21231 Software engineers and designers

What this occupation covers

Software engineers and designers research, design, evaluate, integrate and maintain software applications, technical environments, operating systems, embedded software, information warehouses and telecommunications software. They are employed in information technology consulting firms, information technology research and development firms, and information technology units throughout the private and public sectors, or they may be self-employed.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 6 main duties for this code.

• Collect and document users' requirements and develop logical and physical specifications
• Research, evaluate and synthesize technical information to design, develop and test computer-based systems including mobile applications
• Develop data, process and network models to optimize architecture and to evaluate the performance and reliability of designs
• Plan, design and coordinate the development, installation, integration and operation of computer-based systems including mobile applications
• Assess, test, troubleshoot, document, upgrade and develop maintenance procedures for operating systems, communications environments and applications software
• May lead and coordinate teams of information systems professionals in the development of software and integrated information systems, process control software and other embedded software control systems.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 6 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 20012 Computer and information systems managers
• 21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
• 21230 Computer systems developers and programmers
• 21223 Database analysts and data administrators
• 21310 Electrical and electronics engineers
• 21222 Information systems specialists
• 22222 Information systems testing technicians
• 21232 Software developers and programmers
• 21233 Web designers
• 21234 Web developers and programmers

Excluded from this code

• Computer and information systems managers (See 20012 Computer and information systems managers)
• Computer engineer (except software) (See 21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers))
• Computer systems developers and programmers (See 21230 Computer systems developers and programmers)
• Database analysts and data administrators (See 21223 Database analysts and data administrators)
• Electrical and electronics engineers (See 21310 Electrical and electronics engineers)
• Information systems specialists (See 21222 Information systems specialists)
• Information systems testing technicians (See 22222 Information systems testing technicians)
• Software developers and programmers (See 21232 Software developers and programmers)
• Web designers (See 21233 Web designers)
• Web developers and programmers (See 21234 Web developers and programmers)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

application architect · automation engineer - software · backend engineer · cloud administrator · cloud architect · cloud engineer · cloud infrastructure engineer · cloud operations engineer · computer applications engineer · computer software engineer · computer systems platform engineer - software · computer telecommunications software specialist · development and operations (DevOps) engineer · embedded software designer · embedded software engineer · lead development and operations (DevOps) engineer · lead software engineer · mobile development lead · simulation software design engineer · site reliability engineer · software and information technology project manager · software architect · software design engineer · software design project manager

Employment requirements

• A bachelor's degree, usually in computer science, computer systems engineering, software engineering or mathematics or Completion of a college program in computer science is usually required.
• A master's or doctoral degree in a related discipline may be required.
• Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
• Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering, and passing a professional practice examination.
• Experience as a computer programmer is usually required.