Engineering

To Become Production Engineer / Manufacturing Engineer in Ontario: Salary, Training, and Career Outlook.

by Occupations.ca Team
10 min read

Have you ever walked through a factory and wondered who designs the process that turns Raw Materials into high‑quality products efficiently, safely, and at the right cost? If you enjoy solving problems, improving systems, and working where the action happens, a career as a Production Engineer or Manufacturing Engineer in Ontario could be a great fit for you.

ENGINEERING

Job Description

Production Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers plan, design, and optimize how products are made. In Ontario, you’ll find them in Automotive assembly plants, aerospace facilities, food and beverage operations, medical device manufacturing, consumer goods, and advanced sectors like battery and EV component plants. Your work blends engineering principles with hands-on problem solving on the shop floor, and you collaborate with technicians, operators, quality specialists, Maintenance, suppliers, and Management.

Daily work activities

  • Spend time both in the office (designing, analyzing, documenting) and on the production floor (observing, testing, troubleshooting).
  • Use data to improve quality, throughput, and Safety, reducing scrap and downtime.
  • Implement new equipment, robotics, and Automation, and validate processes before full-scale production.
  • Coordinate product launches and engineering changes with cross-functional teams.
  • Create and maintain process documentation like work instructions, control plans, and PFMEAs.
  • Support continuous improvement using Lean and Six Sigma methods.

Main tasks

  • Design and optimize manufacturing processes, layouts, and tooling/fixtures.
  • Conduct Time Studies, capacity analyses, and line balancing.
  • Lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions (5 Whys, Fishbone, 8D).
  • Develop process control strategies (SPC), set quality standards, and monitor KPIs.
  • Implement and validate changes (APQP, PPAP in automotive; IQ/OQ/PQ in regulated industries).
  • Select machinery, collaborate with vendors, oversee installation and commissioning.
  • Program or specify automation and robotics with integration partners.
  • Ensure Compliance with standards (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, GMP where applicable).
  • Train operators and support health and safety practices under Ontario law.
  • Manage projects, budgets, and timelines for continuous improvement and new product introduction.

Required Education

Diplomas

  • Certificate (1-year Ontario College Certificate or Graduate Certificate):

    • Suitable for upskilling in areas like Advanced Manufacturing, Quality Engineering, Robotics/Automation, or Project Management.
    • Ideal if you already hold a diploma/degree or you are transitioning from another field.

  • College Diploma (2–3 years, Ontario College Diploma/Advanced Diploma):

    • Programs such as Manufacturing Engineering Technician/Technologist, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Electromechanical/Automation, or Quality Engineering Technology.
    • Strong pathway into technologist roles and hands-on production environments; can ladder into a degree later.

  • Bachelor’s Degree (4 years, BEng/BASc):

    • Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering (with manufacturing focus), Mechatronics, or Systems Engineering.
    • Often required for roles with engineering accountability and for pursuing the Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) license with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).

Length of studies

  • Certificate: typically 8–12 months full time.
  • College Diploma: 2 years (Technician) or 3 years (Technologist). Many include co‑op terms.
  • Bachelor’s: 4 years. Co‑op or internship options may extend the timeline but greatly improve employability.

Where to study? (Ontario)

Universities (engineering degrees)

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Colleges (technician/technologist and graduate certificates)

Licensing and professional associations (Ontario)

Salary and Working Conditions

Salary in Ontario

  • Entry-level (0–3 years):
    • Typical range: about $60,000–$75,000 annually (roughly $28–$36/hour), depending on region, sector, and co‑op experience.
  • Experienced (5+ years):
    • Typical range: about $85,000–$115,000+, with senior and specialized roles (automation, quality Leadership, EV/battery) reaching $120,000–$140,000 in some organizations.
  • Government of Canada Job Bank wage data for Industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 21321) in Ontario:
    https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/21321/ON

Working conditions

  • Work setting: mix of office and production floor; expect to wear PPE (safety shoes, Glasses, Hearing protection) and follow strict safety procedures.
  • Schedule: generally daytime business hours; during launches, shutdowns, or equipment commissioning, you may work shifts, evenings, or weekends.
  • Travel: occasional travel to suppliers, toolmakers, and partner plants within Ontario and sometimes across Canada/US.
  • Tools and systems: CAD/CAM (SolidWorks, NX, CATIA), PLM, ERP/MES (SAP, Oracle), automation/robotics (with integrators), Data Analysis (Excel, Minitab, Python), SPC dashboards, and CI toolkits.
  • Health & Safety: Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act:
    https://www.ontario.ca/page/occupational-health-and-safety
    Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB):
    https://www.wsib.ca

Job outlook

Key Skills

Soft skills

  • Problem solving and critical thinking: structured approach to diagnosing issues and improving processes.
  • Communication: clear writing of work instructions and reports; effective communication with operators, suppliers, and leadership.
  • Collaboration: cross-functional teamwork with production, maintenance, quality, and design engineering.
  • Adaptability: comfort with change during product launches and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Time and project management: ability to prioritize, plan, and deliver under tight timelines.
  • Leadership: lead kaizen events, Training, and small project teams.
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Hard skills

