Famous engineer Henry G. Stott once said, “Engineering is the art of organizing and directing men and controlling the forces and materials of nature for the benefit of the human race.” Imagine then, leading an entire team of engineers! As an engineering manager in the industrial construction industry, you mentor, direct and pull together the tasks of a diverse team to successfully complete a major project.
Engineering managers plan, organize and direct the activities required to ensure energy operations are safe, efficient, reliable and in compliance with all established contracts, agreements, policies, laws and regulatory procedures. They make or approve major operating, business, engineering and maintenance decisions.
Engineering managers mentor, direct and align a team of diversely experienced engineers with the needs and goals of the business. They also guide the team to ensure any proposed engineering solution is efficient and realistic for the business.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Oil and gas services, Pipelines, Offshore, Oil sands, Exploration and production,
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary $118,000 to $189,000
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
In this occupation activities may include:
- Conferring with management, production and marketing staff to discuss project specifications and procedures
- Coordinating and reviewing the technical work of the department or project teams
- Ensuring plant and facility engineering and performance meets design expectations
- Reviewing, recommending and approving contracts and cost estimates
- Working with internal teams around costing and commercial oversight for projects
Education
- A post-secondary degree in engineering is typically required, along with extensive industrial experience that includes supervising others.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- H2S Alive®
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is usually required.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You have strong leadership skills and highly-tuned technical skills. You advanced to this position because of your mastery of engineering, however, not every engineer makes a good leader. You demonstrate exceptional communication, organization and negotiation skills while motivating and mentoring staff working toward common goals.
- Managing personnel resources
- Managing material resources
- Planning and organizing
- Critical thinking
- Engineering and technology
- Managing financial resources
- Judgment and decision making
- Administration and management
- Building a successful team
- Active listening
- Sub-sector Carbon capture, utilization and storage, Emissions reduction, Well site decommissioning
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as an engineering manager in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to cleantech. Workers may need to update their knowledge of technologies, equipment, regulations and reporting in the sector.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Conferring with management, production and marketing staff to discuss project specifications and procedures
- Coordinating and reviewing the technical work of the department or project teams
- Ensuring plant and facility engineering and performance meets design expectations
- Reviewing, recommending and approving contracts and cost estimates
- Working with internal teams around costing and commercial oversight for projects
Education
- A post-secondary degree in engineering is typically required, along with extensive industrial experience that includes supervising others.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- H2S Alive®
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is usually required.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to cleantech include:
- Primarily indoor/office work (CCUS | emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
- Safety-sensitive environment (CCUS | emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
- Transition to a similar level (CCUS | emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
- Career development fostered/supported (CCUS | emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You have strong leadership skills and highly-tuned technical skills. You advanced to this position because of your mastery of engineering, however, not every engineer makes a good leader. You demonstrate exceptional communication, organization and negotiation skills while motivating and mentoring staff working toward common goals.
- Managing personnel resources
- Managing material resources
- Planning and organizing
- Critical thinking
- Engineering and technology
- Managing financial resources
- Judgment and decision making
- Administration and management
- Building a successful team
- Active listening
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading Minor
-
Refocus
An engineering manager considering a career change from oil and natural gas to digitization and automation in energy may need to complete some minor upskilling to make a successful transition.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Conferring with management, production and marketing staff to discuss project specifications and procedures
- Coordinating and reviewing the technical work of the department or project teams
- Ensuring plant and facility engineering and performance meets design expectations
- Reviewing, recommending and approving contracts and cost estimates
- Working with internal teams around costing and commercial oversight for projects
Education
- A post-secondary degree in engineering is typically required, along with extensive industrial experience that includes supervising others.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- H2S Alive®
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is usually required.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to digitization and automation include:
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Agile/flexible approach to work
- Less formal organizational structure
- Higher-risk tolerant culture
- Transition to a lower level
- Career development fostered/supported
- Urban location
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You have strong leadership skills and highly-tuned technical skills. You advanced to this position because of your mastery of engineering, however, not every engineer makes a good leader. You demonstrate exceptional communication, organization and negotiation skills while motivating and mentoring staff working toward common goals.
- Managing personnel resources
- Managing material resources
- Planning and organizing
- Critical thinking
- Engineering and technology
- Managing financial resources
- Judgment and decision making
- Administration and management
- Building a successful team
- Active listening
- Sub-sector Engineering, design and procurement, Contracted and turnaround maintenance, Modular fabrication, Start-up and commissioning, Construction
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skills gained as an engineering manager in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the industrial construction and maintenance in energy sector. Workers may find the work environment differs when working for a customer-focused service provider or vendor rather than an operating company.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Conferring with management, production and marketing staff to discuss project specifications and procedures
- Coordinating and reviewing the technical work of the department or project teams
- Ensuring plant and facility engineering and performance meets design expectations
- Reviewing, recommending and approving contracts and cost estimates
- Working with internal teams around costing and commercial oversight for projects
In addition to the requirements below, specific requirements in industrial construction and maintenance may include:
- Familiarity with computer-aided design and drafting software, such as AutoCAD, CADD, or Civil 3D. (engineering, design and procurement | contracted and turnaround maintenance | modular fabrication | construction | start-up and commissioning)
Education
- A post-secondary degree in engineering is typically required, along with extensive industrial experience that includes supervising others.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- H2S Alive®
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is usually required.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to industrial construction and maintenance include:
- Primarily indoor/office work (engineering, design and procurement | contracted and turnaround maintenance | modular fabrication | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (engineering, design and procurement | contracted and turnaround maintenance | modular fabrication | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Transition to a similar level (engineering, design and procurement | contracted and turnaround maintenance | modular fabrication | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Urban location (engineering, design and procurement | contracted and turnaround maintenance | modular fabrication | construction | start-up and commissioning)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You have strong leadership skills and highly-tuned technical skills. You advanced to this position because of your mastery of engineering, however, not every engineer makes a good leader. You demonstrate exceptional communication, organization and negotiation skills while motivating and mentoring staff working toward common goals.
