Electrical engineering is a growing field in Ontario with strong job prospects over the next decade. Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment.
If you’re interested in a career that allows you to work with cutting-edge technology to help build infrastructure and other systems that impact people’s lives, becoming an electrical engineer is a great choice.
This guide will walk through all the steps required to start your career as an electrical engineer in Ontario in 2024.
Education Requirements
To become an electrical engineer in Ontario, you will need:
Bachelor’s Degree
The first educational requirement is a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or electrical and computer engineering.
Good undergraduate programs provide training in areas like circuits, electronics, digital systems, electromagnetic fields, control systems, communications, signal processing, microelectronics, and power systems. They also include lab work, design projects, and hands-on learning opportunities.
Many schools in Ontario offer accredited electrical engineering bachelor’s degree programs, including:
- University of Toronto
- University of Waterloo
- Carleton University
- Ontario Tech University
- University of Guelph
- Queen’s University
- McMaster University
The length of these bachelor’s degree programs is usually four years of full-time study. Admission into engineering programs in Ontario is competitive, requiring strong grades in physics, chemistry, and mathematics from high school.
Licensing
Once you have obtained an undergraduate engineering degree, you need to acquire a license to practice as a professional engineer in Ontario. This involves:
- Engineering Internship – A 12-16 month internship allows you to gain supervised work experience in an engineering environment. During this time, you will earn an Engineering Intern title.
- Professional Practice Exam – You must pass this exam on engineering law, ethics, regulations, and practices.
- Professional Engineering Exams – You must pass a discipline-specific exam on electrical engineering.
After completing these requirements, you can apply to Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) for your professional engineering license. This allows you to practice, take responsibility for projects, sign off on documents, and use the P.Eng designation.
Skills Needed
Electrical engineers require technical knowledge as well as soft skills to succeed in the field:
Technical Skills:
- Circuit theory and analysis
- Electronics and instrumentation
- Signal processing algorithms
- Electromagnetic field principles
- Analog and digital communications
- Embedded software and programming
- Control engineering
- Power electronics
Soft Skills:
- Complex problem-solving ability
- Critical thinking and analytical skills
- Attention to detail and meticulousness
- Strong math skills
- Creativity and ability to innovate
- Project management abilities
- Strong teamwork and communication skills
- Lifelong learning to stay updated on advancements
Where Electrical Engineers Work
There is a growing demand for electrical engineers across many industries in Ontario:
Power Systems: Work for utility companies or renewable energy firms designing transmission systems, smart grids, control systems, substations and more.
Aerospace and Defense: Help develop electrical systems for aircraft, radars, navigation systems, communication networks and other technologies.
Telecommunications: Work for mobile tech, internet and tech companies developing hardware for transmitting data such as routers, modems and switching systems.
Electronics: Work for firms developing consumer electronics, home appliances, navigation devices, IoT gadgets, and audio/video gear.
Automotive: Help design and integrate electrical/electronic components for vehicles such as EV batteries, sensors, lighting, infotainment and safety systems.
Consulting Firms: Work for engineering consulting companies that provide electrical engineering design and testing services.
Electrical engineers can also find good job opportunities in construction, manufacturing, railway systems, healthcare technologies, mining, oil/gas and more. Experienced engineers may also move into project management, systems engineering and senior technical leadership roles.
Acquiring Professional Experience
Gaining meaningful experience in electrical engineering during your university studies and right after graduation can better prepare you for working in the field. Here are some recommendations:
- Do co-op work terms and internships at engineering companies during your undergrad to gain hands-on experience. These are offered at Ontario engineering schools like Waterloo, Toronto and McMaster.
- Participate in design teams and competitions put on by associations like Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to build up your experience.
- Consider a master’s degree with a research-based thesis or project component to acquire more specialized skills.
- Enroll in Continuing Education courses at your university on cutting-edge topics like robotics, renewable energy and nanotechnology.
- Attend Industry conferences, events and trade shows in Ontario and network with professionals to learn about the latest trends and technologies.
- Join professional associations like IEEE or Professional Engineers Ontario’s ESSCO engineering student society.
Job Market and Outlook
According to Engineers Canada, the national organization that oversees the profession, there is strong demand for electrical engineering graduates over the next decade right across Canada.
Though industries like utilities and telecom will remain major employers, expanding fields like electric vehicles, robotics, renewable energy, automation and AI will require even more electrical engineering talent.
Ontario in particular will see substantial jobs growth in the GTA region in auto manufacturing and tech sectors that rely on electrical and electronics engineers.
High tech expansion in cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Markham and Waterloo will also drive recruitment. Experienced mid and senior level engineers are especially sought after.
Electrical engineers just starting their careers can expect competitive entry salaries around $68,000 per year based on current data. Those with licensure and 5-10 years of experience on average earn $90,000 to $115,000 per year.
Engineers who advance to senior leadership or principal/partner levels at consulting engineering firms can make $130,000 to $160,000 annually.
FAQs
Do I need a master’s degree to become an electrical engineer?
Is electrical engineering in high demand in Ontario?
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Conclusion
There are bright prospects for a challenging and rewarding career as an electrical engineer in Ontario right now and for the next decade. Strong technical fundamentals paired with soft skills can set you up for success in this evolving field.
Gaining real-world experience as an undergraduate and newly graduated engineer can also better prepare you for advanced career opportunities.
With infrastructure upgrades, electric vehicle adoption, 5G rollout, utility modernization, automation expansions and more on the horizon in Ontario, the future looks bright for motivated electrical engineering professionals.