Electrical engineers are employed in the design, development and maintenance of electrical systems. Workers in this field need to be able to multitask, as they may sometimes be involved in every stage of a project, from its initial conception to the final handover.
Specific duties of an electrical engineer include identifying customer needs, designing products and systems, reading design specifications, producing single-line and schematic drawings, analysing and interpreting test data, maintaining equipment and report writing. Working well with others is also important as there may be a need to liaise with clients and contractors, as well as other workers in the design team.
Employers usually require a bachelor’s degree in engineering, which can be obtained from institutions such as the University of Alberta or Ryerson Polytechnic University, the latter providing students with the opportunity of studying in Europe. Salaries vary according to the province, with an average starting figure of C
$56,000. This can be as low as C
$45,000 in Hamilton, Ontario, or as high as C
$70,000 in Fort McMurray, Alberta.