- Managing personnel resources
- Managing material resources
- Planning and organizing
- Critical thinking
- Engineering and technology
- Managing financial resources
- Judgment and decision making
- Administration and management
- Building a successful team
- Active listening
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skills gained as an engineering manager in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the LNG facility operation sector.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Conferring with management, production and marketing staff to discuss project specifications and procedures
- Coordinating and reviewing the technical work of the department or project teams
- Ensuring plant and facility engineering and performance meets design expectations
- Reviewing, recommending and approving contracts and cost estimates
- Working with internal teams around costing and commercial oversight for projects
In addition to the requirements below, specific requirements in LNG facility operation may include:
- Proficiency with schematic design and drafting software, such as SCADA or AutoCAD.
Education
- A post-secondary degree in engineering is typically required, along with extensive industrial experience that includes supervising others.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- H2S Alive®
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is usually required.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to LNG include:
- Potential for relocation
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
- Career development fostered/supported
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You have strong leadership skills and highly-tuned technical skills. You advanced to this position because of your mastery of engineering, however, not every engineer makes a good leader. You demonstrate exceptional communication, organization and negotiation skills while motivating and mentoring staff working toward common goals.
- Managing personnel resources
- Managing material resources
- Planning and organizing
- Critical thinking
- Engineering and technology
- Managing financial resources
- Judgment and decision making
- Administration and management
- Building a successful team
- Active listening
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as an engineering manager in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the petrochemicals and refining sector.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Conferring with management, production and marketing staff to discuss project specifications and procedures
- Coordinating and reviewing the technical work of the department or project teams
- Ensuring plant and facility engineering and performance meets design expectations
- Reviewing, recommending and approving contracts and cost estimates
- Working with internal teams around costing and commercial oversight for projects
In addition to the requirements below, specific requirements in petrochemicals and refining may include:
- Proficiency with schematic design and drafting software, such as SCADA or AutoCAD.
Education
- A post-secondary degree in engineering is typically required, along with extensive industrial experience that includes supervising others.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- H2S Alive®
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is usually required.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to petrochemicals and refining include:
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
- Urban location
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You have strong leadership skills and highly-tuned technical skills. You advanced to this position because of your mastery of engineering, however, not every engineer makes a good leader. You demonstrate exceptional communication, organization and negotiation skills while motivating and mentoring staff working toward common goals.
- Managing personnel resources
- Managing material resources
- Planning and organizing
- Critical thinking
- Engineering and technology
- Managing financial resources
- Judgment and decision making
- Administration and management
- Building a successful team
- Active listening
- Sub-sector Geothermal, Solar, Wind
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
The skills gained as an engineering manager in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the geothermal sub-sector of renewables. An engineering manager considering a career change to the solar or wind sub-sector may need to complete some minor upskilling to make a successful transition. The average salary range for an engineering manager in the geothermal sub-sector is similar to the average salary range of oil and natural gas, however, the average salary range in solar and wind is lower than that of oil and natural gas.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Conferring with management, production and marketing staff to discuss project specifications and procedures
- Coordinating and reviewing the technical work of the department or project teams
- Ensuring plant and facility engineering and performance meets design expectations
- Reviewing, recommending and approving contracts and cost estimates
- Working with internal teams around costing and commercial oversight for projects
In addition to the requirements below, specific requirements in renewables may include:
- Familiarity with supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), distributed control systems (DCS), programmable logic controller (PLC), human machine interface (HMI), remote terminal unit (RTU) systems may be needed. (geothermal | wind)
- Ability to use computer-aided design and drafting (AutoCAD) software may be required. (geothermal | wind)
Education
- A post-secondary degree in engineering is typically required, along with extensive industrial experience that includes supervising others.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- H2S Alive®
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- Registration as a Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is usually required.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to renewables include:
- Potential for relocation (geothermal)
- Primarily indoor/office work (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (solar | wind)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (geothermal)
- Safety-sensitive environment (geothermal)
- Transition to a similar level (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Rural location (geothermal)
- Urban location (solar | wind)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You have strong leadership skills and highly-tuned technical skills. You advanced to this position because of your mastery of engineering, however, not every engineer makes a good leader. You demonstrate exceptional communication, organization and negotiation skills while motivating and mentoring staff working toward common goals.
- Managing personnel resources
- Managing material resources
- Planning and organizing
- Critical thinking
- Engineering and technology
- Managing financial resources
- Judgment and decision making
- Administration and management
- Building a successful team
- Active listening
The renewables sector is further divided into sub-sectors:
Geothermal
- Transferability: Direct
- Skills upgrade: None
- Average salary range: Equal to oil and gas
Solar
- Transferability: Refocus
- Skills upgrade: Minor
- Average salary range: Less than oil and gas
Wind
- Transferability: Refocus
- Skills upgrade: Minor
- Average salary range: Less than oil and gas
What does this mean for workers?
Workers will find that the ease of a career change from oil and natural gas into renewables may vary by sub-sector. There could be differences in the need to upskill, gain knowledge and experience, expected salary range and varying work environments. Further research on the sector or consultation with a career advisor may be required.
