A unique cadre of talent fuels Waterloo’s Aerospace & Defence ecosystem. Across the community, you can find precision skills, industrial capacity, engineering minds, aviation experts and talented tradespeople. The convergence of talent helps A&D companies combat workforce supply challenges.
McKinsey reports that companies that put talent at the center of their business strategy realize higher total shareholder returns than their competitors. But labour shortfalls and increasing demand in the A&D sector are making it more difficult to find, hire and retain top talent.
To avoid jeopardizing your competitive advantage and overall growth, your company needs to find a location with an existing workforce and talent pipeline attuned to your operations.
In the Waterloo region, our post-secondary schools are instrumental in educating all the talent A&D companies need to innovate, scale and succeed. Here are the programs producing graduates with specialized A&D skillsets.
Key Takeaways
- Home to Canada’s largest university-led aviation program and the world’s largest co-op program, the University of Waterloo produces engineering and aviation graduates who are workforce-ready
- Wilfrid Laurier University rounds out Waterloo’s A&D talent pool with programs spanning physics, computer science and business, preparing graduates to contribute across technical and operational roles in the sector
- From commercial flight operations to precision welding inspection, Conestoga College equips students with the hands-on, specialized skills that A&D manufacturers and operators need
University of Waterloo
One of the main engines of our A&D ecosystem is the University of Waterloo (UWaterloo). The school’s accolades are inexhaustible: it houses Canada’s largest university-led aviation program and the world-leading hub for sustainable aviation and aerospace research; it’s one of the top flight schools in the country; its engineering school is ranked 2nd in Canada; and its co-op program is the largest in the world.
Here are a handful of degrees students earn that translate to the A&D sector:
- Mechanical Engineering (Undergraduate): Develops skills in structural analysis, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics and propulsion systems, giving students a strong foundation for physical aerospace vehicle design and manufacturing.
- Mechatronics Engineering (Undergraduate): Combines electrical, mechanical and software engineering with a focus on embedded systems, programming, robotics and control systems.
- Systems Design Engineering (Undergraduate): An interdisciplinary program that trains students to tackle complex systems challenges across hardware and software, a natural fit for aerospace systems integration and defence platform development.
- Science and Aviation (Undergraduate): Earns students a Bachelor of Science alongside an Integrated Airline Transport Pilot Licence, with 200+ flight hours and coursework in aerodynamics, climatology, GIS and remote sensing.
- Combinatorics & Optimization (Undergraduate & Graduate): Equips students with advanced mathematical and computational problem-solving skills with applications in mission planning, logistics optimization and secure communications for defence operations.
- Quantum Information (Graduate): Cutting-edge research training in quantum computing and quantum communication, with strategic implications for cryptography, secure defence networks and next-generation sensing technologies.
- Master of Applied Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering – Aeronautics (Graduate): Advanced graduate training at the intersection of electrical engineering and aeronautics, focused on next-generation aircraft and defence applications.
- Master of Applied Science in Systems Design Engineering – Aeronautics: Prepares graduates to design and integrate complex aeronautical systems, with direct applications in aerospace R&D, unmanned systems and defence engineering.
The latter two programs are part of the Collaborative Aeronautics Program (CAP), which is a revolutionary approach to Master’s and Doctoral studies in aeronautics. Graduate students choose a field (engineering, planning, environmental studies, applied mathematics, etc.) and select the aeronautics program option. In addition to their core degree requirements, students simultaneously complete aeronautical training alongside other CAP students from different fields. The goal is to equip students with the interdisciplinary and collaboration skills “needed to align innovation with impact.”
Wilfrid Laurier University
More than 22,000+ students are enrolled at Laurier across STEM, arts and social sciences disciplines. Offering experiential learning programs like co-op, field placements and community service learning, Laurier plays a key role in filling Waterloo’s talent pipeline with a highly trained professional workforce.
Here are some relevant programs to the A&D industry:
- Business Administration and Computer Science (Undergraduate): Pairs Laurier’s business expertise with UWaterloo’s computer science program, producing graduates who can bridge the technical and commercial sides of aerospace and defence enterprises.
- Physics (Undergraduate): Builds foundations in mechanics, electromagnetism and optics, equipping graduates with the analytical skills applicable to aerospace engineering, radar systems and defence technology development.
- Master of Science in Physics (Graduate): Advanced research training in physical sciences with industry applications in aerospace propulsion, sensor technology and cutting-edge materials science.
Conestoga College
Conestoga delivers a full range of career-focused education, training and applied research programs, driving economic prosperity across the region. In fact, more than 50% of the local adult population has accessed Conestoga’s education services.
The school is also home to several innovation hubs, including the SMART Centre, which engages in precision machining, robotics, non-destructive testing (NDT/NDE), materials and fabrication research. The SMART Centre recently partnered with Shimco North America Inc., a shim and small-part manufacturer serving the global A&D supply chain, to redesign a prototype circuit board that “integrates power harvesting, data storage and wireless data transmission capabilities.” The project was originally developed as a student proof of concept.
With a spectrum of programs, hands-on experiences and research opportunities, Conestoga is a top producer of talent for the A&D sector. Here is a selection of the school’s related academic offerings:
- Commercial Flight Operations (Diploma): Trains students in the technical and operational skills required for professional piloting, building a foundation of aviation expertise.
- Mechanical Engineering Technology – Design and Analysis (Diploma): Develops skills in CAD, structural analysis and manufacturing processes, preparing graduates to support aerospace component design and defence systems production.
- Electro-Mechanical and Automation Maintenance (Diploma): Combines electrical and mechanical training with a focus on automated systems maintenance, equipping graduates for the upkeep of complex aerospace and defence equipment.
- Mechanical Technician – Tool and Die/Tool Maker (Diploma): Provides precision machining and tooling skills essential for the fabrication of high-tolerance aerospace parts and defence hardware components.
- Welding and Fabrication Technician (Diploma): Builds practical expertise in metal fabrication and welding techniques.
- Welding Engineering Technology – Inspection (Diploma): Focuses on weld quality assurance, inspection methods and engineering standards, producing graduates who can ensure the structural integrity and safety compliance critical in aerospace and defence manufacturing.