  • Process engineering: line balancing, takt time, capacity planning, flow analysis, and facility layout.
  • Quality tools: SPC, MSA, APQP, PPAP, PFMEA/DFMEA, Control Plans, 8D, root-cause analysis.
  • CAD and GD&T: read and interpret engineering drawings and tolerances; develop tooling/fixture concepts.
  • Automation and robotics: basic understanding of PLCs, sensors, robotics integration, safety circuits (collaboration with integrators/Controls engineers).
  • Manufacturing methods: machining, forming, welding, injection molding, assembly, additive manufacturing; process validation in regulated sectors (e.g., IQ/OQ/PQ in medical/pharma).
  • Data analysis: Excel advanced functions, Minitab for statistics; familiarity with Python/MATLAB or BI tools is an asset.
  • Standards and compliance: ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, GMP, CSA/UL.
  • Costing: estimate cycle times, BOM, and cost-per-unit to support business cases.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

  • Visible impact: you will see your improvements turn into real productivity and quality gains on the floor.
  • Diverse industries: transferable skills across automotive, aerospace, food, medical devices, packaging, and consumer goods.
  • Co-op pathways: many Ontario programs offer co-op terms that lead directly to full-time roles.
  • Career growth: paths into senior manufacturing engineering, process excellence, Operations Management, quality leadership, and plant management.
  • Strong ecosystem: Ontario’s Supply Chain depth and new EV/battery Investments create opportunities.

Disadvantages

  • Time pressure: production deadlines and launch dates can mean overtime or off-hours work.
  • On-site expectations: most roles require regular physical presence on the factory floor.
  • Complex problem solving under constraints: balancing cost, quality, capacity, and safety can be challenging.
  • Change management: driving standard work and new methods requires persistence and strong communication.

Expert Opinion

If you want to stand out as a Production or Manufacturing Engineer in Ontario, combine a strong technical foundation with hands-on experience. Employers value graduates who have run a kaizen event, built a simple fixture, analyzed cycle-time data, or validated a process—not just those who can talk about it.

Three practical steps can accelerate your growth:

  1. Get early exposure. Choose a program with co-op and target placements in high-volume sectors (automotive, food, packaging) or high-complexity sectors (aerospace, medical). Ask to work on fixture design, time studies, and PFMEA updates—these are high-value, career-building tasks.

  2. Build your toolkit. Aim for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, learn Minitab for SPC/MSA, get comfortable with GD&T, and create at least one portfolio piece (e.g., a layout redesign with calculated throughput gains or a validated fixture concept). Consider reputable certifications:

  1. Understand Ontario’s standards and licensing. You do not need a P.Eng. for every manufacturing role, but it can open doors and leadership responsibilities. Register as an EIT with PEO if you are on the degree path, or pursue C.E.T. with OACETT if you are a technologist. Learn the standards in your sector (IATF 16949 in automotive, AS9100 in aerospace, GMP in pharma). Employers will trust you when you show you can keep operations compliant, safe, and Audit-ready.
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Finally, remember that the best manufacturing engineers are curious listeners. Spend time with operators and maintenance; they often hold the keys to sustainable improvements. When you respect the process and the people, you’ll deliver results that stick.

FAQ

Do I need a P.Eng. to work as a Production/Manufacturing Engineer in Ontario?

Not always. Many roles use the title “Manufacturing Engineer” but do not require licensure if you are not taking legal responsibility for professional engineering decisions. However, roles that involve the practice of professional engineering as defined by Ontario law may require a P.Eng. Consider registering as an EIT with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) if you hold an accredited engineering degree and want to pursue licensure:
https://www.peo.on.ca

I trained as an engineer outside Canada. How can I work in this field in Ontario?

Internationally educated professionals can pursue PEO licensure or start in roles that do not require a P.Eng. Ontario funds bridge training programs to help you adapt your skills:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/bridge-training-programs-help-internationally-trained-individuals
PEO has removed the Canadian experience requirement for licensure, making pathways more accessible:
https://www.peo.on.ca/about-peo/news/peo-removes-canadian-experience-requirement-licensure

What is the difference between Production Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, and Industrial Engineer?

The terms overlap in Ontario:

  • Manufacturing Engineer: designs and improves how products are made, focusing on processes, tooling, quality, and automation.
  • Production Engineer: similar, often more tied to day-to-day operations and continuous improvement on the floor.
  • Industrial Engineer: broader systems focus—workflow, ergonomics, operations research, cost, and efficiency across the whole value stream. Many Ontario employers use these titles interchangeably, depending on the plant.

Which Ontario sectors are growing for manufacturing engineers right now?

Automotive and EV supply chains (battery cells, modules, packs; e-axles; power electronics), aerospace, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals/medical devices, and advanced packaging. See provincial updates on auto manufacturing:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/auto-manufacturing
Invest Ontario industry snapshots:
https://www.investontario.ca/industries/automotive

What software should I learn before my first co-op?

At minimum: Excel (advanced), SolidWorks or another CAD, Minitab (or similar stats tool), and a basic understanding of GD&T and SPC. Exposure to Python for simple data analysis, and familiarity with ERP/MES concepts will give you an edge. If you aim toward automation-heavy plants, learn fundamentals of PLCs, robots, and safety circuits (in collaboration with controls engineers). Free or low-cost micro-courses are available via Ontario universities/colleges and platforms aggregated by eCampusOntario:
https://www.ecampusontario.ca

Additional Ontario resources

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