21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)

What this occupation covers

Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) research, plan, design, develop, modify, evaluate and integrate computer and telecommunications hardware and related equipment, and information and communication system networks including mainframe systems, local and wide area networks, fibre-optic networks, wireless communication networks, intranets, the Internet and other data communications systems. They are employed by computer and telecommunication hardware manufacturers, by engineering, manufacturing and telecommunications firms, in information technology consulting firms, by governmental, educational and research institutions and in information technology units throughout the private and public sectors.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 11 main duties for this code.

• Analyze user requirements, and design and develop system architecture and specifications
• Research, design, develop and integrate computer and telecommunications hardware such as microprocessors, integrated circuit boards and semiconductor lasers
• Develop and conduct design verification simulations and prototype bench tests of components
• Supervise, inspect and provide design support during the manufacturing, installation and implementation of computer and telecommunications hardware
• Establish and maintain relationships with suppliers and clients
• May lead and coordinate teams of engineers, technologists, technicians and drafters in the design and development of computer and telecommunications hardware.
• Research, design and develop information and communication system network architecture
• Research, evaluate and integrate network system and data communication hardware and software
• Assess, document and optimize the capacity and performance of information and communication system networks
• May lead and coordinate teams of design professionals in the development and integration of information and communication system architecture, hardware and software.
• Computer engineers may specialize in a number of areas including analog and digital signal processing, fibre optics, integrated circuits, lasers, microprocessors, microwaves and radio astronomy.

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 11 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.

• 21221 Business systems specialists
• 20012 Computer and information systems managers
• 21230 Computer systems developers and programmers
• 21220 Cybersecurity specialists
• 22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
• 21310 Electrical and electronics engineers
• 20010 Engineering managers
• 21222 Information systems specialists
• 21232 Software developers and programmers
• 21231 Software engineers and designers
• 21233 Web designers
• 21234 Web developers and programmers

Excluded from this code

• Business systems specialists (See 21221 Business systems specialists)
• Computer and information systems managers (See 20012 Computer and information systems managers)
• Computer systems developers and programmers (See 21230 Computer systems developers and programmers)
• Cybersecurity specialists (See 21220 Cybersecurity specialists)
• Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (See 22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians)
• Electrical and electronics engineers (See 21310 Electrical and electronics engineers)
• Engineering managers (See 20010 Engineering managers)
• Information systems specialists (See 21222 Information systems specialists)
• Software developers and programmers (See 21232 Software developers and programmers)
• Software engineers and designers (See 21231 Software engineers and designers)
• 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 specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design engineer · capacity planning analyst · computer engineer · computer engineer (except software) · computer engineering project manager · computer hardware engineer · computer systems engineer · computer telecommunications specialist · data communications specialist · fibre-optic network designer · hardware circuit board designer · hardware design engineer · hardware development engineer · hardware engineer · hardware technical architect · information technology (IT) solutions engineer · infrastructure architect - information technology (IT) · microprocessor designer and application engineer · microwave systems engineer · microwave transmission systems engineer · network architect - computer systems · network capacity planner · network designer - computer systems · network engineer - communication hardware

Employment requirements

• Computer engineers require a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical or electronics engineering, engineering physics or computer science.
• 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, three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.