Canadian engineering giant SNC-Lavalin says Algerian security forces are searching for one of its local engineers who was kidnapped by armed insurgents on his way to work.

Montreal-based SNC says the unidentified employee was taken Sunday morning about 150 kilometres southeast of the capital, Algiers.

The North African oil and gas-producing country has been battling Islamist militants affiliated with al-Qaeda.

SNC spokeswoman Leslie Quinton says the company can't comment on efforts to secure the employee's release.

She says the government is co-ordinating efforts to secure his release and SNC-Lavalin doesn't know if officials have made contact with the kidnappers.

The engineer was working on a project to build a water treatment plant in the region.

SNC-Lavalin has operated in the French-speaking country for more than 40 years.

It has been forced to beef up security following attacks that killed several of its employees, including a 2008 suicide bomber who killed 12 Algerians on a bus heading to work.

The company says it intends to continue working in Algeria and that the project is nearing completion.