OSPE - The Voice - September 2017 - 18

news

Ryan: When folks think government, they don't necessarily
think "cutting-edge" research. They may be surprised to find
that we're engaged in the testing and evaluation of emerging
technology well before it's introduced broadly into the market.
We have some of the best facilities in the world at our disposal,
including wind tunnels, climate chambers and crash test labs.
For example, we're currently testing two prototype hydrogen
fuel cell vehicles to assess their safety and environmental
performance. This year, we're also running the first ever
Canadian test of Cooperative Truck Platooning Systems at
TC's motor vehicle test centre, located in Blainville, Quebec.

is collaborative and peer-based is essential. We take our work
seriously, but don't take ourselves too seriously.

what advice do you have for engineers that are seeking a
career opportunity at Transport Canada?

Ryan: Passion for the work that we do at Transport Canada
is a driving success factor. Another highly important factor is
curiosity because it is critical to understand new issues from
different perspectives. And lastly, it's important to be able to
efficiently engage with and network across different fields.
For example, we want someone who can work with industry,
academia and across government.

Martin: The earlier you recognize that it's more than just
technical ability, but also oral, written and communication
skills that really matter, the better. For someone looking for a
career at Transport Canada, the biggest piece of advice I would
have is that you should really have an understanding of where
transportation needs might lie within Canadian communities.
Ryan: I'd suggest that young engineers be open to government
experience - through co-op placements or the Federal Student
Work Experience program - as it is one of the most effective
ways I can meet and recruit new engineers for our department.
As well, if new engineers are considering doing one placement,
I would encourage them to do one with the federal government.
how would you describe the working environment/corporate
culture at Transport Canada?
Martin: It's fantastic. We have a significant role to play in
the delivery of federal funding. We get to see firsthand some
of the biggest projects in Canada progress from design to
construction. There's a lot of responsibility, but at the same
time, it's an amazing team. We plan to effectively and efficiently
have things completed and delivered. For example, we plan to
have the project relating to the National Trade Corridors Fund
done by end of year.
Ryan: We're very much a collaborative, dynamic team.
People enjoy working here, and we don't operate in a strict
hierarchical team structure. We spend around 40 hours a week
together and sometimes more if we're on the road and away
from our families. Thus, having a respectful environment that

From your experience, what attributes would someone require
to excel at Transport Canada?
Martin: Communication skills are necessary, both oral and
written. One of the key things we look for are engineers who
have a strong capacity to take technical matters and present
them in a manner that is easily understood by non-engineers
and politicians.

what aspects of your department do you find most satisfying?
most challenging?
Martin: The most satisfying part of working in my department
is interacting with funding recipients. It's very rewarding to
see how grateful they are to have the ability to improve their
infrastructure through the federal investment. For example, we
did a project with the Port of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. It
was a small project, but seeing how thankful they were for the
funding was really satisfying.
The biggest challenge lies in taking the technical input on
certain projects, and turning that into something digestible for
non-engineers, especially for politicians who must then make
policy decisions. At the same time, however, it is incredibly
rewarding to help others understand the technical rationale
behind these problems.
Ryan: The most satisfying part of the job is that we see the
direct tangible results of the work we do. Whether it be safety
regulations, new standards or the commercialization of new
technology, the work we do is impactful and we can see it in
our roads.
The most challenging aspect would be that new technology
is emerging very rapidly, especially with regards to automated
vehicles. We need people with the right skillsets for navigating
the policies, tools and guidelines in this changing landscape.

➝ If you are interested in learning more about Transport Canada, OSPE's September Engineering
Employment Events (E3s) and the engineering job opportunities available, visit ospe.on.ca/events for more
information and to register for an E3 today.

The VOICe

September 2017

http://ospe.on.ca/events

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of OSPE - The Voice - September 2017