Classification description — Engineer

Introduction

The descriptions contained herein are generally derived from selection standards established by the Public Service Commission for the recruitment and selection of personnel within the Public Service of Canada. It should be noted that these specifications are general in nature and more precise details relating to the specific job requirement are to be supplied to the Contractor at the time of the call-up.

Engineer (ENG)

Note : Engineering requirements called up under the standing offer authorized by Supply and Services Canada for professional temporary help services are restricted to requirements which do not directly involve work which will have a direct impact on the value of government owned properties.  Work called up should be restricted to studies and or support activities which do not result in a physical change to the property.

Overview

Occupational class definition
The requirement to plan, design, construct and maintain the physical and chemical processes, systems, structures and equipment; the development and application of engineering standards and procedures; the provision of advice

Typical duties of the occupational class
Work that requires the application of a comprehensive knowledge of engineering in the performance of one or more of the following duties

  • The planning, design construction, installation or maintenance of buildings, equipment, structures, or systems such as transportation, telecommunications, utilities or water use projects
  • The planning and conduct of environmental engineering services such as heating and air conditioning or lighting
  • The planning or conducting of engineering works or studies concerned with the control of such matters as radio wave frequency usage, product quality, industrial safety, or electrical utilities
  • The planning or conducting of engineering works or studies concerned with environmental problems related to air, water or land resources, where a comprehensive knowledge of engineering is the prime requirement
  • The planning or conducting of site exploration, development or engineering works control surveys
  • The conduct of cost-benefit and feasibility studies
  • The development or modification of physical systems or equipment for use in special purpose computer systems application where a comprehensive knowledge of engineering is the prime requirement
  • The writing and editing of papers and reports
  • The provision of advice
  • The direction of supervision of any of the above duties

Minimum qualifications
University graduation in Applied Science or engineering or eligibility for certification as a professional engineer in Canada

Engineering responsibility levels

  1. ENG—Junior
    • Professional support level—Entrance level for University graduates with no experience.
      or
    • Junior working level. This is a continuing training level. Requires 2–3 years experience, vanes according to educational background and abilities of incumbents

    Typical level of responsibility
    • Receives training in the various phases of office, plant, field or laboratory engineering
    • Tasks selected to develop knowledge in the practices of a field of engineering
    • Performs varied engineering tasks and individual studies of problems requiring application of prescribed engineering methods, accuracy in analysis and calculations and completeness of data and test observations
    • Tasks assigned include preparation of simple plans, designs, calculations, costs and bills of material in accordance with established code, standards, drawings or other specifications; or receives assignments of limited scope and complexity, usually minor phases of broader assignments and uses initiative and judgement in resolving problems, obtaining and analyzing data, designing or modifying equipment components and in determining the intent of a specification or instruction

    Supervision received and exercise
    • Works under close supervision or duties are assigned with detailed oral and occasionally written instructions as to methods and procedures to be followed
    • Works is usually reviewed in detail for accuracy, adequacy and conformance with prescribed procedures and technical guidance is normally provided on work in progress
    • May assign and check work of drafters and other technicians; or may give technical guidance to one or two junior engineers or technicians assigned to work on a common problem/task

    Qualifications
    University graduation in applied science or engineering or eligibility for certification as a professional engineer and up to three years of working experience from the graduate level

  2. ENG—Intermediate
    • Full working level—Project engineer, responsible for a complete project or part of a project depending on complexity of the assigned project. Requires approximately 3–5 years engineering experience.
      or
    • Senior working level, first level of continuing supervision or first level "specialist". Project co-ordination usually on large complex projects and usually in one area of specialization. Normally requires 5–8 years related experience

