As a Manager - Aerospace Engineering, you lead a team of engineers and technical professionals responsible for the design, development, testing, and maintenance of aerospace systems and components. You provide strategic direction and technical oversight to support the Department of National Defence's aerospace capabilities and modernization initiatives. Your role bridges engineering expertise with management responsibilities, ensuring projects meet technical standards, timelines, and budget requirements while fostering a high-performing team.
Your responsibilities include planning and directing engineering projects, managing team performance and development, allocating resources effectively, and maintaining quality standards across aerospace engineering work. You collaborate with senior leadership, other departments, and external partners to align projects with strategic defence objectives. You also stay current with aerospace technology advances and industry best practices to guide your team's technical decisions.
You'll work in a dynamic environment that combines office-based planning and administration with site visits to laboratories, testing facilities, and operational locations. This role requires strong communication skills to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders and to provide clear direction to your engineering team.
Key Responsibilities
Plan and manage the delivery of aerospace engineering services and programs, Supervise and develop staff within the aerospace engineering team, Monitor performance metrics and report on results, Develop and implement operational plans and procedures, Manage stakeholder relationships and ensure service quality
Required Skills
Technical analysis, Design and drafting tools (CAD), Project management, Regulatory knowledge, Problem-solving, People management, Operational oversight, Quality assurance, Resource coordination
Typical Education
Post-secondary education in the relevant field; supervisory and operational management experience
Training
You'll typically need a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related engineering discipline from an accredited Canadian university. Many successful candidates hold a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation or are working toward it, which demonstrates commitment to professional standards and continuous learning.
Managerial training is important for success in this role. The Government of Canada offers leadership development programs, project management training, and specialized courses in people management and strategic planning. Many managers pursue credentials such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) or take advantage of internal DND training programs focused on defence priorities and procurement processes.
Throughout your career, you'll engage in ongoing professional development including technical updates in aerospace systems, advanced project management, and leadership excellence. DND supports conference attendance, technical certifications, and external training to keep your skills current in this rapidly evolving field.
Entry Plans
You can enter this career path through several routes within the federal Public Service. Most commonly, managers are promoted internally from senior engineer positions (P.Eng. holders with demonstrated leadership capability) or hired externally through open competitions advertised on the Government of Canada jobs website (jobs.gc.ca).
If you're starting your federal career, you can enter as a junior or intermediate engineer through competitions or student recruitment programs, then advance to senior engineer and management positions as you develop expertise and demonstrate leadership potential. The Public Service Commission regularly posts competitions for manager-level positions in aerospace engineering based on departmental needs.
Lateral moves from other federal departments, provincial governments, or the private aerospace sector are also possible if you have relevant management experience. Candidates with strong engineering credentials and proven leadership in aerospace or similar technical fields are competitive for these positions. DND may also use staffing pools to fill positions more quickly when multiple manager roles need to be filled.
Part-Time Options
Full-time positions are standard for managers due to the leadership and decision-making responsibilities involved. However, the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of work-life balance.
Depending on operational needs and departmental policy, some flexibility may be available in how you structure your work week, such as adjusting start and end times or working from home for administrative tasks. Given the strategic nature of aerospace engineering projects and team management responsibilities, you'll typically be expected to be available during core business hours and may need to attend meetings across multiple locations.
Remote work options may be available for specific tasks like report writing, planning, or virtual meetings, but the role requires regular presence at your duty station for team leadership, site visits, and collaboration. Discuss specific flexibility options during the recruitment process, as arrangements depend on the particular position, location, and project requirements.
