Empowering Students to Explore Careers:  Electrical Design Engineer

Inspiring the next generation of innovators means introducing them to career paths that merge passion and purpose. Kurtis Bolduc, an Electrical Design Engineer at MacLean Engineering, demonstrates how students can transform their love for technology and the outdoors into a meaningful career. Kurtis’s career journey, rooted in his Indigenous heritage and commitment to a greener future, offers a compelling example of how students can thrive in fields like electrical design.

From Serpent River to Sustainable Engineering

The Edge Factor team had the incredible opportunity to capture Kurtis’s story in the episode Trail Blazer, featured in our Launch Point series. Kurtis’s journey began with a deep connection to nature. His family is from Serpent River First Nations, and he spent much of his childhood on the Mississaugi First Nations Reserve, outside of Blind River, Ontario. Growing up surrounded by the wilderness, Kurtis enjoyed outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, and tobogganing, fostering a love for the environment that would later inspire his career.

Combining this passion for the outdoors with his technological creativity, Kurtis decided to pursue a career where he could contribute to a greener future. Today, as an Electrical Design Engineer, he works on projects that are helping industries like mining reduce their environmental impact by introducing electric vehicles.

A Path of Persistence and Innovation

Kurtis’s path wasn’t without challenges, which mainly dealt with overcoming his own insecurities about his ability to solve problems. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Physics, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics, a journey that took six years in total. His perseverance paid off, as he emerged with the skills needed to enter a growing and innovative field.

“I would say my greatest success was finishing both degrees. I am extremely happy to have completed, graduated, and then ended up in a great career,” Kurtis reflects. His parents’ encouragement and his own motto which he would repeat to himself—"There is no problem I can't solve"—helped him push through even the toughest challenges.

Kurtis now specializes in PLC programming, where he develops and tests programming code for electric vehicles. Whether testing it on machines or conducting internal simulations, he enjoys the problem-solving and hands-on nature of his work.

Becoming an Electrical Design Engineer

The path to becoming an Electrical Design Engineer typically involves studying Electrical Engineering or Electrical Design in college or university. For those interested in the software side, like Kurtis, an interest in computer science is essential. Kurtis emphasizes how rewarding it is to see the results of his work: “It's really cool to see something I have worked on being installed on machines in South Africa, South America, and the Northwest Territories."

For students interested in pursuing a career in Electrical Design, Kurtis offers this advice: “I would say if you have an interest in Science, Tech, Engineering, Art, and Math, then pursue all the challenging classes—chemistry, physics, and calculus.” His own love of working on electric vehicles is grounded in his desire to create sustainable solutions for future generations. He believes it's crucial to develop technologies that allow us to continue enjoying outdoor activities like fishing and hunting without causing harm to the planet.

As mines get deeper, it’s harder to push air into the mines and clean out the particulates from diesel exhaust. Electric vehicles are the solution to this problem, and Electrical Design Engineers like Kurtis are at the forefront of this innovation.

Discover More Careers in Skilled Trades

The Electrical Design Career Badge is just one of many story-driven resources available to students. This badge is also featured in the Ontario Skilled Trades Toolkit.

There, students can explore more careers in skilled trades, hear from professionals across Ontario, and earn additional digital badges. It’s an engaging way to build career awareness, develop essential skills, and celebrate the inspiring people who shape our communities.

About Edge Factor 

Edge Factor equips educators and inspires students and job seekers with the largest known library of career multimedia. Our platform offers story-driven, age-appropriate content, interactive activities, and digital badges designed for use in classrooms, events, homes, and on the go. With 5500+ tools in 21 languages, we empower millions of K-12+ students and educators across the US and Canada to explore, prepare, and connect on their career journey.

If you are interested in learning more about what an Edge Factor membership can unlock, create your free account or book your demo today.