    Typical level of responsibility
    • This is typically regarded as a fully qualified professional engineering level or the first level of direct and sustained supervision of other professional engineers or the first level of full specialization
    • Carries out responsible and varied engineering assignments requiring general familiarity with a broad field of engineering and knowledge of reciprocal effects of the work upon other fields with some participation in planning in order to achieve prescribed objectives; or requires application of mature engineering knowledge in planning and conducting projects having scope for independent accomplishment and co-ordination of the difficult and responsible assignments
    • Problems usually solved by use of combination of standard procedures, modification of standard procedures or method developed in previous assignments, or assigned problems make it necessary to modify established guides, devise new approaches, apply existing criteria in new manners and draw conclusions from comparative situations
    • Makes independent studies, analyses, interpretations and draws conclusions
    • Identifies and refers complex or unusual matters/decisions to a more senior authority; or makes recommendations which are reviewed for soundness of judgement but usually accepted as technically accurate and feasible
    • Supervision received and exercise : Work is not generally supervised in detail and amount of supervision varies depending upon the assignment with technical guidance usually available to review work programs and advise on unusual features of assignments; or work is assigned in terms of objectives, relative priorities and critical areas that impinge on work of other units and is carried out within broad guidelines, with informed guidance being available
    • Supervision exercised ranges from giving technical guidance to more junior engineers or technicians assigned to work on a common project with ongoing supervision over other engineers not a continuing responsibility; to assigning and outlining work to engineering staffs, advising on technical problems, reviewing work for technical accuracy and adequacy and may call for recommendations concerning selection, training, evaluation and discipline of engineering and technical staffs

    Qualifications
    University graduation in applied science or engineering or eligibility for certification as a professional engineer; normally with a minimum of three years and up to eight years of experience

  3. ENG—Senior

    • A senior "specialist" of the first level of multiple project co-ordination (2 or more related fields) assigned in terms of objectives to be achieved and the financial limitations and administrative requirements involved. Requires a good knowledge of administrative procedures in addition to technical expertise in field and supervisory experience—Complete supervisory functions. 9–12 years of experience.
      or
    • First full level of management with significant administrative content—A "policy-maker" primarily on technical matters related to own area of specialization. Normally more than 12 years experience

    Typical level of responsibility
    • Work requires knowledge of more than one field of engineering or a very deep specialization in a particular field of engineering; or responsibility for an engineering administrative function, directing several professional and other groups engaged in inter-related engineering responsibilities or providing service as an engineering consultant, having achieved recognition as an authority in an engineering field of major importance to the organization
    • Makes independent decisions on work methods and procedures within an overall program; or independently, or within the framework of general policy, conceives programs and problems to be investigated
    • Participates in short and long range planning and determines/recommends basic program objectives, budgets and operating policies; or plans and/or approves projects requiring the expenditures of a considerable amount of human and financial resources
    • Devises practical and economic solutions to problems; or devising ways of reaching program objectives in the most economical manner and of meeting any unusual conditions affecting work progress
    • Makes responsible decisions not usually subject to technical review on all matters assigned to effect the successful accomplishment of assigned projects; or makes responsible decisions on all matters including the establishment of policies and expenditures of large sums of money and/or implementation of major programs subject only to overall policy and financial controls

    Supervision received and exercise
    • Work is assigned in terms of objectives and priorities in accordance with the organization's directives/budgets and decisions are not normally subject to review; or work is undertaken to meet program objectives, is reviewed for implementation of the program or for conformance with program objectives, with recommendations and decisions normally accepted as authoritative
    • May supervise large groups of professional and non professional staffs or may exercise authority over a small group of highly qualified professional personnel engaged in complex technical applications
    • Outlines more difficult problems and methods of approach, co-ordinating work programs and directing use of equipment and material and makes recommendations concerning the selection, training, discipline and remuneration of staffs; or reviews and evaluates technical work, selects schedules and co-ordinates to attain program objectives and/or as an administrator, sub-delegates authority, makes decisions concerning selection training, evaluation, discipline, remuneration of staff and provides direction to senior subordinate managers

    Qualifications
    University graduation in Engineering or Applied Science or eligibility for certification, normally with a minimum of nine to twelve years of engineering and/or administrative experience from the graduation level; or with broader engineering experience, including responsible administrative duties; or with still broader experience, i.e. many years authoritative engineering and administrative experience bringing to the work a high degree of originally skill and proficiency in the various broad phases of engineering applications

If your need falls outside of the scope of this Catalogue, please contact Sandra Leslie at telephone number 416-575-8256 or tpsgc.orsat-orths.pwgsc@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca and we will develop a solution either by amending the Catalogue or by separate tender/award.

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