Construction Engineering Officer

As a member of the military, Construction Engineers provide engineering support, such as facilities management, fire engineering, contract and project management, and construction and environmental engineering.

As members of the Military Engineer Branch, Construction Engineers plan, develop and implement projects involving a wide range of military engineering tasks. Their primary responsibilities are to:

• Prepare or approve construction drawings, designs and cost estimates
• Advise superiors on military engineering matters
• Exercise leadership and technical control over organizations involved in engineering services
• Provide mapping, charting and geodesic support to sea, land and air operations
• Lead and manage a team of skilled personnel

Work environment

Construction Engineers work as part of a Construction Engineering Flight or Unit. Although the primary role of Construction Engineering Officers is to support the operations of the Royal Canadian Air Force, they may also support Canadian Army operations and missions. After gaining practical experience, Construction Engineers may be posted to a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) base or headquarters. Over their careers, they will likely be deployed on domestic or international missions, including operations in support of UN, NATO, or Coalition missions.

If you chose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility regarding postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part-time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

Wherever the Canadian Armed Forces are based or deployed, providing Canada’s soldiers, aviators, and sailors with well-functioning infrastructure is a vital part of the mission.

On base in Canada, Construction Engineering Officers fill the role of a town engineer, setting up and taking care of buildings and facilities, roadways, airfields, jetties, ranges, and training areas, the power grid, as well as water supply and sewage systems.

Their team includes a wide range of expert technicians who work in Construction; Water, Fuels and Environment; Electrical Distribution; Electrical Generating Systems; Plumbing and Heating; Refrigeration and Mechanical Systems; Fire Fighting, as well as Drafting and Surveying.

Whether the job calls for setting up humanitarian assistance camps in Haiti, weatherproofing a radar installation in the High Arctic, or flood control in Manitoba, Construction Engineers are always ready to travel anywhere in the country and the world.

When the Canadian Armed Forces deploy to a theatre of operation, Construction Engineers are the first ones in and the last ones out. They build the camps for the Task Force to live in and operate from. They’re responsible for maintaining the camp infrastructure throughout the mission and stay behind to dismantle and pack up the camp when the mission is complete.

Once they complete their military and occupational training, Construction Engineering Officers are typically posted to an engineering support unit at one of Canada’s military bases, where they’ll lead teams of highly-skilled technicians in the planning, budgeting, and execution of operating, repairing, and maintaining the base infrastructure. They could also be tasked to manage a wide range of construction projects, from conception to completion.

Even during their first posting, Construction Engineers can expect to be deployed on an operational tour, either here in Canada or around the world.

Construction Engineers always emulate their motto, “UBIQUE”, which means “everywhere.”