Careers

Do you want to be a Project Engineer (facilities maintenance)?

Do you like overseeing projects? Are you interested in marine infrastructure such as lightstations and communications towers? Then, we may have the job for you!

What do they do?

A project engineer with the Canadian Coast Guard is involved in installation, restoration and refurbishment of aids to navigation infrastructure such as lightstations, shore lights, communications towers and sites supporting the Marine Communications and Traffic Services Program.

Responsibilities of a project engineer include identifying projects and developing plans, specifications and cost estimates for projects; site inspections of work in progress; resolving any problems that occur during the project; and authorizing payment after work is completed.

How do I become a Project Engineer?

If you are interested in becoming a project engineer, you must have a degree in civil, electrical or mechanical engineering from a recognized post-secondary institution, and some field experience.

To gain field experience, it is advised that you take advantage of any co-op programs at the institution you are attending.

Openings for jobs with the Canadian Coast Guard are advertised through the Public Service Commission (PSC) website at www.jobs.gc.ca.

Spotlight on... Aaron Slaney, Project Engineer Facilities Maintenance, Canadian Coast Guard

For Aaron, the best part of his job is seeing the end result of a project and knowing that he played a pivotal role from beginning to end.

“The projects just keep on coming,” says Aaron. “But when one is completed and done; and you’re looking at the finished project; and it’s you who possibly designed or thought about that process and watched it through the whole construction and tendering process; and, now you can file that project away, for me, that’s what makes it all worth it.”

Aaron believes that the most interesting part of his job is the work environment. “If you have the urge to learn and are interested in new things, then this is the environment to be in because it is always changing. It makes it interesting and fun to come to work everyday … and you have the ability to effect those changes to make things easier for you and your co-workers.”

This document is also available for download or viewing as a PDF version (1.4 MB).

Published By:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Communications Branch
P.O.Box 5667
St. John’s, NL  A1C 5X1

© Her Majesty the Queen in
Right of Canada
DFO/2009-1544 
Catalogue Number: Fs154-7/22-2009
ISBN: 978-0-662-06290-5