Software engineers and designers
Software engineers and designers research, design, evaluate, integrate and maintain software applications, technical environments, operating systems, embedded software, information warehouses and telecommunications software.
Good
Market Demand
TEER 1
Skill Level
NS, PE, NB
Top Provinces
What They Do
- 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.
Qualifications
- checkA bachelor's degree, usually in computer science, computer systems engineering, software engineering or mathematics orcompletion of a college program in computer science is usually required.
- checkA master's or doctoral degree in a related discipline may be required.
- checkLicensing 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.).
- checkEngineers 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.
- checkExperience as a computer programmer is usually required.
Market Outlook by Province
Nova Scotia
The employment outlook will be Good for software engineers and designers (NOC 21231) in Nova Scotia for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to several new positions.Not many positions will become available due to retirements.There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.Demand for this occupation is expected to remain strong with continuing growth anticipated in the information technology (IT) field. The Halifax area in particular, where much of the work is found, offers a wide variety of potential employers across a varied, technology-based economy. There may also be overlap between the duties of software engineers/designers and software developers and programmers (NOC 21232) within the area, and highly-skilled software engineers may possess the skills to fill positions in those larger, closely related fields as well. Remote hiring is common in the IT field, so jobseekers may benefit from including remote opportunities in their job search.Growing usage of artificial intelligence has softened the demand for workers in entry-level positions in general. Jobseekers with a few years of experience will have a significant edge over recent university graduates.Here are some key facts about software engineers and designers in Nova Scotia: Approximately 2,000 people work in this occupation. Software engineers and designers mainly work in the following sectors: Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 69%Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 8% 82% of software engineers and designers work all year, while 18% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 48 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.7% of software engineers and designers are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 84% compared to 51% for all occupations Women: 16% compared to 49% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 7% compared to 27% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 14% compared to 22% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 53% compared to 20% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 24% compared to 10% for all occupations
Good
Outlook
Prince Edward Island
The employment outlook will be Moderate for software engineers and designers (NOC 21231) in Prince Edward Island for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.Not many positions will become available due to retirements.There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.The prospect for employment in this occupation is expected to be favorable due to the rapid growth in digital infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. These professionals design, evaluate, and maintain software systems for industries ranging from finance and healthcare to gaming and telecommunications. There is some overlap with related roles such as developers and programmers, and highly skilled engineers often transition between these positions. Individuals pursuing this career should focus on mastering programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, C++), understanding software architecture, and building collaborative and problem-solving skills. Certifications in cloud platforms, cybersecurity, or agile development can further enhance employability in this fast-evolving field. Here are some key facts about software engineers and designers in Prince Edward Island: Approximately 100 people worked in this occupation in May 2021. Software engineers and designers mainly work in the following sectors: Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 56%Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 13%Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 8%Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 8%Other manufacturing (NAICS 313-316, 323-324, 326-327, 331, 334-335, 337, 339): 6% 75% of software engineers and designers work all year, while 25% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 49 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.10% of software engineers and designers are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 80% compared to 51% for all occupations Women: 20% compared to 49% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: n/a high school diploma or equivalent: 18% compared to 28% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 18% compared to 25% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 36% compared to 17% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 14% compared to 8% for all occupations
Moderate
Outlook
New Brunswick
The employment outlook will be Moderate for software engineers and designers (NOC 21231) in New Brunswick for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to several new positions.Not many positions will become available due to retirements.There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.Software engineers and designers are employed in consulting and research and development work, as well as within information technology units throughout the private and public sectors. A steadily increasing reliance on computer-based technologies should support demand for software engineers and designers, going forward. Ideal candidates will be comfortable working with a variety of operating systems, and computer technologies. Experience and up-to-date skills in programming languages such as Python, Structured Query Language (SQL), and Java will have the best employment prospects. Some employers may require experience with cloud-based platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Azure. Developments in automation and artificial intelligence are likely to shift the tasks performed by software engineers and designers, particularly the automation of routine, junior-level tasks such as code writing.These professionals are mainly concentrated in urban areas. The Fredericton region, in particular, has established itself as a hub for international and local investment in computer technologies.Here are some key facts about software engineers and designers in New Brunswick: Approximately 850 people work in this occupation. Software engineers and designers mainly work in the following sectors: Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 64%Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 6%Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 5% 81% of software engineers and designers work all year, while 19% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.7% of software engineers and designers are self-employed compared to an average of 10% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 84% compared to 52% for all occupations Women: 16% compared to 48% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 12% compared to 30% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 18% compared to 23% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 48% compared to 16% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 19% compared to 7% for all occupations
Moderate
Outlook
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Immigration Pathways
TEER 1 occupations typically require a university degree and qualify for Express Entry. These are high-priority for STEM and healthcare category draws.
Express Entry (FSW)
Provincial Nominee Programs
Category-Based Draws
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Top Companies Hiring
Organizations with the most NOC 21231 openings right now.
Wipro
6 active roles · Toronto, ON · Mississauga, ON
Okta
5 active roles · Toronto, ON
Cognizant
5 active roles · Toronto, ON · Mississauga, ON
Afresh
4 active roles
3 active roles · Montreal, QC · Waterloo, ON
Lyft
3 active roles · Toronto, ON
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Search Software engineers and designersarrow_forwardCore Competencies
Systems Analysis and Evaluation
to identify opportunities for optimization, enhancement and integration through analysis of user requirements, system specifications and technical constraints in software projects
Digital Production and Digital Literacy
to create, modify and maintain software applications by managing digital production tools, development environments and programming languages
Categorization Flexibility and Information Ordering
to structure data, functions and components in a logical and coherent manner to ensure scalability, maintainability and usability of software systems
Fluency of Ideas
to brainstorm and explore different design approaches, algorithms and architectures to address requirements and challenges in software engineering projects
Attention to Detail
to ensure the accuracy, reliability and security of software applications when writing code, designing interfaces and testing software
Knowledge in Computer, Technology and Information Systems
to understand existing and design new software applications and information technologies
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