21310 Electrical and electronics engineers

What this occupation covers

Electrical and electronics engineers design, plan, research, evaluate and test electrical and electronic equipment and systems. They are employed by electrical utilities, communications companies, manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment, consulting firms, and by a wide range of manufacturing, processing and transportation industries and government.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 10 main duties for this code.

• Conduct research into the feasibility, design, operation and performance of electrical generation and distribution networks, electrical machinery and components and electronic communications, instrumentation and control systems, equipment, and components
• Prepare material cost and timing estimates, reports and design specifications for electrical and electronic systems and equipment
• Design electrical and electronic circuits, components, systems and equipment
• Conduct micro or nanodevices simulations, characterization, process modeling and integration in the development of new electronic devices and products
• Supervise and inspect the installation, modification, testing and operation of electrical and electronic systems and equipment
• Develop maintenance and operating standards for electrical and electronic systems and equipment
• Investigate electrical or electronic failures
• Prepare contract documents and evaluate tenders for construction or maintenance
• Supervise technicians, technologists, programmers, analysts and other engineers.
• Electrical and electronics engineers may specialize in a number of areas including electrical design for residential, commercial or industrial installations, electrical power generation and transmission, and instrumentation and 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 10 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)
• 22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
• 20010 Engineering managers
• 21231 Software engineers and designers

Excluded from this code

• Computer and information systems managers (See 20012 Computer and information systems managers)
• Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (See 21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers))
• Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (See 22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians)
• Engineering managers (See 20010 Engineering managers)
• Software engineers and designers (See 21231 Software engineers and designers)

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.

analog and mixed-signal design engineer · antenna engineer · audio engineer - electricity and electronics · automation engineer - electrical and electronic systems · avionics engineer · broadcasting professional engineer · chief electrical engineer · chief electronics engineer · chief engineer - electric power · chief engineer - radio and television broadcasting · circuit design engineer · control systems engineer · design and development engineer - electrical and electronic systems · digital circuit design engineer · displays and controls design engineer · electrical and electronics research engineer · electrical controls engineer · electrical design engineer · electrical distribution engineer · electrical distribution planning engineer · electrical energy transmission engineer · electrical energy transmission planning engineer · electrical engineer · electrical engineering lead

Employment requirements

• A bachelor's degree in electrical or electronics engineering or in an appropriate related engineering discipline is required.
• A master's or doctoral degree in a related engineering 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, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is offered by the Canada Green Building Council and may be required by some employers.