Power Engineers and Power Systems Operators
Job description
Power Engineers operate and maintain stationary machines that supply energy to buildings.
Power System Operators control the distribution of electrical energy. They monitor the proper operation of equipment.
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Uncontrolled ambient temperature
- Electricity
Main tasks
Power Engineers
- Operate systems to generate electricity for lighting, heating, ventilating, and cooling buildings.
- Start and stop equipment.
- Collaborate with Systems Operators.
- Inspect equipment to ensure proper operation and identify faults.
- Record and analyze data.
- Investigate the cause of problems, take corrective measures, and make minor repairs to avoid breakdowns.
- Maintain generators, turbines, pumps, and compressors.
- Maintain records of operational, safety, and maintenance activities.
- Draft reports.
- Participate in the development of operating, maintenance, and safety procedures, as required.
Power Systems Operators
- Control the distribution of electricity and regulate the flow in the transmission grid.
- Coordinate and direct the transmission of electricity and line voltage to meet distribution demands.
- Monitor and inspect devices.
- Issue work and test permits to maintenance personnel.
- Assist in locating and isolating system problems.
- Complete and update plant records, logs, and reports.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience and additional training lead Power Engineers to senior positions.
- Experience leads to supervisory positions.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2020 to 2022.- Minimum
- $21.00
- Median
- $30.00
- Maximum
- $47.76
Job prospects for 2023-2027
sr.comparaison-region.titre
Job prospects for 2023-2027
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2022
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 5.8% Female
- 94.2% Male
- 5.8% Female
- 94.2% 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 2220% of jobs
-
NAICS 3228% of jobs
-
NAICS 621, 622, 6237% of jobs
-
NAICS 3217% of jobs
-
NAICS 311, 3126% of jobs
-
Others52% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 2220% of jobs
-
NAICS 3228% of jobs
-
NAICS 621, 622, 6237% of jobs
-
NAICS 3217% of jobs
-
NAICS 311, 3126% of jobs
-
Others52% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Secondary
DVS in mécanique de machines fixes
Placement rate: 89.3%
5.2% of graduates pursue further studies
DVS in stationary Engine Mechanics
Placement rate: 76.7%
23.3% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
- Certificate as 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Class Stationary Engineer.
Power Systems Operators
- Several years of experience in the field.
Sometimes required
- Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission licence required to work in nuclear power plants.
- Field-related credentials may be required or an asset.
- Knowledge of the existing computerized system may be required or an asset.
- A Class 5 driver’s licence may be required or an asset.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Monitoring operations
- Operations and control
- Critical thought
- Result evaluation
- Solving complex problems
- Information processing
- Quality control analysis
- Troubleshooting
- Equipment maintenance
- Oral expression
- Judgment and decision-making
- Repair
- Active learning
- Reading comprehension
- Active listening
- Time management
Abilities
- Near vision
- Awareness of issues
- Deductive reasoning
- Perception speed
- Hand-arm stability
- Digital dexterity
- Manual dexterity
- Core strength
- Static muscle power
- Verbal skills
- Control accuracy
- Reaction time
- Speech clarity
- Classification
- Written comprehension
- Oral comprehension
- Speed control
- Limb coordination
- Written expression
- Information organization
- Inductive reasoning
- Speech recognition
Knowledge and attributes
- Focussed on results
- Autonomy
- Sense of responsibility
- Capacity to adapt
- Sense of initiative
- Tolerance to stress
- Respect standards and regulations
- Assiduity and punctuality
- Availability
- Knowledge of mechanics
Interests
- Make, build, install
- Conduct tests and trials, control processes
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
Official name of the NOC 92100
Power engineers and power systems operators
Job titles
- Plant maintenance stationary engineer
- Power engineer
- Power system operator
- Stationary engineer "a" and refrigeration plant operator
- Stationary engineer "b" and refrigeration plant operator
- Apprentice power engineer
- Apprentice stationary engineer
- Power switchboard operator apprentice - electrical power systems
- Feeder switchboard apprentice operator - electrical power systems
- Apprentice power dispatcher
- Apprentice power dispatcher - electrical power systems
- Distribution system dispatcher apprentice - electrical power systems
- Area dispatch chief operator
- Mobile generator operator
- Substation inspector - electrical power systems
- System controller - electrical power systems
- Operating engineer - power plant
- Electrical station power distribution inspector
- Second-class power engineer
- First-class power engineer
- Fourth-class power engineer
- Third-class power engineer
- Stationary power engineer
- Stationary engineer
- Hospital stationary engineer
- Power plant stationary engineer
- Steam power plant stationary engineer
- Fifth-class stationary engineer
- Second-class stationary engineer
- First-class stationary engineer
- Fourth-class stationary engineer
- Heating stationary engineer
- Third-class stationary engineer
- Generating station main operator
- Control room operator trainee - electrical power systems
- Stationary operating engineer
- Central-office power control room operator - electrical power systems
- Auxiliary plant operator
- Energy from waste plant operator
- Thermal plant operator
- Energy recovery incinerator plant operator
- Powerhouse operator
- Station operator - electrical power systems
- Refrigeration plant operator
- Diesel generating station operator - electrical power systems
- Electrical station operator
- Electrical station operator - electrical power systems
- Hydro-electric generating station operator
- Nuclear generating station operator
- Nuclear generating station operator - electrical power systems
- Nuclear generating station field operator
- Steam operator
- Heavy water steam plant operator
- Distribution control operator
- Distribution control operator - electrical power systems
- Central control room operator - electrical power systems
- System control centre operator - electrical power systems
- Boiler operator
- Boilerhouse operator
- Air compressor operator
- Stationary diesel engine operator
- Auxiliary equipment operator
- Power substation operator
- Generation substation operator - electrical power systems
- Automated substation operator - electrical power systems
- Conversion substation operator - electrical power systems
- Rectifier operator - electrical power systems
- Nuclear reactor operator
- Power reactor operator - electrical power systems
- Distribution system operator
- Electrical power systems operator
- Power system operator - offshore drilling
- Control room operator - electrical power systems
- Nuclear station control room operator
- Nuclear reactor control room operator - electrical power systems
- Power control room operator - electrical power systems
- System operator - electrical power systems
- Air conditioning system operator
- Cooling system operator
- Humidifying systems operator
- Building systems operator
- Power switchboard operator - electrical power systems
- Generating station switchboard operator
- Feeder switchboard operator - electrical power systems
- Steam turbine operator - electrical power systems
- Turbine operator - stationary engines
- Heating and ventilation equipment tender
- Power dispatcher - generating station
- Load dispatcher - electrical power systems
- Area load centre dispatcher
- Power dispatcher
- Power dispatcher - electrical power systems
- Biomass plant technician
- Building systems technician
Skill type
Manufacturing and utilities
Related occupations
- Chemical engineers
- Civil engineers
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
- Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- Electrical and electronics engineers
- Industrial and manufacturing engineers
- Mechanical engineers
- Metallurgical and materials engineers
- Mining engineers
- Other professional engineers
- Petroleum engineers
- Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
Last update: February 14, 2024