NOC 21311: Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
What computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) do
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.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Computer and telecommunications hardware engineers
- 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.
- Network system and data communication engineers
- 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.
Job titles under NOC 21311
43 job titles are classified here, including computer hardware engineer, fibre-optic network designer, hardware circuit board designer.
- 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.
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $32.05/hr | $52.50/hr | $78.85/hr |
Toronto ON | $37.50/hr | $52.88/hr | $78.85/hr |
Montréal QC | $35.31/hr | $53.38/hr | $76.04/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $36.76/hr | $54.57/hr | $81.98/hr |
Calgary AB | $30.02/hr | $47.93/hr | $69.68/hr |
Edmonton AB | $27.52/hr | $45.68/hr | $68.06/hr |
Ottawa ON | $42.31/hr | $54.88/hr | $91.83/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $32.76/hr | $46.44/hr | $67.83/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $32.00/hr | $54.95/hr | $74.00/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $46.00/hr | $56.41/hr | $68.00/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $32.82/hr | $53.85/hr | $120.19/hr |
London ON | $35.38/hr | $52.33/hr | $73.91/hr |
Halifax NS | $29.92/hr | $45.75/hr | $64.11/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $35.98/hr | $53.23/hr | $75.92/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $35.17/hr | $46.97/hr | $63.54/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $36.68/hr | $50.52/hr | $76.11/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $30.00/hr | $44.86/hr | $68.75/hr |
Nova Scotia | $30.00/hr | $47.12/hr | $73.08/hr |
New Brunswick | $40.02/hr | $51.44/hr | $71.79/hr |
Quebec | $32.00/hr | $54.95/hr | $74.00/hr |
Ontario | $33.65/hr | $52.88/hr | $86.54/hr |
Manitoba | $31.49/hr | $46.29/hr | $68.08/hr |
Saskatchewan | $26.11/hr | $46.17/hr | $69.57/hr |
Alberta | $27.52/hr | $45.68/hr | $68.06/hr |
British Columbia | $36.34/hr | $54.27/hr | $81.57/hr |
Using NOC 21311 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 43 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Business systems specialists (NOC 21221)
- Computer and information systems managers (NOC 20012)
- Computer systems developers and programmers (NOC 21230)
- Cybersecurity specialists (NOC 21220)
- Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 22310)
- Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 21310)
- Engineering managers (NOC 20010)
- Information systems specialists (NOC 21222)
- Software developers and programmers (NOC 21232)
- Software engineers and designers (NOC 21231)
- Web designers (NOC 21233)
- Web developers and programmers (NOC 21234)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)?
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) are NOC 2021 unit group 21311. Example job titles in this group include computer hardware engineer, fibre-optic network designer, hardware circuit board designer, hardware development engineer.
What TEER is NOC 21311?
NOC 21311 is TEER 1 (University degree). Usually requires a university degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate), or experience from a related TEER 2 occupation. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $52.50/hr, about $102,000 a year full-time, with a range of $32.05/hr to $78.85/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.